Airmen/airman apprentices

The duties of airmen mostly concerned providing assistance and support to various functions, from weather forecasting to maintenance of records and files, repairing and maintaining aircraft and related equipment to ensure safe flight operations, and serving as members of crash crews and security alert teams. Since they both handled and were surrounded by asbestos products, their risk of developing a terrible disease is significant. Other responsibilities of airmen included working with qualified military personnel to gain job training and experience, performing ground and deck duties with regard to the take-off and landing of aircraft, and participate in Naval ceremonies.

In charge of maintaining, repairing, and stowing aircraft to prepare for various flight operations, working with qualified personnel to gain job training and experience and performing ground and deck duties concerning the take-off and landing of aircraft, airman apprentices were part of the U.S. Air Forces along with airmen. The abilities they must have to perform these duties include curiosity, physical strength, good memory, resourcefulness, manual dexterity, and normal color perception. Similarly to airmen, they were exposed to asbestos both by handling dangerous products themselves and by performing their job in a contaminated environment.

Relevant job titles

• aviation electronics technician
• aircrewman
• air traffic controller
• aviation antisubmarine warfare operator
• airman apprentice
• naval aircrewman
• tank sealer