97th CES saves bucks, clears runway friction

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, lands on the assault strip, April 18. The 97th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy repair shop (Dirt Boyz) poured Avion50 on the assault strip to remove rubber buildup caused by aircraft landings and swept it off, so that the flying mission could continue. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Franklin R. Ramos / Released)

Small town, small school; Big dreams

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Maj. Meghan Fridley, 58th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III evaluator pilot, shares her experiences as a woman serving in the Air Force, March 19, 2013. Fridley shared her journey to becoming a female Air Force pilot, including her trials and successes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Klynne Pearl Serrano / Released)

54th ARS honors late boom operator

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Smith, 54th Air Refueling Squadron superintendent, presents Luella Klaverkamp, mother of late KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, Airman 1st Class Bruce Klaverkamp, a boom operator coin with Bruce’s boom number on it at Wings of Freedom Park, March 3, 2013. Bruce died in a plane crash, March 13, 1972, during a routine training mission at Carswell AFB, Texas. Klaverkamp and her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Jeff Pollreis, made an 18-hour drive from Clear Water, Minnesota to Altus AFB to visit the Boom Memorial where Bruce’s name is etched in stone, a testament to his service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Klynne Pearl Serrano / Released)

54th ARS honors late boom operator

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Staff Sgt. Christopher Pedersen, 54th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator instructor, speaks to Luella Klaverkamp and Lisa Pollreis about the Boom Memorial at Wings of Freedom Park, March 3, 2013. Klaverkamp and Pollreis are the mother and sister of late KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, Airman 1st Class Bruce Klaverkamp, who died in a plane crash, March 13, 1972, during a routine training mission at Carswell AFB, Texas. The family made an 18-hour drive from Clear Water, Minnesota to Altus AFB to visit the Boom Memorial where Bruce’s name is etched in stone, a testament to his service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Klynne Pearl Serrano / Released)

ALTUS AFB hosts STEM Faculty Development Day

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Altus AFB personnel and local educators watch a presentation inside a C-17 Globemaster III during the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Faculty Development Day, Feb. 13. The presentation focused on Altus AFB’s efforts to illustrate real-world applications to inspire students to start and continue studies in STEM. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Levin Boland / Released)

Altus AFB assists AMC, Fort Sill to deploy defense systems in support of NATO

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Soldiers from the 31st Air Defense Artillery Army Brigade, Fort Sill, Okla., board a 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, W. Va. C-5 Galaxy on the Altus AFB flight line, Jan. 4, 2013. The soldiers were deployed along with Patriot-air-defense systems to de-escalate the situation along the Turkey-Syrian border. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Levin Boland / Released)