Air Refueling

Lt. Col. Esteban Ramirez, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, inspects the boom operators window on a KC-135 Stratotanker as part of his preflight check at a forward deployed location supporting O More

A Navy EA-6B Prowler approaches an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, to receive fuel in the skies above Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Free More

(Left) Capt. Brian Doom, (right) Lt. Col. Daniel Malles, and (bottom) Capt. Matthew Willey, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, conduct preflight checks aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker before taking off fr More

Air Force Staff Sgt. Todd Pace, a radio telephone operator assigned to 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, checks cable connections to a satellite antennae th More

Afghan Uniform Police rush simulated victims of a suicide bomb blast to ambulances during a mass casualty exercise held at Forward Operating Base Rushmore, Paktika province, Afghanistan, March 11, 2011. The dr More

First Lt. Matthew Miller, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts preflight checks aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker bound for a refueling mission in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Free More

Capt. Stuart Letcher, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts preflight checks aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker bound for a refueling mission in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, April 17.

Capt. Brett Pierson, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, refers to his personal computer tablet during preflight checks aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker bound for a refueling mission in Afghanistan su More

First Lt. Jonathan Bourke, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, connects ducting to a portable air conditioning unit on the flight line at an undisclosed location supporting Operation Enduring Free More

Maj. Jeremy Larson, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts pre-flight checks aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker bound for an air refueling mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring More

An E-3 Sentry, also known as airborne warning and control system or AWACS, from the 963rd Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron maneuvers into position to be refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 340 More

Master Sgt. Shaun Cunningham, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron flight engineer, performs pre-flight checks aboard a KC-10 Extender before take off on an air refueling mission in support of Operation E More

An E-3 Sentry, also known as airborne warning and control system or AWACS, from the 960th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron maneuvers into position to be refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 340 More

A RC-135 Rivet Joint, assigned to the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, maneuvers into position behind a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, to be refuele More

A KC-135 Stratotanker deployed to the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, refuels an F-15E deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, July 30. This refu More

Lt Col. Dan Kemp, a pilot from the 151st Operations Group, flies towards Oregon for an air refueling mission, Jan. 31. The 151st Air Refueling Wing routinely supports air operations across the western United St More

U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Sainsbury (left center), 6th Operations Support Squadron chief of wing tactics, briefs members of his crew before a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft training mission July 17, 2019, at Ma More

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, moves into position to receive fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission, Feb. 9, near Wendover, Utah. More

Air Force Master Sgt. Kurt Armstrong, a boom operator from the 191st Air Refueling Squadron, prepares for a late day mission aboard a KC-135R, March 21, 2012 out of Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah. T More

A B-1 Bomber from the 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., conducts contact training from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission April 10 near Wendover, Utah. The 151st ARW r More

An Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 190th Fighter Squadron, Boise, Idaho departs after receiving fuel from a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 during a training mission May 10 over southern More

U.S. Air Force Capt. Austin Tally and Capt. Matthew Thurber, 14th Airlift Squadron C-17A Globemaster III Pilots, perform pre-flight checks at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., on May 15, 2012. Five C-17A Globemaster More

Staff Sgt. Everett Marshall, left, and Capt. Josh Fry, center, 351st Air Refueling Squadron, and Capt. George Clark, 100th Operations Support Squadron, were awarded the Brig. Gen. Ross G. Hoyt Award for their a More

Capt. Michael Bermensolo, a pilot from the 151st Air Refueling Wing, communicates with the boom operator during a training mission May 21. The 151st ARW routinely supports air operations across the western Unit More

A C-5 Galaxy from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., flies below a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 191st Air Refueling Squadron, 151st Air Refueling Wing with the Utah Air National Guard after being refueled, June 1 More

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Catherine Norcom (left), boom operator and U.S. Air Force KC-135 pilots, Capt. Michael Riley (center), and Capt. Andrew Scherff (right) go over preflight paperwork at Eielson Air Fo More

The Utah Army National Guard 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces group from West Jordan, Utah, conducted a static airborne training operation over the drop zone, Global One, Fairfield, Utah on June 20, 2012. The More

Master Sgt. James Guldjord prepares to conduct an air refueling with an AC-130H Spectre gunship, assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing, at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., June 21, 2012. A film crew was on b More

A C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., approaches a 151st Air Refueling Wing KC-135 to training on boom connecting during a training mission June 28 over Idaho. The 151st ARW routinely sup More

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a British Tornado GR4 over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, July 17, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)

Capt Travis Van Tassell, a KC-135R pilot with the 151st Air Refueling Wing, practices touch-and-gos at Hill Air Force Base during a training mission, July 20. The 151st ARW routinely supports air operations acr More

Tech. Sgt. Bartek Bachleda, 54th Air Refueling Squadron, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. boom operator instructor, refuels an F-22 Raptor from Tyndall AFB, Fla., Aug. 21, 2012. The F-22 was refueled outside of New More

A B1-B Lancer from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, closes in on a KC-135 Stratotanker from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., during an air refueling mission, Aug. 23, 2012. The KC-135 featured a t More

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing refuels a B-2 Spirit from the 509th Bomb Wing, Aug. 29, 2012. A B-2 Spirit is designed to be very difficult to detect so it can better engage enemies durin More

Lt. Col Neal Wayment, a KC-135R pilot and commander of the 151st Operation Support Flight, taxis in formation behind another KC-135 during a training mission, Aug 30. The 151st ARW routinely supports air operat More

Lt. Col. Rachelle Harris, a pilot from the 151st Air Refueling Wing, communicates with the boom operator during a training mission Dec. 14. The 151st ARW routinely supports air operations across the western Uni More

Randall Chase, left, a reporter for the Associated Press, photographs Capts. James Blinn, left, and Jonathan Weaver, right, pilots with the 3rd Airlift Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Del., as they perform air More

Second Lt. Remoshay Nelson, chief of media with the 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs office, briefs media representatives during the welcome briefing, Jan. 7, 2013, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Media represen More

Capt. Christopher Arnott, a pilot from the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, maneuvers an F-16 Fighting Falcon over snow-laden mountains en route to San Diego, Calif., Jan. 18, 2013. A cadre of More

Capt. Jared White, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot from the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, receives fuel from a Utah National Guard KC-135 tanker en route to San Diego, Calif., Jan. 18, 2013. More

Staff Sgt. Brad Harris (right), 151st Air Refueling Wing discusses pre-flight preparations with Master Sgt. Brian Jensen prior to conducting air refueling operations, May 9, 2013. The 151st ARW routinely suppor More

A KC-135 Stratotanker soars over the flightline at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., May 20, 2013. The McConnell tankers are operated by both the active duty 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the Air Force Reserve 931s More

Senior Airman Brandon Molder, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 boom operator, refuels Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets over Southern Afghanistan May 22, 2013. Molder is deployed from the 151st Air Re More

Staff Sgt. Roidan Carlson, U.S. Air Forces Central aerial combat broadcaster, documents Master Sgt. John Fidler, a KC-135R Stratotanker boom operator during a mission over the Persian Gulf, Aug. 30, 2013. Carls More

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jason Blood, 191st Air Refueling Squadron, conducts air refueling operations with a C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Sept. 9, 2013. The 191st ARS routinely s More

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brad Harris, 191st Air Refueling Squadron, conducts air refueling operations with F-16 Fighting Falcons from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Oct. 24, 2013. The 191st ARS routinely supports More

Capt. Derrick Baker, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, accompanied by Senior Airman Devon Neil, 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics technician, preflights a KC-135R Stratotanker in preparat More

Airmen from the 108th Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, conduct a pre-flight check in front of a KC-135 Stratokanker Dec. 5, 2013. The aircrew, who consisted of pilots, Capts. Heather Combee, Johann Hintz an More

One week before Christmas and maintainers are stirring. As one KC-135 is being moved to the fuel cell hangar, maintainers from the Iowa National Guard's 185th Air Refueling Wing inspect an engine on another KC- More

On Dec. 18, 2013, 185th Air Refueling Wing maintainers move a KC-135 to the fuel cell hangar on the flight line in Sioux City, Iowa, in order to perform periodic maintenance. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by: More

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Max Morkin, 100th Operations Support Squadron boom operator from Traverse City, Mich., transfers fuel in-flight from a KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England to an F-16AM ai More

A B-52H Stratofortess, assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Feb. 6, 2014. The KC More

Capt. Brian Jahnke and 1st Lt. Tim Hines, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron pilots, make adjustments during a refueling flight training mission over Calif., Feb. 26, 2014. Airmen from various base agencies were aboar More

Pilots from the 384th Air Refueling Squadron prepare to take off for a night mission during spring in East Africa. McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Airmen assisted African Union-led forces disrupt the Lord’s Res More

Maj. Denique Asion and 1st Lt. Ross Ostarello, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilots, preform pre-flight checks at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., April 10, 2014. Pre-flight checks are perform More

Col. Joel Jackson, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, works on a hydraulic line on the landing gear snubber of a KC-135 Stratotanker, May 9, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Airmen from the 22nd Maintena More

A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird attaches to the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker to receive fuel mid-air over Colorado, May 29, 2014. The KC-135 escorted the Thunderbird team to it's home station at Fairchild Air For More

A pair of A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" aircraft from the 188th Fighter Wing, Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Ark., fly in formation behind a KC-135 Stratotanker from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., More

A B-52 Stratofortress deployed to RAF Fairdford, England from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prepares to air refuel with a KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England over the United Kingdom June 11, 2014. More

Air Force Lt. Col. John Pugh and Capt. Reid Bosworth, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilots, fly into the sunset over Iraq Aug. 29, 2014. Pugh has been flying aerial refueling mi More

F-15s from the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard are refueled by a KC-135 from the Maine Air National Guard while on a training mission off the coast of Long Island Sept. 6, 2014. (U.S. Air N More

U.S. Air Force Maj. Erik Schillo, a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot with the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, pre-flights his jet before taking off from a base in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsib More

A U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender prepares for flight to support strike operations over Syria, Sept. 23, 2014. These aircraft were part of a large coalition strike package that was the first to strike ISIL target More

A B-1B Lancer approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker for refueling Sept. 27, 2014. The B-1B Lancer was part of a large coalition strike package that was engaging ISIL targets in Syria. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff More

Team Dover honorary commanders and 436th Airlift Wing public affairs ambassadors go up the stairs leading to the troop compartment of a C-5M Super Galaxy Oct. 29, 2014, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Half of the More

Senior Master Sgt. Walt Markwas, 91st Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, focuses on controlling the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker in order to refuel a B-52 Stratofortress over Louisiana, Jan. 26, 2015. Markw More

(From Left) Senior Airman Garrett O’Kuley and Staff Sgt. Urian Pickett, 161st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chiefs, change the window in the flight deck of the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft, 161st Air Refu More

Capts. Kristina Himmelreich, left and Erin Killion, second from left, both pilots; and Senior Airman Tara Thorpe, loadmaster, second from right; listen to Capt. Ellen Canup, instructor pilot, right, during thei More

Airmen watch, record and gawk as fire suppression foam engulfs a maintenance hangar testing the installation’s high expansion foam discharge in the repair aircraft maintenance hangar April 8, 2015, at Fairchild More

A KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., refuels an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron, April 28, 2015, over the Mediterranean Se More

Airmen from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refuel F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing June 30, 2015 Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The 340th EARS flies daily missions in support o More

A KC-135 Stratotanker taxis through a “bird bath” during a fini flight at MacDill Air Force Base Fla., July 21, 2015. Col. Brian Smith, 6th Operations Group commander, took his final flight to conclude his assi More

A Washington Air National Guard boom operator, 141st Air Refueling Wing, refuels a 114th Fighter Squadron F-15 as the spouses of the pilots watch their husbands in flight during their tanker at the Sentry Eagle More

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) conducts an aerial refuel in support of Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-16 near Yuma, Ariz., Oct. 1 More

A Utah Air National Guard KC-135R Stratotanker from the 151st Air Refueling Wing refuels an Idaho Air National Guard A-10, Thunderbolt II, from the 124th Fighter Wing over southern Idaho on Nov. 8, 2015. (U.S. More

A NATO E-3A Sentry takes on fuel from an Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker over northern Germany during a training mission, Nov. 10. Airmen from the 161st Air Refueling Wing based in Phoenix are su More

A NATO E-3A Sentry receives fuel from an Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker over northern Germany during a training mission, Nov. 16. Airmen from the 161st Air Refueling Wing based in Phoenix are su More

Members of the 171st Air Refueling Wing reunite with their families after returning from a deployment on Dec. 6, 2015. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan A. Conley)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Amanda Ampey, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, sets up the Roll-On Beyond Line of Sight Enhancement data link system over Southwest Asia in support of Operatio More

A KC-135 Stratotanker sits on the flightline, Jan. 26, 2016, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The KC-135 has been refueling aircraft for almost 60 years and will continue to be the backbone of the U.S. Air For More

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Lamey, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs pre-flight inspections on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France, Feb. 25, 2016. Since 2013, More

U.S. Air Force service members assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England, review flight plans on the flight line at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France, Feb. 26, 2016. Since 2013, the U.S has been supporting the French g More

In honor of African American History Month and the Tuskegee Airmen, a crew of six Airmen from the 21st Airlift Squadron organized an all African-American crew March 2 for a night training mission. From left to More

Pennsylvania Air National Guardsmen with the 171st Air Refueling Wing's Fire Protection Flight participate in an annual training exercise at the Pittsburgh International Airport’s Air Rescue and Firefighting fa More

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft approaches a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker while returning to Altu Air Force Base, Okla, Aug. 2, 2016. The tour provided military and civic leaders from More

Tech. Sgt. Vincent Telmanik and Staff Sgt. Anwar Hasan, loadmasters with the 15th Special Operations Squadron, scan the sky while a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft approaches an air-refueling receptacle during More

A U.S. Air Force 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker receives 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron cargo Sept. 12, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Stratotanker served as tanker support for Rep More

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron, locks in to the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron in the airspace around Hawa More

Airman Taylor Trapp, 3d Airlift Squadron loadmaster, answers questions from NASCAR team members about the C-17A Globemaster III Sept. 29, 2016, on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Trapp was a member of a 3d AS aircre More

Using red cargo compartment lights for low-light operations, Senior Airman Toiannah Campbell, 3d Airlift Squadron loadmaster, looks towards the rear of the C-17A Globemaster III as it taxis into position for a More

Two United States Air Force KC-135R aircraft on the ramp at the Sioux City, Iowa Air National Guard Base on September 9, 2016. The KC-135s are assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing More

A U.S. Marine Corps Marine from the Marine Corps Special Operations Command interrogates a simulated opposing forces member during a building clearing scenario at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, More

A U.S. Army Soldier from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment rests during a transport mission at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Miss., during Southern Strike 17, Oct. 27, 2016. SSTK More

Pennsylvania Air National Guardsmen with the 171st Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineer Squadron deployed to Lincoln, Nebraska, to continue construction work on the Lincoln Police Department’s new Law Enforcement More

U. S. Air Force Senior Airman Marco Ayala, 2nd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, performs aerial refueling aboard a KC-10 Extender from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., during a training exercise nea More

Two CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft with the 8th Special Operations Squadron conduct an air-refueling mission with a KC-10 Extender from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., over the Gulf of Mexico, Nov. 18, More

Capt. Herbert Duke, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilot, talks with a maintainer before takeoff in support of a Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve mission at More

A USAF F-15E Strike Eagle prepares to receive fuel from a USAF KC-10 Extender over Iraq, Dec. 5, 2016. Strike Eagles are providing precision guided close air support during Combined Joint Task Force-Operation I More

Crew members of a 380th Air Expeditionary Wing KC-10 Extender complete a pre-flight inspection before launching a refueling mission at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 5, 2016. 380 AEW Extenders More

U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew from the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron review maintenance paperwork prior to a refueling flight in support of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa More