100th LRS Fuels Management Flight keeps RAF Mildenhall lifeblood pumping

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The average human heart pumps about 250,000 gallons of blood a year to nourish every cell of the body, without which the body would not function. Similarly, fuels management Airmen keep the lifeblood of RAF Mildenhall - JP-8 - pumping through thousands of feet of underground pipeline "arteries," but to the tune of about 35 million gallons in 2007. 

The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight processed more than 7,400 fuel transactions in fiscal 2007 - like beats of a heart - all servicing either aircraft stationed here or transiting through the base. That directly contributes to the 100th Air Refueling Wing providing mid-air refueling to about 5,000 aircraft during the same period. 

On the ground, fuel is most often delivered from a hydrant system through a pantograph (an extendable fuel delivery system) on every hardstand on the flightline. The hydrants are connected to underground pipelines and multi-million gallon storage tanks distributed throughout the base. Alternatively, technicians can deliver 6,000 gallons via the green R-11 trucks, the typical sight most people associate with fuels management. 

"Our mission is to refuel every plane that hits the ground at RAF Mildenhall in as safely and timely a manner as possible," said Senior Master Sgt. Herbert Welday III, fuels management flight, operations section chief. "We are always open for business. Fuel matters the most, especially in a tanker wing. I always tell my Airmen there isn't a single plane that takes off that they haven't had an impact on." 

The fuels management flight is divided into three sections - operations, quality assurance, and the fuels information service center. Each section has a unique part to play in the fuel delivery process. 

Operations 

The operations section covers fuel distribution, maintenance and fixed facilities infrastructure. They are responsible for refueling all aircraft, including verifying weekly receipt of JP-8 from the Defense Fuel Supply Point in Thetford via pipeline. Additionally, they maintain 13 fuel vehicles, as well as all the pumps, tanks, and military service stations. Liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, and vehicle-grade gasoline are also maintained and delivered. 

Quality Assurance 

Quality assurance makes sure everyone in the flight is performing safely and in accordance with established standards. 

"Without fuel, planes are just static displays," said Tech. Sgt. Chuck Ellis, environmental compliance section NCOIC. "We make sure no one is cutting corners and jeopardizing our ability to keep them flying." 

Fuels Information Service Center 

The fuels information service center takes calls from customers and dispatches operators. The standard response time is 15 minutes according to Sergeant Welday. They also conduct and monitor training, and provide administrative support. Since aircraft stationed at other bases, often belonging to allied nations, are paying for the fuel they receive mid-air, accounting plays a big part in day-to-day activity in the section. Each transaction must be meticulously tracked for accuracy. 

Fuels Lab 

Fuel must constantly be checked for any contamination that could damage aircraft. The fuels information service center oversees a fuels lab that runs elaborate tests to make sure there is no water or solid particles in fuel delivered. The lab also ensures anti-corrosion, anti-icing, and other additives are present in sufficient quantities. 

Fuels Airmen also deploy in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. During the flight's assigned Air Expeditionary Force rotations, nearly two dozen are downrange supporting wartime flying operations at various locations. Airman 1st Class Shawn Carter recently returned from a four-month tour at a base in Southwest Asia with the distinction of pumping the most fuel at that location - 7.1 million gallons. 

"It definitely made the time go by faster," Airman Carter said. "I couldn't have done it without the others though. Everyone steps up and helps out when you're deployed."
The accomplishment directly reflects the wartime capability of fuels Airmen, and is just one example of the impact they have on the Air Force mission. 

Just like the human heart keeps critical blood pumping through the body, the fuels management flight keeps airpower alive - one drop at a time.