Maintainers of the night

Maintenance Airmen work around the clock to provide mission-ready KC-135 Stratotankers to the aircrews in the 22nd Air Refueling Wing. While the majority of flights take off during the day, the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 22nd Maintenance Squadron work 24/7 repairing and fixing the 62 Stratotankers assigned to McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

An Airman from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron applies rubber-based adhesive to a patch of rub strip, March 31, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The strip helps prevent excessive friction along the inside of the wing flaps on the KC-135 Stratotanker. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

Staff Sgt. Richard Baker, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron jet troop, examines a fuel filter, March 31, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Baker explained how to change the fuel filter on a KC-135 Stratotanker engine to several newer Airmen during an inspection. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

Staff Sgt. Richard Baker, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron jet troop, replaces a fuel filter on the engine of a KC-135 Stratotanker, March 31, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Replacing fuel filters is one of the many steps in an inspection, where the entire aircraft is examined for structural integrity. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

An Airman from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron monitors a KC-135 Stratotanker during an engine check, March 31, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Maintenance Airmen work around the clock to provide mission-ready aircraft for mobility operations 24/7. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

Airmen from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron monitor a KC-135 Stratotanker during an engine check, March 31, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The two Airmen were part of a team examining the Stratotanker as part of a periodic inspection during the night. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

An Airman from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron walks past a KC-135 Stratotanker, March 31, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The aircraft was one of several Stratotankers being worked on overnight in preparation of being flown in the next several days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

Airmen from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron review a technical order, March 31, 2014, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The Airmen were part of the swing-shift in the 22nd AMXS, who work the latter part of the day and early part of the night. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)

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Maintainers of the night

Published April 1, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Maintenance Airmen work around the clock to keep McConnell Air Force Base's fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers running and ready to take off at a moment's notice. This notable amount of maintenance requires three separate shifts: days, swings and mids. The three shifts carry into the weekend with a constant crew of Airmen ready to diagnose and fix any mechanical issues encountered during weekend missions. The maintenance Airmen are on the flightline fixing aircraft whenever they are needed, rain, sleet or snow. (U.S. Air Force photos/Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo)