Yokota's biggest carwash

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Though both Team Yokota's and the Air Force's mission ultimately involves getting airplanes off the ground, this cannot happen without the combined effort of personnel in numerous other jobs, many of them little known.

One of these jobs is at the Washrack, where personnel wash off the dirt and debris that Yokota's C-130 Hercules accumulate during their many travels. In other words, it is a car wash, but for airplanes.

Although this is a contracted job, Yokota's Airmen oversee the process.

As the NCO in charge of the Washrack, Staff Sgt. Antonio Peals is one of these Airmen.

"I ensure the wash crew has the proper equipment within the Technical Order and their contract. I also make sure the facilities they use are within proper working condition," said Sergeant Peals. "The Washrack is one of the many jobs on Yokota that is contracted out to dependents as well as local nationals."

Sergeant Peals, a Baltimore native, helped explain the Washrack's contribution to mission accomplishment.

"Washing the aircraft is necessary because it eliminates all of the corrosive salt water and dirt that the aircraft picks up from flying important missions throughout the world. If we don't wash the aircraft, then those contaminates remain on the aircraft, which can deteriorate the paint and structural members. If this happens then we, the maintainers, have to fix the rusted or malfunctioning parts, thus resulting in loss of money, man hours and Air Force recourses."

Although his role may not be as high profile as that of the maintainers or aircrew members, Sergeant Peals takes pride in helping to keep the mission going here at Yokota.

"No matter what you do, you're helping the mission get accomplished; and so when I see these aircraft flying around, it makes me feel good to know that I helped make that happen."