Refueling

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A KC-135R Stratotanker with the 434th Air Refueling Wing refuels a Navy E-6B Mercury from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., June 20. Grissom honorary commanders and local civic leaders flew aboard the KC-135R to learn about the mission of the 434th ARW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin)

After flight

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Master Sgt. Paul Sherrod, 434th Air Refueling Wing boom operator, speaks with passengers after their flight aboard a KC-135R Stratotanker June 20. Grissom honorary commanders and local civic leaders visited the base and flew during an in-flight refueling to learn about the mission of the 434th ARW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin)

Refueling

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A KC-135R Stratotanker with the 434th Air Refueling Wing, meets with a Navy E-6B Mercury from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., to perform an aerial refueling June 20. Grissom honorary commanders and local civic leaders flew aboard the KC-135R to learn about the mission of the 434th ARW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin)

In flight

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Lt. Col. Lewis Poore Jr., 72nd Air Refueling Squadron commander, talks with a civic leader in the cockpit of a KC-135R during an aerial refueling flight June 20. Grissom honorary commanders and local civic leaders flew aboard the KC-135R to learn about the mission of the 434th ARW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin)

Refueling a shadow

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury refuels from a 434th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker during a refueling mission May 5. The E-6, which used the call sign Shadow 20, is a ccommunications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft. Two squadrons, the "Ironmen" of VQ-3 and the "Shadows" of VQ-4 deploy more than 20 aircrews from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Onboard the KC-135 were Indiana media representatives who got a firsthand look at the aerial refueling mission of the 434th ARW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Refueling a shadow

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury refuels from a 434th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker during a refueling mission May 5. The E-6, which used the call sign Shadow 20, is a ccommunications relay and strategic airborne command post aircraft. Two squadrons, the "Ironmen" of VQ-3 and the "Shadows" of VQ-4 deploy more than 20 aircrews from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Onboard the KC-135 were Indiana media representatives who got a firsthand look at the aerial refueling mission of the 434th ARW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Raptor refueling

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --A KC-135R Stratotanker from the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom refuels an F-22 Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., March 18. The refueling mission gave both the F-22 pilot and the KC-135 crew valuable experience and training in aerial refueling, which is vital to keeping them world-wide mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Pulling up?

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- An F-22 Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., makes its way towards the refueling boom of a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 434th Air Refueling Wing during a recent refueling mission over Florida March 18. The refueling mission gave both the F-22 pilot and the KC-135 crew valuable experience and training in aerial refueling, which is vital to keeping them world-wide mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Instruments good to go

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Capt. Joel Webley, 72nd Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 pilot, takes a quick glance at his instruments during an aerial refueling mission over Florida March 19. Captain Webley and other members from the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., took part in a recent training mission with F-22 Raptors from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The F-22 is the Air Force's most advanced fighter aircraft. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135 unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman DamonKasberg)

Aerial connection

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- An F-22 Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing prepares to connect to a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling boom over Florida March 18. Aerial refueling acts as a force multiplier for aircraft, allowing them to stay airborne longer and extending their reach. The KC-135 is from the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., which is the largest KC-135 unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. (U.S. Air Forcephoto/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)

434th STF Airmen witness in-flight refueling mission

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A C-17 Globemaster III from the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., approaches one of the 434th Air Refueling Wing?s KC-135R Stratotankers during an in-flight refueling mission Oct. 27. Members of the 434th Seasoning Training Flight were onboard to witness the mission first-hand. The 434th STF is part of the Air Force Reserve Command's Seasoning Training Program, which is designed to build a ready force by allowing recent technical training school graduates to voluntarily remain on active duty for on-the-job training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Basic Melanie Palton)

Topping off a B-1

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- A B-1 Bomber from the 28th Bomb Wing, here, pulls up behind a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom ARB, Ind., to receive fuel. Crews from Grissom spent time at Ellsworth training with the bomber air crews recently. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Joe Swisher)

Got gas?

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A C-17 Globemaster III from the 437th Airlift Wing approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 434th Air Refueling Wing during an aerial refueling mission Aug. 4. The 437th AW is based out of Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 50 years. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Coming up...

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A C-17 Globemaster III from the 437th Airlift Wing approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 434th Air Refueling Wing during an aerial refueling mission Aug. 4. The 437th AW is based out of Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 50 years. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Flying...

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- 1st Lt. Joel Nickelson, a pilot with the 74th Air Refueling Squadron, flies a KC-135R Stratotanker during a recent refueling mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Through the looking glass

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A B-52 Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., is framed by a small window in the boom pod of a KC-135R Stratotanker during a refueling mission July 21. The KC-135 and its crew were from the 74th Air Refueling Squadron out of Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Mapping it out...

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- 1st Lt. Jessica Hodson, a pilot with the 74th Air Refueling Squadron, reviews a map while on a refueling mission in a KC-135R Stratotanker July 21. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Almost there...

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- The refueling boom of a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 434th Air Refueling Wing is about to connect with a B-52 Stratofortress during an in-flight refueling mission July 21. The B-52 was from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The crew of the KC-135 was from the 74th Air Refueling Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

Fueling a Globemaster

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- A C-17 Globemaster from Charleston AFB, S.C., steadily pulls up to receive fuel from a Grissom KC-135R Stratotanker during a recent refueling mission over the Appalachian Mountains. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays)

Aerial ballet...with gas

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- A C-17 Globemaster from Charleston AFB, S.C., receives fuel from a Grissom KC-135R Stratotanker during a recent refueling mission over the Appalachian Mountains. The mission was part of a cell formation with a group of Indiana media members. The media had the opportunity to watch the first aircraft refueling from the side windows before the massive C-17 pulled up behind their own KC-135R for fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays)

Exercise Polar Lightning

A B-2 Spirit from the 509th Bomb Wing, 13th Bomb Squadron Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., positions to refuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Ocean March 10. More than 270 Airmen and four B-2 Spirits are deployed to Andersen as part of a Continuous Bomber Presence in the region. Pacific theater refueling operations are being conducted by 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald) released

Reserve refuelers participate in first exercise

A B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. moves into a pre-contact position to receive fuel Jan. 9 from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Ocean during an exercise. The B-52 is deployed to Andersen Air Force Base Guam, 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. The bomber rotation to Andersen provides the U.S. Pacific commander a continuous presence to deter and dissuade any potential aggressor in the region. The rotation to Andersen is aimed at enhancing regional security and demonstrating U.S. commitment to the Pacific region. The KC-135 is assigned to the 434th ARW from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind. This is one of the first exercises the 434th has participated in over the Pacific since assuming the refueling operations at Andersen in early Jan. 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)

Breaking through the clouds

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Passing through the clouds, a C-5 Galaxy from the 167th Airlift Wing approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker as it prepares for a mid-air refueling. The C-5 and its crew belong to the West Virginia Air National Guard, and the Stratotanker and its crew are from the 434th Air Refueling Wing. As the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, the 434th ARW maintains a busy schedule refueling fighter, bomber and cargo aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)

C-5 aerial refueling

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- A massive C-5 Galaxy from the 167th Airlift Wing approaches a KC-135R Stratotanker on the way to the Combat Readiness Training Center at Volk Field, Wis. The C-5 and its crew belong to the West Virginia Air National Guard, and the Stratotanker and its crew are from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind. Both units were heading to Volk Field to participate in a site survey leading up to an operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner)