Maintenance Group wins ACC award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo --  It's the most prestigious major command-level award a maintenance group can receive.
Air Combat Command's 2007 Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance Trophy was recently earned by the 509th Maintenance Group.

The 509th MXG has had a year of undertakings that earned them the prestigious award.

"We've had a tremendous year of accomplishments with our historic peacetime flying hour program, three inspector general inspections - Joint Nuclear Surety Inspection, first-ever B-2 conventional operational readiness inspection and the no-notice limited joint nuclear surety inspection," said Col. Robert Dulong, 509th MXG commander. "Throughout it all, our men and women persevered and advanced airpower and this weapon system."

The 509th MXG competed against 15 other maintenance groups in ACC in the categories of mission accomplishments, effective use of maintenance group resources, innovative managerial qualities and personnel quality of life.

"When our people first get here we let them know they are apart of something special," said Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Bauer, 509th MXG superintendent. "It is engrained in them that there are only 21 B-2 bombers and 1200 people certified to work on them and because of that culture they go the extra mile allowing us to fly, fight and win when called on by our nation's leaders."

The trophy is given annually to the ACC unit determined to have the best weapon system maintenance record over the past year and was first awarded in 1960.

Daedalus, the first person to ever accomplish heavier-than air flight, according to legend, is the namesake of both the award and the organization of military pilots who grant it. Not only was he the first pilot, he was a skilled, mature craftsman who today represents the maintainers honored by the trophy's recognition.

"We have proven time and again we are ready to deliver weaponry to any point on the globe anytime," said Colonel Dulong.