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Dedicated Airmen carry KC-10 Extender to combat success

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  It takes a concentrated team effort to complete the cycle of a successful combat air refueling mission is support of overseas contingency operations and Airmen in the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron and the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron complete it every day.

"The aircraft I work on refuels other aircraft directly supporting troops on the ground in places like Afghanistan," said Senior Airman Justin Lassiter, a KC-10 Extender aerospace propulsion journeyman deployed with the 380th EAMXS deployed from the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "If the aircraft engines I work on and maintain don't work properly, the aircraft won't be able to fly and do its mission. Our team of maintainers makes sure that is never a problem and we strive every day to make sure our planes meet their mission capabilities."

At a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, deployed Airmen supporting the KC-10 mission at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. In 2009, KC-10's from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing and the 908th EARS flew 4,760 combat sorties off-loading more than 422 million pounds of fuel to more than 31,000 aircraft. In the same year, the KC-10's and their crews accumulated more than 40,000 hours of flight time.

According to its Air Force fact sheet, the KC-10 Extender is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-l0's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carry the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments. The KC-10 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.

The fact sheet also shows the KC-10 can transport up to 75 people and nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo a distance of about 4,400 miles unrefueled. In addition to the three main DC-10 wing fuel tanks, the KC-10 has three large fuel tanks under the cargo floor, one under the forward lower cargo compartment, one in the center wing area and one under the rear compartment. Combined, the capacity of the six tanks carry more than 356,000 pounds of fuel -- almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker. Using either an advanced aerial refueling boom, or a hose and drogue centerline refueling system, the KC-10 can refuel a wide variety of U.S. and allied military aircraft within the same mission. The aircraft is equipped with lighting for night operations.

"There are very few people in the world that can say, without lying, that they love their job," said Capt. Nate St. Louis, KC-10 pilot with the 908th EARS deployed from the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron at Joint Base MDL. "I'm fortunate enough to be one of them. Being deployed is one of the more rewarding parts of this job. Off-loading fuel to coalition aircraft that are supporting troops on the ground and knowing that my actions are saving American lives definitely gives me a sense of pride."

Capt. Sean Chuplis, also a KC-10 pilot deployed to the 908th EARS from the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron at Joint Base MDL, added, "We deliver much needed fuel to support jets flying in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. It's a role we are more than happy to complete."

In addition to the KC-10, the 380th AEW is home to the U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia.