DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- A team of 512th Maintenance Group maintainer’s efforts were key to returning three C-130J Super Hercules to mission-capable status recently at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 10-21, 2025.
During their annual tour, Master Sgt. Tyler Dickson, 512th Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technology section chief, led the team’s work in designing and fabricating jettison brackets for the aircraft’s egress doors.
“It was a great team accomplishment to help when those aircraft were down and to be able to get them flying again,” he said. “We all worked together to make it happen, and it was a very satisfying experience.”
The bracket is part of the aircraft’s pre-flight inspection and is key to opening the doors in the event of an aircraft emergency, said Dickson. He added a major obstacle was Yokota is in the process of updating their software and hadn’t received the new manufacturing software that is the new Air Force standard. Dickson was able to network and gain temporary access to fabricate the bracket.
The maintainers’ work was impressive, said Col. Jerome Rogers, 512th MXG commander.
“I was immensely proud of this maintenance team,” he said. “It’s a critical part that was at a stock level of zero world-wide. Their efforts were key to bringing those aircraft back to a mission-capable status.”
Senior Airman Shimon Hunt, 512th MXS aircraft metals technology journeyman, said the two-week tour was a great experience, and he enjoyed being able to support the Yokota aircraft.
“It was a difficult mission, but I’m glad we prevailed,” he said. “Sometimes, we don’t get to interact much with each other at our own base, and this was a great team-building exercise.”
Creating the C-130J aircraft brackets even highlighted some of Dickson’s civilian occupational experience.
Prior to joining the Air Force Reserve in 2013, Dickson had machinist experience in various industries. He said one highlight was working on parts for NASA rockets and he enjoys using that experience to strengthen the Air Force mission.
“It’s a great feeling showing what us reservists are capable of,” he said. “It was awesome to be able to apply our training skillset from drill weekends to a real-world scenario and get some aircraft back in action for the Pacific fleet.”