Mission success depends on refuelers

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith
  • 40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) --  The B-1 Lancers that drop bombs on targets cannot get to those targets without the support of the KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-10 Extenders that refuel them en route.

The general premise of the missions seems simple: refuel the B-1s on the way to and from the area of responsibility. In reality, flying a 1950s gas station miles in the air over uninhabited areas and providing fuel to an aircraft the KC-135 was not designed to refuel is never an easy task.

A typical mission starts about two hours before takeoff.

"We have a lot of paperwork to go through before we go to the aircraft," said Capt. Erick Turasz, 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron aircraft commander. "We check the weather, finalize our plans and receive briefings and equipment."

Captain Turasz and his crew -- co-pilot 1st Lt. Jennifer Phillips and boom operators Staff Sgt. Ron McKinney and Senior Airman Michael Fagan -- receive an intelligence briefing and look over documents relating to the mission. Even before heading to the aircraft, some missions are more complex than others. Sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate with flying.

"There are times when the weather is bad, but the B-1s need us to get there," Captain Turasz said. "We weigh our options and find a way to work around the conditions."

Once the pre-flight work is done, the crew times its departure with the B-1 to be refueled. Mission lengths vary depending on whether the B-1 is going to or coming from the area of responsibility. Sometimes, the mission might change altogether to support other coalition aircraft.

Unlike refueling missions stateside, deployed KC-135 crews stay together for the duration of the deployment.

"I prefer flying with the same crew," said Sergeant McKinney, who is deployed from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. "You get to know each other pretty well, and you know what to expect."

Some crews, like Captain Turasz's, may have never met until this deployment. Lieutenant Phillips, for example, is a reservist from Portland, Ore., who volunteered for this rotation.

"MacDill AFB was fortunate to have Lieutenant Phillips volunteer to help augment us during this deployment," Captain Turasz said. "Having her step up has allowed someone to stay home or maybe deploy to another location being supported by MacDill."

In the air, everything this diverse crew does is based on timing. Most refueling takes place over uncontrolled airspace, with no air traffic controllers to monitor airspace or other aircraft. In addition to focusing on getting where they need to be on time, the KC-135 crew has to watch for other aircraft, civilian and military.

Once the crew makes contact with the B-1, it is not long before Sergeant McKinney is lying on his stomach in the back of the aircraft. The boom compartment on the KC-135 is relatively small. The boom operator lies on a platform while controlling the arm, or boom, that extends from the KC-135 to the aircraft needing fuel.

Sergeant McKinney waits in the boom compartment as the small dot in the sky behind the KC-135 quickly closes in. In a matter of a minute, the small dot turns into a huge B-1. The B-1 is so close to the KC-135 that the pilot's mask and visor can be seen clearly. Sergeant McKinney extends the boom arm and inserts it in the receptacle on the nose of the B-1.

Within minutes, the KC-135 transfers thousands of gallons of fuel to the bomber. The B-1 then drops below the KC-135. As quickly as it approached, the B-1 disappears.

For casual observers, the refueling part of the mission is the most intense. According to Sergeant McKinney, it is all in a day's work. He is calm and collected throughout the whole process.

"Refueling heavier aircraft, like C-5 (Galaxies) and C-17 (Globemaster IIIs), is more difficult than refueling fighter aircraft, mainly due to the size difference," said Sergeant McKinney.

In addition to running the boom, Sergeant McKinney is responsible for other tasks during a mission.

"Some other in-flight duties include (maintaining the) safety and security of the passengers and cargo, if any are on board," Sergeant McKinney said. "In a nutshell, the boom operator is responsible for everything behind the cockpit."

"Boom operators are, foremost, air refueling specialists," Captain Turasz said. "(They) also have to be skilled in the secondary missions of the tanker such as cargo delivery, aeromedical evacuations and troop airlift.

"Boom operators play a critical role directly in the cockpit by backing up the pilots when airborne and aiding during in-flight emergencies," the captain said.

Although the KC-135, originally delivered to the Air Force in 1956, is aging, Captain Turasz said he is happy to be flying such a mission-vital machine.

"I feel that it has made me a better pilot, and my flying career has benefited from it," he said. "The KC-135 community does an excellent job in taking care of its people and is a very tight-knit group. There is mutual respect between officers and enlisted aircrew. Both sides realize that without the other, the mission would be impossible to complete."