126th ARS supports NATO AWACS operations

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kevin Coffman
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  Twenty-eight thousand feet in the skies above Hamburg, Germany and more than 4,200 miles from home, a crew from a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling squadron supports a NATO AWACS.

The 126th Air Refueling Squadron from the Wisconsin Air National Guard stationed at Gen. Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, is operating out of Spangdahlem Air Base for a two week-long mission to support NATO operations. Ten Sabers were also invited to fly with the crew and observe in-air refueling operations.

"It was exciting during the take off because I got to sit in the cock-pit area," said Airman 1st Class Erica Akamine, 52 Medical Operations Squadron. "I didn't realize pilots don't rely on looking out the window, but use the gauges and other controls when flying. I also saw first-hand the importance of radio communication between the plane and the tower."
The mission included delivering 25,000 pounds, or about 3,100 gallons, of JP-8 jet fuel to the AWACS.

The boom operator, Staff Sgt. Mat Grzyb, has been working on a KC-135 for about eight months.

"It's always different with each mission, because of the different size fuel receptacles. Of the 10 different airframes I've refueled, I must say that my favorite aircraft to refuel are the F-22 and F-117," he said.

The plane can deliver about 1,000 gallons of fuel per minute, carry up to 200,000 pounds of fuel, 83,000 pounds of cargo and provide air re-fueling to all branches of service and our allies.

"It's great to have passengers aboard so they can see up-close and personal what our mission is," said pilot Lt. Col. Steve Fuller, who has more than 17 years flying experience and more than 6,500 flying hours. "It gives them a chance to see another mission of the Air Force."

The KC-135 has been in the Air Force's inventory for more than 50 years and is key in ensuring that the U.S. and allied Air Forces, whether dropping hot iron on target, transporting servicemembers and supplies or conducting humanitarian operations, are able to complete their mission without having to lose valuable time by having to land to refuel.