Where there's smoke, there's no fire

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Samuel Aldrich, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron Cryogenics supervisor, oversees liquid oxygen transferring to a 50-pound cart at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Aug. 24, 2012. Oxygen freezes at -368.77 degrees Fahrenheit and causes large amounts of vapor and condensation when in contact with ambient air temperatures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow)

Where there's smoke, there's no fire

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Samuel Aldrich, left, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron cryogenics supervisor, and Airman 1st Class Tevin Smith, 374 LRS fuels distribution apprentice, seal a liquid oxygen sample at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Aug. 24, 2012. The cryogenics lab personnel takes samples of their LOX and tests them to ensure they are at least 99.5 percent pure oxygen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow)

Where there's smoke, there's no fire

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Samuel Aldrich, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron cryogenics supervisor, checks a pressure valve on Bertha, a 6,000-pound tank used to hold liquid oxygen at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Aug. 24, 2012. The cryogenics lab stores LOX and liquid nitrogen to use on aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow)

Where there's smoke, there's no fire

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class Tevin Smith, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution apprentice, smells a sample of liquid oxygen at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Aug. 24, 2012. Cryogenic lab personnel smell the LOX to ensure it is at least 99.5 percent pure oxygen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow)

Where there’s smoke, there’s no fire

Published Aug. 27, 2012
By Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- In order for an aircraft to be fully operational, a variety of equipment is needed. Propellers, fuel and personnel might be the first items thought of, but there are two that most people may not know: liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen.

The 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Cryogenic Lab personnel handle the mission-essential LOX and LIN that Yokota aircraft need to operate.

Liquid oxygen is used as breathing oxygen for pilots when they are several thousand feet in the air and cannot breathe normally. Cryogenics personnel have to routinely check the quality of the LOX they distribute to ensure that it can be used.

"The LOX has to be at least 99.5 percent pure oxygen in order for it to be used," said Airman 1st Class Tevin Smith, 374 LRS fuels cryogenic technician. "That's why we have to be very careful when we perform an odor test."

In addition to supplying aircraft, the cryogenics lab also services LIN to the 730th Air Mobility Squadron to use in C-5 Galaxies as a fire suppression system. The hospital also uses LIN for certain medical procedures.

"It takes a lot of planning to properly manage inventories, especially when maintenance of tanks and equipment occurs," said Staff Sgt. Samuel Aldrich, 374 LRS cryogenics supervisor.

Planning is a key factor in the delivery process of LOX and LIN to Yokota. The liquids are bought from an off-base commercial vendor and stored in 6,000-gallon tanks. Since the liquids must be ordered seven days out, ordering them too soon or too late could result in wasted product.

"The biggest challenge that I face is ensuring the tanks and valves are in working order in addition to balancing inventory management to keep up with mission demands," said Aldrich.
Challenges aside, there are other aspects of working in cryogenics that make it enjoyable for its Airmen.

"The best part about working in cryogenics, aside from just how awesome it is that I get to work with liquid gases, is getting awesome cryogenic temporary duties," said Aldrich. "I get a lot of good opportunities to travel and do operations that are outside the norm while working in cryogenics."