Bounty Hunters Maintainers Keep Lincoln's Jets in the Air

By Lt. Mitch Cole, Strike Fighter Squadron 2 Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Sailors of the maintenance department of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2, have kept the squadron's jets in full mission capable status throughout the deployment which paid off as they flew training operations in the Arabian Gulf Jan. 28, said the saquadron's mainenance officer.

VFA-2, the "Bounty Hunters," is one of nine squadrons in Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), which as a whole is preparing for flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).

"During the transit, VFA-2's maintenance team continued to groom the jets for operations in any area of responsibility to support major combat operations by maintaining their assets in full mission capable status," said Lt. Cmdr. Rich Silva, the squadron's maintenance officer.

After the transit to the 5th Fleet AOR, CVW-2 began a full cycle of flight days. The maintenance team met new challenges with full back-to-back fly days, which put a lot of stress on the aircraft. Despite the demands, VFA-2's maintenance team worked hard to keep the aircraft in flying condition.

"The entire maintenance department really stepped up providing quick turnarounds between flights to address maintenance issues discovered in flight," said Senior Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Richard Landweer, the Bounty Hunters' Maintenance Control Leading Chief Petty Officer.

Lincoln and CVW-2 are part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (ALCSG), which also includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9 its ships including guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104). ALCSG is deployed to the 5th Fleet AOR conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of OEF.