Becoming a ‘Reaper Eagle Keeper’ Published Aug. 21, 2017 By Senior Airman Abby L. Finkel 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Twenty-one 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Airmen officially became dedicated crew chiefs at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 18. Each new crew chief is assigned to a 493rd Fighter Squadron F-15 C/D Eagle and are responsible for performing maintenance on the entire aircraft, effectively making sure it is safe to fly before it takes off. “Every sortie that we generate from here has the fingerprints of the dedicated crew chiefs,” said Lt. Col. Bradley D. Altman, 748th AMXS commander. At the ceremony, after raising their hands and reciting the crew chief oath in unison, each Airman received a certificate signifying their official status as a crew chief as well as a set of black coveralls, complete with a patch reading “Reaper Eagle Keeper.” “In the maintenance community,” Altman said, “the dedicated crew chiefs are the backbone.” After the ceremony, the Airmen were ready to head back out to the flightline and continue their hard work keeping the Liberty Wing Eagles in top condition.