Chief Master Sgt. Brent Crozier, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, lowers the boom of a KC-135 for a receiver aircraft during a refueling mission over Afghanistan in April 2011. The 340th EARS is part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing transitioned from a predominantly fighter-based operation during the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 to a multi-mission wing in 2011, according to its wing fact sheet. Once touted as "the largest concentration of coalition airpower in history," the wing now supports a wider range of missions to include bomber, airlift, refueling, aeromedical evacuation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Christian Jadot)

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Tanker maintenance troops from the 319th Air Refueling Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., watch as a tanker from the 22nd ARW at McConnelll AFB, Kan., rolls off into the sunset for a night air-refueling mission from a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Sept. 28, 2003. Tanker units from Grand Forks; McConnell; MacDill AFB, Fla; Robins AFB, Ga.; and Fairchild AFB, Wash., combined there for a short time to work together in the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron. The 340th EARS is part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing transitioned from a predominantly fighter-based operation during the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 to a multi-mission wing in 2011, according to its wing fact sheet. Once touted as "the largest concentration of coalition airpower in history," the wing now supports a wider range of missions to include bomber, airlift, refueling, aeromedical evacuation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)

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A B-1 Lancer prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker during a refueling mission over Afghanistan in April 2011. The KC-135 is from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing transitioned from a predominantly fighter-based operation during the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 to a multi-mission wing in 2011, according to its wing fact sheet. Once touted as "the largest concentration of coalition airpower in history," the wing now supports a wider range of missions to include bomber, airlift, refueling, aeromedical evacuation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Christian Jadot)

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Brig. General Randy Kee, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, pilots a KC-135 Stratotanker during a refueling mission over Afghanistan in April 2011. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing transitioned from a predominantly fighter-based operation during the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 to a multi-mission wing in 2011, according to its wing fact sheet. Once touted as "the largest concentration of coalition airpower in history," the wing now supports a wider range of missions to include bomber, airlift, refueling, aeromedical evacuation, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Christian Jadot)

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Expeditionary air refueling unit 'fuels the fight'

Published April 26, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Christian Jadot
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- When driving a car and the gas gauge nudges toward 'E," or "empty," people tend to look for the next gas station to fuel up their vehicle. But when aircraft need to remain in the sky over the fight, stopping at a convenience store is not an option.

Fortunately for coalition forces on the ground, units like the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, operating from a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, provide air-to-air refueling with the KC-135 Stratotanker. Use of the KC-135 helps keep warplanes available to support current military operations in Southwest Asia and other areas.

"I serve as a pilot and flight commander," said Brig. Gen. Randy Kee, 379th Expeditionary Air Wing commander and KC-135 pilot. "It is my job to deliver a stable refueling platform for the receiver."

A typical air refueling mission begins with planning.

"The crew receives planning materials and an intelligence briefing prior to stepping onto the aircraft," said Lt. Col. Mitchell McDonald, 340th EARS aircraft commander. "It is the responsibility of the crew to ensure the aircraft makes its scheduled air refueling control time with the receiver aircraft."

For refueling to take place the KC-135 has to rendezvous with its receiver aircraft. A boom operator lowers the telescopic tube known as the boom to the receiver aircraft. The fuel transfer then takes place.

"The boom is extended 10 feet before the receiver arrives in the [rear] position," said Chief Master Sgt. Brent Crozier, 340th EARS boom operator. "I hold it steady so he can line up with it before I clear him in to refuel. Once he is three to five feet behind the nozzle, I can extend it further into his receptacle to make contact. Once in contact, I follow his movements and advise him if he is going to go out of one of my preset limits. If he gets close to breaking a limit I disconnect him and tell him to return to the pre-contact position in order to try again."

Some of the difficulties of refueling missions include a large off-load of fuel and the weather in the refueling area, Colonel Mitchell said. The tanker aircraft is sometimes limited to only using a portion of the refueling area due to clouds and the turbulence associated with the weather. It makes it challenging on the receiver aircraft to maintain contact on the boom, long enough to transfer all the fuel.

Nevertheless, the refueling fleet of the 379th AEW plays a major role in current operations by supplying fuel to combat aircraft, wing officials said. In other words, "the 379th refuels the fight."