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 The Maintenance Squadron of the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson AFB, Alaska, earned the trophy for the 2001 Air Force Clements McMullen Memorial Daedalian Weapon Systems Maintenance for outstanding aircraft and munitions mainte-nance in the Pacific Air Forces. The Icemen Team—1,200 airmen from the 354th Maintenance Squadron, 18th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Combat Training Squadron, 354th Logistics Support Squadron, and the 354th Operations Support Squadron—won the award for completing 8,700 sorties and 13,403 flying hours in the F-16 and A-10 with no Class A mishaps (incidents involving fatalities or damage greater than $1 million). And they did so in the harshness of the arctic climate.
The award was announced to the Icemen Team 5 April by Gen. John Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff. “The fact the CSAF personally made the announcement underscores the magnitude and significance of this award,” said Col. George Duda, 354th Operations Group commander. “We are the best maintenance organization in the entire US Air Force—only one general officer is qualified to say that and he said it without reservation.” The Icemen outperformed maintainers at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and Aviano, AB, Italy. “Our folks completely impressed the Daedalian Team inspectors with their innovation, dedication, and enthusiasm,” said Col. Bruce Litchfield, 354th Logistics Group Commander. “That was the difference between us and our competitors.”
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