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Crew Chief Profiles
MSgt.
Gregory
"
MAC"
McLean
(Ret.)
My profile
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Name | MSgt. Gregory McLean (Ret.) |
| Country |
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| Unit | 13th Fighter Squadron "Panthers" | |
| Crewing F-16s | from 1986 until 1993 | |
| Contact gdmclean | Send me a private message | |
| Website | ||
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I've served a total of 26 years active duty in the USAF. My first assignment was to Kadena AB, Japan, 418 AGS where i was assigned as an assistant Dedicated Crew Chief on the RF-4C Phantom aircraft (68-0572) from 1981-1983. My personal accomplishment during this assignment was the opportunity to participate in the Fifth Air Force Weapons Load Competition where I was selected Outstanding Crew Chief as an A1C amongs all NCO's. My next assignment took me to the 37th AGS (TAC), 562 AMU. George AFB, CA. I was assigned to aircraft (68-0258) F-4G Wild Weisel from 1983-1986. Here is where my maintenance skills was honed and tested. One of my favorite assignment. It was time for me to learn a new airframe, I got orders to 432nd AGS (PACAF), Misawa AB, Japan from 1986-1991. This was my first opportunity crewing F-16's. My first F-16 aircraft was tail # (85-1484). This aircraft loved to fly, it would never ground abort, pilots loved to fly this aircraft. My aircraft was transfered to Germany and I was given aircraft (85-0234). This aircraft was the bomb, it was easy to maintained and it was an excellent bomber. I was selected to participate in Gunsmoke 89 repesenting Misawa and PACAF out at nellis AFB, Nevada. It was a learning expericience and the competition was tough but we finished 3rd overall but 1st for active duty catagory. I was selected Fifth Air Force Crew Chief of the year, 1989. I was chosen 432nd AGS NCO of the Year, 1989. Most of my F-16 maintenance ability was learned at Misawa. It was easy for me because I had the hard working background comming off F-4's. This is where I started to learn the management skills of becomming a Flight-line expediter. Moody AFB, Georgia (69th)was my next assignment (1991-1994). I was multi-tasks, between crewing, expediting, and assistant flight chief. With numerous Deserts deployment in between ( southern and northern watch). I crew the D-model (88-0171) when I first arrived because no one wanted the bath tub. I was reassigned to aircraft (88-0546). I recevied orders to Osan AB Korea while we were deployed Again I packed up and relocate to Osan AB (PACAF), ROK, 36th FS (1994-1995). I was given the chance to expedite for the year while I was stationed in Korea. My follow on assignment was to Hill. I returned to the states and was assigned to the 34th FS (ACC), Hill AFB, Utah (1995-1997). Very high tempo ramp. Between the Vegas TDY and the Desert deployment, another one of my most memorable assignment. The opportunity I had to work with so many outstanding crew chief and supervisors. One team One Fight was our motto. We leaned on eachother during operation Southern Watch when Kober Tower bombing occured and 19 american airman lost their lives serving this great country. The memories will always be with me of how everyone displayed the One Team One Fight Concept. I recevied orders to Korea again, this time it was Kunsan AB (PACAF), ROK, 36th FS from (1997-1998). I was now in charge of all the crew chiefs. My days was long and hard but I loved every minute of it. I never worried about time at Kunsan because the job itself was time consuming. Enough said. I returned to the states to the 78th FS (ACC) Shaw AFB SC (1998-2007). I started off as a flight chief and worked my way up to production super during our deployment to Operation Allied Force. I becamed the lead production super when the 78th FS deactivated and we combined with the 55th FS. Great assignment, lots of TDY/Deployments. Great people to work with and work for. I also spent my last 2 years at phase dock. I called the men and women in phase the unsung heros because the remarkable work that they do is so unbelivable. I retired from active duty on March 1 2007 |
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My Jets & Assignments
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F-4 Phantom II | |||||
| Unit | 418th AGS, Kadena ABS, Japan | |||||
| Period | 1981 - 1983 | |||||
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F-4 Phantom II | |||||
| Unit | George AFB, California | |||||
| Period | 1983 - 1986 | |||||
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85484 | [Detailed history of this F-16] | ||||
| Unit | 13th Fighter Squadron "Panthers" | [Unit History] | ||||
| Period | 1986 - 1991 | |||||
| Current: | QF-081 | 
USAF 82 ATRS
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QF-16C Block 30 | [ act] | ||
| First F-16 aircraft I was assigned to crew. Very good aircraft, but you had to rub its belly to get her going from time to time. I thought that I was still crewing F-4. This was the aircraft that help me transition from working on F-4 to F-16. Very different style of maintenance had to be used on the Falcon, its a very sensitive aircraft | ||||||
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86234 | [Detailed history of this F-16] | ||||
| Unit | 13th Fighter Squadron "Panthers" | [Unit History] | ||||
| Period | 1986 - 1991 | |||||
| Current: | AAFG0662 |
USAF AMARC
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F-16C Block 30 | [ sto] | ||
| Great aircraft and an excellent assignment. Misawa was the stepping stone to ny 26 years of service in aircraft maintenance. The people that I had an opportunity to work with and the many TDY's and places I got to see in my life time is un imaginable. | ||||||
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88171 | [Detailed history of this F-16] | ||||
| Unit | 69th Fighter Squadron "Werewolves" | [Unit History] | ||||
| Period | 1991 - 1994 | |||||
| Current: | 88171 |
USAF 74 FS
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F-16D Block 40 | [ w/o] | ||
| First F-16D model I got an opportunity to crew. I was the new kid in town and no one wanted to crew the Tub. They did not know there were purks to crewing the D-model. for example. all VIP/DV got to fly my aircraft wheather if they were Generals or Incentive flight, I was there and the rewards was great. Other crew chief started catching on and wanted a piece of the pie. | ||||||
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88546 | [Detailed history of this F-16] | ||||
| Unit | 69th Fighter Squadron "Werewolves" | [Unit History] | ||||
| Period | 1991 - 1994 | |||||
| Current: | 88546 |
USAF 35 FS
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F-16C Block 40 | [ act] | ||
| Many TDY's/Deployments were made with this aircraft: Operation Southern Watch a couple of times, Las Vegas. Nevada. This assignment was a transition period for me as far as filling in between Flight chief and expediting. It was time for me to start managing people and resources to get the mission done | ||||||
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Unit | 36th Fighter Squadron "Flying Fiends" | [History] | |||
| Period | 1994 - 1995 | |||||
| I started my way up the ladder, I'm now expediting full time for my one year remote tour in Korea. There were many ups and downs I went through, since PACAF is a different Air Force all to itself. I learned alot on how we deal with foreign policies and people in the military | ||||||
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Unit | 34th Fighter Squadron "Rams" | [History] | |||
| Period | 1995 - 1997 | |||||
| The experience that I shared with this unit is remarkable. We've deployed many times to the Desert for Operation Southern Watch. This one deployment to the desert we were only there two weeks when Kobar Towers was bomb by terrorist. There were 19 airman that lost there life defending our country. Our motto was one team one fight. On that night when our lives change, everyone who was deployed to the AOR took on a new look on life. We were all there as one family and one team against all enemies. We press on and completed our mission and made our family and country proud | ||||||
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Unit | 35th Fighter Squadron "Pantons" | [History] | |||
| Period | 1997 - 1998 | |||||
| This assignment was a full time job. I was assigned as the flight chief for both crew chief flights. It seem like my days all run together. The good thing about this assignment the time went fast. You hit the ground running until you get back on the plane for the states. | ||||||
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Unit | 78th Fighter Squadron "Bushmasters" | [History] | |||
| Period | 1998 - 2007 | |||||
| My Last assignment brought me to shaw where I was Flight chief in the 78 FS until our deployment to Operation Allied Force where I started working as a production super until the 78 FS de-activated. Our squadron merge together with the 55 FS and I became the lead production super until my final 2 years left in the Air Force. I was recommended by the Maintenance Group Commander to run the phase dock. Since the Air Force was transitioning to a more lean force. My mission was to minimize the down time an aircraft spends in Phase but not at the expense of safety or tech data violation. With all my years I've spent on the flight line. the real unsung hero are the men and women behind the scene who go above and beyond to produce an outstanding product that the pilots and mainteners are proud to crew and fly. It was and unbelivable ride and I was proud of the opportunity that the Air Force has given me | ||||||
Visitor Comments
Long Time
DeGrawR,
Jan 14, 2009 - 08:26 PM
DeGrawR,
Jan 14, 2009 - 08:26 PM
MAC,
It is about time you got on here. I have been a mister for a year now. If you can, look me up on the global.
QuickDraw
Robert Friend,
Nov 29, 2010 - 07:13 AM
whats up brother long time since we talked ended up on the flt line in the 14 AMU and now have orders to Kadena AB hit me up when you can
Robbie
Big Mac, our first assignment in Okinawa was the bomb!
Al Murillo,
Mar 13, 2021 - 06:47 AM
Al Murillo,
Mar 13, 2021 - 06:47 AM
I'm not sure if you remember me, our first assignment was 418th AGS Kadena. Deployed to either Osan or Clark. Had a blast I worked as MA/ECS with Ford (short Filipino guy). Good to read about your career in the AF. Hope to hear from you. Take care Bro.
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