351st EARS continues to provide support to French air force

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Christopher Mesnard
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST EUROPE --  The 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron completed their 200th aerial refueling flight May 5, 2013, while supporting French fighter aircraft operating over Mali.

The 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, compromised of Airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing and other U.S. Air Force bases in Europe, has provided more than 8.6 million pounds of fuel to French close-air-support fighter aircraft since Jan. 27, 2013.

"We recognize our role as tankers will always be to support others," said Lt. Col. Timothy Kuehne, 351st EARS commander. "Our combined operations with the French in Mali have given us a chance to prove our ability to contribute to anti-terrorism operations led by our partners around the world."

The French deployed troops to Mali in January 2013 in response to unrest in Mali and an influx of terrorist cells in the northern portion of the country. The 351st EARS began providing in-flight refueling support later in the month at the request of the French, and has since refueled 1,012 French receiver aircraft.

"We are pleased with the support we are receiving," said French air force Lt. Col Pascal Sotty, Joint Force Air Component Lyon deputy commander. "The U.S. tanker support has been outstanding and we greatly appreciate the flexibility and dedication of the U.S. tanker force. They always meet the demands of our surges."

The fuel passed by U.S. KC-135R Stratotankers from RAF Mildenhall has directly impacted the French operations in Mali, allowing fighter aircraft to perform around the clock close-air support for French and coalition troops on the ground.

"We could surge our tanker force and support the current refueling needs, but without U.S. tanker support, we could not sustain the mission for very long," said Sotty. "U.S. tanker support allows us to continue to operate from bases outside of Mali."

The 100th ARW's support of French operations in Mali recently highlighted their filling in on operations not led by the U.S. military; these operations include Operation Unified Protector, a NATO operation spearheaded by British and French forces. The support provided by the Stratotanker and its crews is significant in locations such as Mali and gives the U.S. many opportunities to take part in combined operations with global partners.

"It's a change of pace for us compared to Iraq and Afghanistan," Kuehne said. "The contribution of the 351st to the French efforts in Mali emphasizes the U.S. role to assist in anti-terrorism around the world."

The 351st EARS remains poised to provide aerial refueling support for the French -- further reinforcing the bond between the two countries and their stances on anti-terrorism.