RAF Mildenhall tanker crew deploys to Sweden for exercise support

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
LULEA, Sweden --  Air and ground crews from United States Air Forces in Europe joined military units from about 10 other nations June 8 for Loyal Arrow 2009, a 10-day exercise hosted by the Swedish Air Force's Norbotten Wing.

A team of 15 Airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing deployed to Sweden with a KC-135 Stratotanker, which is the only air refueling asset participating in the exercise. The tanker is outfitted to refuel all aircraft participating in the mission.

Loyal Arrow is a combination live-fire exercise and integration of NATO Reaction Forces, according to Maj. Matt Moneymaker, detachment commander for the 100th ARW's exercise team.

Maj. Steve Fisher, 100th Operations Support Squadron, said the crew from RAF Mildenhall is proud to be included in the exercise and ready to fuel the simulated fight. He said although the crew is a small part of the total picture, there is no question among the participants that they are a vital part of the mission's potential success.

"Before we got here there was some question whether or not we'd be able to support the mission, and half the people in NATO were holding their breath waiting to see what the status of the tanker was," Major Fisher said. Now, however, the tanker sits loaded with fuel and ready to take off and support the other Loyal Arrow participants.

USAFE forces joining the 100th ARW in Sweden include F-15E Strike Eagles from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath and barrier maintenance crews from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The exercise will run until June 18, and the 100th ARW is scheduled to fly every day to provide air refueling to the players.