Staff Sgt. Donald Slayton, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated-crewchief, wipes down his aircraft prior to launch March 16, 2010, in a hardened aircraft shelter, Misawa Air Base, Japan. As a DCC, Sergeant Slayton is assigned to a single aircraft and is responsible for all maintenance on that aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Staff Sgt. Donald Slayton, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated-crewchief, wipes down his aircraft prior to launch March 16, 2010, in a hardened aircraft shelter, Misawa Air Base, Japan. Sergeant Slayton, a native of Gainesville, Fla., has been enlisted for nine years and is the DCC for aircraft 423. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Maj. Dylan Baumgartner, 35th Fighter Wing chief of wing inspections, inspects an AIM 120 air-to-air missile prior to his training sortie March 16 20,10, in a hardened aircraft shelter, Misawa Air Base, Japan. Major Baumgartner, like all pilots, performs a walk around of the aircraft looking for any discrepancies prior to launching. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield

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Staff Sgt. Donald Slayton, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated-crewchief, buckles Maj. Dylan Baumgartner, 35th Fighter Wing chief of wing inspections, into his seat prior to his training sortie March 16, 2010, in a hardened aircraft shelter, Misawa Air Base, Japan. With a full load of internal fuel, the F-16 can withstand up to nine times the force of gravity. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Staff Sgt. Donald Slayton, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated-crewchief, talks Maj. Dylan Baumgartner, 35th Fighter Wing chief of wing inspections, through a flight control operational checkout March 16, 2010, in a hardened aircraft shelter, MIsawa Air Base, Japan. The flight control operational check is part of a checklist that the pilot follows prior to taxiing for his mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Staff Sgt. Donald Slayton, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chief, marshals Maj. Dylan Baumgartner, 35th Fighter Wing chief of wing inspections, out of a hardened aircraft shelter for his mission March 16, 2010, Misawa Air Base, Japan. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

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Misawa prepares Falcons for flight

Published March 17, 2010