U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael D. Clouser, assigned plane captain duties with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, signals the pilot of an EA-6B Prowler during pre-flight inspections at Al Asad, Iraq, April 13, 2005. One of the plane captain’s duties during the inspections is to ensure that all the hydraulic flight controls are properly working and the aircraft is ready for flight. The squadron maintenance department logged 8,242 maintenance man-hours in the month of March 2005, roughly the equivalent of three months of maintenance back in the United States. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis



U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kevin J. Spencer, an airframes mechanic assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, works to sand down an edge to ensure the door doesn’t hit when it is retracted, at Al Asad, Iraq, April 13, 2005. The airframe mechanics ensure the body and "skin" of the aircraft stay in top condition. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis



U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ruben Martinez, right, a powerlines mechanic assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, takes an oil sample from the starboard engine of a recently returned EA-6B Prowler at Al Asad, Iraq, April 13, 2005. After taking a sample from the port engine, Lance Cpl. Steve D. Weber, a powerlines mechanic, safety ties the oil pan.U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis



U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Steve D. Weber, a powerlines mechanic assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, collects an oil sample from the engine of a EA-6B Prowler soon after it returns from a mission at Al Asad, Iraq, April 13, 2005. The maintenance Marines can determine the "‘health" of an engine by analyzing the content of its oil. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis



U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mike D. Quist, an ordnance chief assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, fastens the last screw to secure the flares used to counter enemy attacks. When the aircraft senses it is being tracked by a heat-seeking missile, the flares deploy to throw off the heat signature of the aircraft. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis



U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joseph A. Hamdy, an electrician assigned to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, plugs power into an EA-6B Prowler so maintenance Marines can conduct daily maintenance after it returns from a mission at Al Asad, Iraq, April 13, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis




U.S. Marines, assigned maintenance duties with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4, help pilots with their gear as they return from a mission at at Al Asad, Iraq, April 13, 2005. The squadron maintenance department logged 8,242 maintenance man-hours in the month of March 2005, roughly the equivalent of three months of maintenance back in the United States. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rocco DeFilippis

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