Marine Mechanic's Discovery Saves Lives of 'Gunfighters' in Afghanistan

A Marine mechanic and Macomb Township native is being hailed as a hero this month for uncovering a potentially fatal manufacturing defect in the UH-1Y Huey attack helicopters used by American forces in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Christopher Lemke, 24, is a mechanic with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, also known as the "Gunfighters." As part of his duties, Lemke regularly conducts phase inspections on the squadron’s UH-1Y Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters.

It was during one of these routine inspections in December 2011 that Lemke uncovered a never-before-seen maintenance issue.

In examining the transmission compartment on one of his squadron's UH-1Y Hueys—located in a difficult-to-reach area known to mechanics as the “hell hole”—Lemke found a problem.

"During inspection, I noticed that on both sides of the transmission area on the main beams there was this black residue made when two metals move," Lemke said. "I further investigated and found the main beam was actually moving from the aircraft."

A later analysis revealed the transmission pylon beam and the main beam joint, which secure the aircraft’s transmission to the airframe, were disintegrating, according to a report by Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System.

For his discovery, the alumnus was was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in a ceremony at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, on Jan. 12.

Because of Lemke's finding, a corpswide inspection was ordered, which revealed this manufacturing defect on multiple UH-1Y aircraft.

"This is a pretty big issue," Lemke said. "No one ever noticed it on the aircraft. If this area were to fail, the transmission could come out of the aircraft and cause it to crash." 

Lemke's discovery and the subsequent corpswide inspection led the Marine Corps to issue an engineering advisory ordering the transmission compartment of these aircraft to be inspected after every 25 hours of flight, rather than the previous 200-hour requirement.

Though honored by the recognition he has received, Lemke credits his Marine Corps training for driving him to alway go beyond the minimum requirements of his work–a lesson he hopes younger Marines take to heart.

"I hope my junior Marines pay a little more attention to their inspections and they understand–I'm 24, others are 19, 20–we hold a lot of responsibility in our hands. Our names are on that aircraft saying it's safe to fly. I hope they realize how much responsibility they do hold and take a few more seconds in inspection, not just do the bare minimum."

When Lemke returns to his station and family at Camp Pendleton, CA, he plans to finish his degree started at the University of Northwestern Ohio in alternative fuels and high performance automotives.

"I've re-enlisted in the Marines for another four years, and will do my full 20, but when I retire, I know I'm going to stay in some sort of mechanical job," Lemke said.

Lemke graduated from Dakota in 2005.