23rd MXG wins ACC maintenance trophy

by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
23rd Wing Public Affairs

12/1/2011 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Every year only one maintenance group within Air Combat Command is chosen to receive "the crown jewel of maintenance awards."

The Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapons System Maintenance Trophy recognizes the unit that has best met the objective of providing safe, serviceable, and available equipment for sustained use in peace and war.

Moody was chosen as the best base throughout ACC and will be moving on to the next level.

All commanders within the 23rd MXG believe in their folks and in what they do.

"We think our folks absolutely deserve this award, we worked extremely hard to get where we are today," they said. "The Flying Tiger maintainers definitely bring the teeth to the fight."

"The men and women of the 23rd Maintenance Group sustain personnel recovery and precision attack airpower capability anywhere in the world," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Aaron Buck, 23rd Maintenance Operations Squadron commander. "Whether it's humanitarian relief or putting bombs on target, we are there."

Throughout the year 2011, the Flying Tiger maintainers provided 365 days of combat airpower in four separate areas of responsibility.

The group also deployed a total of 45 aircraft and 1,372 personnel. This generated 28,500 flights and 71,200 flight hours. This flight production accounted for over 1,500 lives saved and 167 enemies killed in action.

Since being chosen for the ACC award, the maintenance group will be going against all other major command winners to prove they are the best in the Air Force.

Source