AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- The 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron cryogenics team inspected liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen tanks prior to aircraft shipment on Aug. 5.
The cryogenics team provides quality aviation breathing oxygen, liquid oxygen, and liquid nitrogen in support of operations through the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility. Their contributions enable C-17 Globemaster III passengers and cargo movements as well as B-52 Stratofortress bombing missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
The 379th ELRS maintains three large storage tanks that contain liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen along with 51 liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen carts that ship out daily to 11 other bases throughout the AFCENT AOR. Depending on the mission, the cryogenics team ships approximately six liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen tanks a week to bases in need of resupply.
AOR Aircrew use liquid oxygen to breath while in flight. Liquid nitrogen is primarily used to inflate aircraft tires and is also used for medical purposes.