Mildenhall Airmen forge ties with past enemy

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cindy Dorfner
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ZHUKOVSKY, Russia (USAFENS) --  Though he’d talked to his wife, Kelley, about this trip for three solid weeks, Lt. Col. Rich Cordell had no idea how he’d feel flying his KC-135 Stratotanker into Russian airspace for the Moscow International Air Show and Space Salon at Ramenskoye Airfield here.

After all, Colonel Cordell, the 100th Operations Group deputy commander, was commissioned in 1984 and entered the Air Force at the height of the Cold War.

“The Russians were the enemy we trained to fight against,” Colonel Cordell said. “In fact, the KC-135 was designed to fly with the B-52 Stratofortress, of which the Russians were afraid. The KC-135 may not be as impressive as a strategic bomber, but its sole purpose was to provide gas to those B-52s so they could be ready to drop bombs on targets.”

One older Russian man, a radio operator, explained what he experienced during the Cold War.

“We lived that life ... watching B-52s fly over us. The situation was nervous,” he said. “I retired in 1992 and I wonder if I ever heard (Colonel Cordell) over the radio. These people are no longer enemies -- how wonderful.”

Colonel Cordell echoed his new friend’s sentiments.

“To be able to visit your one-time enemy as a friend shows huge progress in the world,” Colonel Cordell said. “You have an image (about what Russia is like) fostered from stories and education. But, there’s nothing like seeing it for yourself. This whole trip has been such a thrill for me.”

Oleg, a soldier in the Soviet army 20 years ago, said seeing American aircraft on a Russian airfield is something he never imagined.

“I was a radio operator and I heard American pilots over the radio many times,” he said. “RAF Mildenhall airplanes are very familiar to me. My impression of Americans back then was that they were the same people as us. They had a normal work day, like us.”

Representing the United States at the air show is definitely not like a normal work day for 1st Lt. Nichelle Brokering, KC-135 co-pilot from the 351st Air Refueling Squadron. Instead of signing forms at work, she signed autographs and had her picture taken, literally, thousands of times.

“It was pretty cool, I signed a picture of Maj. Liesl Carter (also a pilot from the 351st ARS), who was on the trip in 2003,” Lieutenant Brokering said. “Someone else on our crew signed a book that she had signed. It’s incredible -- their dedication in wanting to tell us about meeting our friends.”

Tech. Sgt. Michael Murray, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulics specialist, said though the days are long here, it’s a good break from the daily maintenance grind at RAF Mildenhall.

“I have tan lines around my eyes because I smiled so much for pictures Saturday,” he said. “This trip was a chance of a lifetime and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to represent the United States in Russia.”

Staff Sgt. Jeff Haak, 100th AMXS KC-135 crew chief, said he’s wanted to visit Russia since he was a little boy. The trip didn’t disappoint him.

“Everyone has been so nice and welcoming,” Sergeant Haak said. “I’m definitely going to try to come back on my own.”

Lieutenant Brokering said she wasn’t sure what to expect before arriving in Russia , but she didn’t think this was it.

“I’m shocked and amazed at how welcoming the Russians are and how eager they are to meet us,” she said. “They feel so honored to talk to an American, but they don’t realize we feel the same to talk to them.”

Staff Sgt. Andrea Otto, a 351st ARS boom operator, said this trip was definitely a “good deal.”

“It makes me proud to represent the United States here,” Sergeant Otto said. “I was talking to a Russian girl about life before in the Soviet Union compared to life here now. She said it was a totally different world and much, much better. It’s so great to see more opportunities for the people here and especially to see a woman with so many opportunities that she wouldn’t have had not long ago.”

The air show is one of the largest in the world, fourth only to the air shows in Paris; Farnborough, England; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is the second time the United States has displayed military aircraft at the air show; the first time was in 2003 and RAF Mildenhall participated with a KC-135 static display then as well. In 2001 the Department of Defense participated with a technology booth.

The United States also had one B-1B, two F-15Es, two F-16CJs and a KC-10 Extender on static display. Additionally, a second B-1B performed daily aerial demonstrations -- a key attraction at the six-day event Aug. 16 to 21.