43rd FMS ( AGE )

The 43rd FMS (Aerospace Ground Equipment), or 43rd Field Maintenance Squadron (AGE), was a vital support unit within the United States Air Force, primarily stationed at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. Tasked with maintaining and repairing aerospace ground equipment, the squadron ensured that aircraft assigned to the 43rd Airlift Wing were always mission-ready. Its highly trained technicians provided critical support during deployments and real-world operations, including humanitarian missions and combat airlift tasks. The 43rd FMS (AGE) played an essential role in sustaining the operational effectiveness of airlift and airborne missions until its inactivation during Air Force restructuring in the early 2000s.