U.S. marks anniversary of jet refueling
Technique called ‘Remarkable’

BY JAY F. MARKS Comments 0
Published: January 2, 2009

An F-16 finishes refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker on June 26 during a refueling mission over the Gulf of Mexico. The KC-135 is based at Tinker Air Force Base. PHOTOS BY PAUL HELLSTERN, OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE

It all started 80 years ago.

On Jan. 1, 1929, the first major air refueling operation helped an aircraft dubbed the Question Mark spend a week in the sky, the commander of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command said.

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Gen. Arthur J. Lichte said such flights are still amazing aerial feats today.

"We consider it simply part of what we do, but in reality, it is quite remarkable to have two aircraft meeting less than 50 feet apart at more than 20,000 feet above the ground traveling at speeds close to 400 miles per hour while a tanker replenishes another aircraft with the fuel necessary to continue the mission,” Lichte wrote in an article commemorating the anniversary.

One of the units carrying out those refueling missions is the 507th Air Refueling Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit at Tinker Air Force Base. Its members log about 2,600 flying hours each year, which is more than many active duty units, Lt. Col. Richard Curry said.

Reserve, Guard handle most refuelings

Curry said more than half of the Air Force’s refueling missions are flown by Reserve or Air National Guard units, such as the 137th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker. The Guard unit became an associate of the Air Force Reserve unit in the 2005 realignment.

"It’s a critical aspect of national defense,” he said.

The Tinker unit has 12 KC-135 Stratotankers, which have been in service for 50 years.

Curry said they likely will continue to be part of refueling operations until 2030 or beyond.

"That’s an amazing feat,” he said.

Litche said it is time to build new tankers because they are an important part of the U.S. arsenal.

"Without tankers, our combat aircraft cannot reach their targets,” Lichte wrote. "Without tankers, our resupply aircraft and humanitarian relief materials cannot always reach their destinations.

"Without tankers, we cannot move our wounded warriors nonstop from the battlefield to the U.S. for the medical care they need.”