Refuelers feed the deployed mission

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- The 908th Air Refueling Squadron Airmen are doing their part in the war on terror, flying missions out of an base in Southwest Asia.

"We have one-third of the air refueling assets as far as the aircraft and the crews go, but we provide almost 50 percent of the air refueling fuel in the area of responsibility," said Lt. Col. Kurt Meidel, 908th ARS commander.

The 908th is the only squadron in the world that has both the KC-10 Extenders and KC-135 Stratotankers. The squadron supports operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and on occasion, missions in the Horn of Africa.

"You can't compare the two aircraft because both aircraft have their good qualities and their bad qualities," Colonel Meidel said.

The KC-10 has the capability to refuel aircraft using a drogue or a boom every time it goes out. The KC-135 must be configured for one or the other before it takes off, Colonel Meidel said.

On average, the squadron flies 10 to 11 mission a day, with 70 to 80 aircraft receiving about 1 million pounds of gas. In a month, the squadron will refuel 2,000 to 2,400 aircraft.

"We make sure we get the gas to the guys up there, so they can protect the guys on the ground," said Maj. James Greathouse, a KC-10 pilot with the 908th ARS.

The crews here fly about once every two days, keeping the KC-10s and KC-135s in the air around the clock.

"We have a unique capability here," Colonel Meidel said, "The crews are amazing. They are either flying, on crew rest, or on alert during the 60 days they are here"

With both the KC-10 and the KC-135, the squadron can handle whatever mission comes along.

"We are always flexible," Colonel Meidel said. "It doesn't matter if the plane is not on our schedule, we will refuel them if they need it."

"As my son puts it: we are here to make sure someone else's mom and dad come home safe too," Major Greathouse said.