VAN Stanfield

**Jet Engine and Aircraft Field Maintenance, Craig AFB: Unit History** At Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama, the Jet Engine and Aircraft Field Maintenance unit played a pivotal role from the 1950s through the base’s closure in 1977. Tasked with supporting the Air Training Command’s pilot training mission, the unit was responsible for the inspection, repair, and overhaul of jet engines and airframes, primarily servicing T-33 Shooting Stars, T-37 Tweets, and T-38 Talons. The skilled maintainers ensured aircraft remained mission-ready, enabling thousands of student pilots to safely complete their training each year. Their dedication to aircraft reliability and quick-turnaround maintenance was a cornerstone of Craig AFB’s reputation as a premier pilot training facility during the Cold War era.