Aviation ordnancemen

The main duty aviation ordnancemen had to perform during the last century was receiving, inspecting, packaging, storing, handling and processing airborne weapons, air-launched torpedoes, aerial mines, pyrotechnics and ammunition for shipment. They were also in charge of maintaining, testing, assembling, loading, downloading and arming airborne weapons, aircraft gun systems, targets, sonobuoys and pyrotechnics for aircraft carriage. Wearing a red shirt was the tell-tale sign that a person was serving under the rating of aviation ordnanceman. Their occupation entailed numerous risks since they were responsible for dealing with a wide range of weapons.

There are 3 categories of aviation ordnancemen: organizational, intermediate and depot. They are all aircraft weapons specialists, responsible for duties such as servicing bomb, missile, and rocket releasing and launching devices, servicing aircraft guns, assembling and testing missiles and supervising the operation of aviation ordnance shops, armories, and storage facilities.

Relevant job titles

• aerospace technician core
• aircraft structure assembler
• maintenance worker
• logistician
• bookkeeping and accounting clerk
• inspector, tester, sampler, and weigher