Altus Air Force Base News

 

54th ARS has unique experience with Dutch press

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brian M. Boisvert
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 54th Air Refueling Squadron served a midday rendezvous for members of the Dutch International Press Corps Oct. 25, 2011 while flying high over America.

Two photojournalists from Global Aviation Review press boarded a KC-135 Stratotanker from Altus AFB and took to the skies, capturing on digital film air refueling operations supporting both the C-17 Globemaster III and the B-1B Lancer airframes.

It took the two-man team a year of planning to get all the right credentials, authorizations and visas for the four-hour flight.

"We specifically wanted imagery of a B-1B and a C-17 refueling and performing airborne operations," said Martin Scharenborg, GAR journalist. "Not only did we accomplish that, but the professionalism by the aircrew from the 54th that hosted us was superb. The access we had to accomplish our mission to document the 97th Air Mobility Wing's mission and other aircraft in flight not only made our story better but left us with a very welcomed feeling. This was perfect and much more then we had hoped for."

While no students could be aboard the KC-135 during the air refueling because of strict safety regulations regarding media flights, student pilots from the 58th Airlift Squadron were able to practice connecting a C-17 to another aircraft for an in-flight fuel transfer while international media captured it all.

After the C-17 training and photo session was complete, two B-1Bs from Ellsworth AFB, S.D. moved into camera view showcasing the mightiness and flexibility of U.S. Air Power and lined up for formation photographs.

"This was an international win for everyone," said Maj. Ben Kline, Air Mobility Command Detachment 2 chief of simulator certification and pilot assigned to the 54th ARS. "We provided training for a C-17 aircrew while showing the Altus mission to an international audience."

This flight was a unique opportunity for all who were involved.

"It was a unique opportunity to show to the world what we do every day," said Staff Sgt. Ben Davis, 54th ARS boom operator instructor. "The 54th is here to train pilots and boom operators how to provide airborne refueling all over the world and today we had the world with us."

On average the 54th ARS trains 560 pilots and boom operators annually bringing the critical piece of aerial refueling to the everyday fight and other missions around the world.

"There is an unofficial motto in the tanker community - NKAWTG, or No one Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Maas, 54th ARS boom operator instructor. "Today we proved that even the Dutch needed a little tanker gas for their photos and story to kick butt."