I've guarded my fair share of these. Amazing to think my grandfather and father were serving during this time and years later the same aircraft are on our flight line.
KC-135 Boom here from 1980-1986, then KC-10's from 1986-1999. i remember those old headsets (put athletic wrist bands around them for comfort). good thing was we didn't have to wear our helmets during refueling. and i could never forget those "alert duties"...FOR ALERT FORCE, FOR ALERT FORCE, KLAXON, KLAXON, KLAXON.
My favorite part of this is at the beginning, when the Boomer brings the nice Nav a cup of coffee! "Hey Boom, how about a cup of coffee?" [I'm a retired tanker nav]
I knew the boomer [Campbell, I believe was his name] near the end-he was the one who pumped gas to a USN tanker who let the fuel pass on to the Navy fighters, saving all of them. [The KC-135 could refuel only one at a time, while the Navy tanker could do more than one]. The rumor was that the USAF was going to hang the crew for doing something so out of the ordinary, but once word got out, their feat was recognized.
My unit, the 4252nd Strat Wing, off loaded a record amount of fuel during the time I spent at Okinawa 1965 to 1967. We kept the planes flying on their missions to Vietnam. We were known as the "Young Tigers"!
Was in SAC Ellsworth, Minot, and TDY to Anderson. August 1976 to December 1979. My Uncle Hollis was a KC-135 Bomb Operator in Air Force Systems Command
once again...ground crew ain't work looking at...its a good thing aircrew can manage to do every bit of the work required to meet these missions because otherwise you might think a mechanic was important...
Nice video. Spent many hours watching refueling next to boomer after a 3 hour preflight early AM as a crew chief out of Fairchild and tour in U-Tapao.
I've guarded my fair share of these. Amazing to think my grandfather and father were serving during this time and years later the same aircraft are on our flight line.
F-4’s were known not to want to let go of the nozzle.
Kc135 crew chief blytheville afb ark slso utapo thailand. 1966 thru1970
KC-135 Boom here from 1980-1986, then KC-10's from 1986-1999.
i remember those old headsets (put athletic wrist bands around them for comfort). good thing was we didn't have to wear our helmets during refueling.
and i could never forget those "alert duties"...FOR ALERT FORCE, FOR ALERT FORCE, KLAXON, KLAXON, KLAXON.
Loved those 1505 uniforms. Notice the embroidered rank and wings on the one-star.
Worked on KC135s at Altus AFB Ok IFR maintenance 75-78 miss those birds.
My favorite part of this is at the beginning, when the Boomer brings the nice Nav a cup of coffee! "Hey Boom, how about a cup of coffee?" [I'm a retired tanker nav]
LC, AC, in the KC - Best job in the Air Force
LC= LtCol
AC= Aircraft Commander
KC= KC-135
909th Air Refueling Squadron
I knew the boomer [Campbell, I believe was his name] near the end-he was the one who pumped gas to a USN tanker who let the fuel pass on to the Navy fighters, saving all of them. [The KC-135 could refuel only one at a time, while the Navy tanker could do more than one]. The rumor was that the USAF was going to hang the crew for doing something so out of the ordinary, but once word got out, their feat was recognized.
Old home week! From an old crew dog. KC- EC-135 IN and stan eval member. Young Tiger as well
Were you with the 70th ARS?
J-57s gangs and gangs of them 52's and 135's SAC it was the best of time and worst of times!
The pilot looks like president Kennedy!!!!!
My unit, the 4252nd Strat Wing, off loaded a record amount of fuel during the time I spent at Okinawa 1965 to 1967. We kept the planes flying on their missions to Vietnam. We were known as the "Young Tigers"!
I remember having 7995 as one of my aircraft as a mx officer.
It’s now a jet that I work on today. She’s one of the best we got
Ah, those "elephant walks". Those were NOT the days!
OH no-riding IN THE BED of the pickups, WITHOUT HELMETS, during the response. How did they ever survive?
Was in SAC Ellsworth, Minot, and TDY to Anderson. August 1976 to December 1979. My Uncle Hollis was a KC-135 Bomb Operator in Air Force Systems Command
Awesome stuff👍✈️
Last time I checked, our alert facility needed a little gardening... Booms? By the way, can I get a water too?
My old tail #
Gen Tyler got his star while commander with the 4252nd Strat Wing.
GREAT VIDEO!!
@mcahill135 Cool video Bro!
Mating Dragonflies!
Oh how I miss SAC alert!
Me too. ICBMs here....1983-87
Classic! Best tanker video out there, in my opinion.
once again...ground crew ain't work looking at...its a good thing aircrew can manage to do every bit of the work required to meet these missions because otherwise you might think a mechanic was important...