Tanker pilots fly with a little more in common

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alice K. Moore
  • 40th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM --  Flying missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom has truly been an experience for Capt. Joel Higley and 1st Lt. Matt Mierek, 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilots deployed here from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

When they initially met back at their home station, they found they had a little more in common than other members of their squadron. The two had graduated from the same high school in a small town in upstate New York.

Higley, a 1991 graduate of Holland Patent High School, received his commission from the Air Force Academy in 1995, he said.

Mierek graduated from Holland Patent High a year later and received his commission in 1999 through the ROTC program while attending Rochester Institute of Technology.

"When I first arrived at Fairchild, I recognized (Higley's) name," Mierek said.

"We didn't really know each other while in high school," Higley said. "However, I was a classmate of some of his cousins."

Higley flew the C-21 aircraft for three years before being assigned in 2000 to fly KC-135 Stratotankers at Fairchild, he said. Mierek, who received his assignment to KC-135s after completing pilot training, arrived at Fairchild in 2001.

The two were deployed with their squadron in March, just days before the kick-off of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Before leaving, they wanted to be able to fly together. Their first flight together ended up being when they deployed from their home station, Higley said.

"We thought it would be great to have the chance to fly together," Higley said. "It worked out pretty well for us, too. Matt is currently in the process of his upgrade training to be an aircraft commander and since I'm an instructor pilot, I was able to fly with him and help him in his training," he said.

Mierek said mentorship is a good word to describe the pair's working relationship since being deployed.

"He's definitely showing me the ropes on making good decisions and how to run a crew," said Mierek.

Higley said that since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the two have flown more hours than any other crew within their squadron.

"This has been a great experience for me," said Higley. "I grew up an Air Force brat. My dad was a pilot for the KC-135 and the B-52s. It's kind of ironic getting to fly the same plane he flew and getting to refuel his other aircraft with someone that went to the same high school as I did."

The two pilots agree that they have formed a great personal relationship while being deployed. However, when it comes to the mission, everything else is swept aside to ensure the job gets done, they said.

"Personally, we get along great," Mierek said. "With a few differences here and there we have a great deal in common, but when it comes to flying we put aside the fact that there is a personal tie and accomplish the mission."