Chamber of Commerce Recognizes C-130 Maintainers Published March 27, 2010 By 1st Lt. Gina Serafini 135th Airlift Group Baltimore -- The Essex Chamber of Commerce recently recognized three members of 135th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as part of their Salute to Hometown Heroes. Staff Sgts. David M. Deutsch, Jason C. Foltz and Brandon J. Helt were recognized on Nov. 12, 2009, for their performance while deployed to Afghanistan in 2008. The 135th Airlift Group maintained a continuous presence of two aircraft, along with 70 operations and 83 maintenance personnel, from April to September 2008. The superior performance of the aircraft maintenance crews contributed to a mission-capable rate of 93.7 percent. Maryland C-130Js flew 2,529 sorties and logged 2,276 flight hours, hauling 10,212 tons of cargo and 29,309 passengers. These missions included airdropping mission-essential items such as fuel, water, and munitions to ground combat forces. The efforts of these members directly contributed to the 135th's ability to carry out these missions, which in turn helped preserve the lives of U.S. ground forces by reducing the need for supplies to be transported overland in a hostile environment.