NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, New York-- -- NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. – Since World War I, tail and fin flashes have been a way to identify and represent the home unit of aircraft across the globe, throughout all branches of the military.
In 2009, a contest was held to come up with the best fin flash design to put on the aircraft located at Niagara. Since then, the fin flashes have remained the same.
In the last 16 years, we have had a lot of significant changes on our installation. We changed our mission and received different aircraft to learn how to operate and repair. Also, we’ve been involved in multiple deployments and temporary duty assignments, and have become nuclear-ready certified following an Air Mobility Command inspection in 2023.
Along with all of this and more, we took the opportunity to update the fin flashes on our KC-135 Stratotankers.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wayne Boundy and U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Alexander Spencer, both 914th Maintenance Squadron Structural Maintenance Craftsmen, completed the installation of the first new fin flash on one of our KC-135 Stratotankers.
The fin flash was designed and produced on the installation. There were multiple designs and mock-ups of what it should look like, it was test-fitted, and the final product was officially placed on one of our tankers.
“We went with colors that are in our wing patch, with the gold and the blues,” said Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Martin, Senior Enlisted Leader of the 914th Maintenance Squadron. “The pattern is the Falls. The gold and the light blue represent Niagara Falls, and the dark blue is from our wing patch.”
The design itself also represents Niagara Falls tanker history. The 107th Attack Wing located here had a similar design on their KC-135’s during the time they had a refueling mission in the 1990’s. This updated design represents and pays homage to those that have previously served on the installation.
“Throughout aviation history, units were identified by their fin flash,” Martin said. “It's important to recognize and represent everybody that works, flies, and is stationed here at Niagara Falls. It gets our name out as an important installation in Western New York.”
“It’s a timeless design. And we are very excited to be able to fly our flag around the world,” added Martin.
All aircraft flying in future deployments will display the new fin flash.