ONE IS HEAVY, TWO VERY HEAVY BUT THREE? FLIGHT OF 3 KC-135 STRATOTANKERS TAKE OFF • RAF MILDENHALL
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- The KC-135 Stratotanker is commonly seen at RAF Mildenhall but who doesn't like a big iron? Well, on this day, we were in for a treat of HEAVY with three KC-135's queuing up for departure!
The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refuelling capability for the US Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years. This unique asset enhances the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary mission of global reach. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft such as the RAF's Rivet Joint. At RAF Mildenhall, it proudly serves with the 351st Air Refueling Squadron of the 100th Air Refueling Wing. It proudly shows off its famous 'Square D' on its tail, the only WWII tail marking still in service today.
At the start of World War II, the USAAF (US Army Air Force) was a small service in comparison to the air forces of Europe. At first, the USAAF's deployment to Europe involved relatively small numbers of fighters and bomber aircraft, with no system of group identification being used. Though there wasn't an official marking system, some aircraft were identified by numbers painted on their fuselage or decorated cowlings and other paintwork.
The Royal Air Force already had a marking system for their aircraft to denote a squadron along with single letter to identify the aircraft within the squadron. For example 41 Squadrons code was EB. It is believed that the Wing Commander would have their own initials on the fuselage. This marking system was impractical in combat, so by June 1943, the first tail system appeared.
During World War II, bomb groups departing from England joined massive formations over the North Sea before heading toward their targets. In order to ensure members from the same group met and formed together, the bombers had tail marking unique to each bomb group.
According to historic documentation, tail markings consisted of a letter within a geometric shape. In the case of the 100th Bomb Group, the unit the 100th ARW descended from, the marking was the letter "D" inside a square - hence the Square D was formed.
The Square D became the official designation of the 3rd Air Division and the subordinate 100th BG, who moved to RAF Mildenhall during the war.
To this day, the 100th ARW is the only Air Force unit to continue using their World War II tail marking. Though the Army Air Force, 3rd Division, 4th Bombardment Wing and 100th Bomb Group only remain in history books, their legacies live on through the 100th ARW and their Square D tail marking. But what about the nose art?
The 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy), was an Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress unit in England, stationed at RAF Thorpe Abbotts. The nose art you see today on the KC-135s are the replica nose art from the B-17s, which were based at RAF Thorpe Abbots.
On 8 October, it lost seven aircraft on a raid on Bremen, including its lead and deputy lead aircraft .Only two days later, it lost twelve aircraft on an attack on Münster, again including the lead aircraft. The only group plane returning from that mission had lost two engines and had two wounded on board. Its highest one day loss occurred on the 6 March 1944 attack on Berlin, when 15 bombers failed to return. On 11 September 1944, the Luftwaffe put up its heaviest opposition in months, destroying 11 of the group's bombers. On 31 December 1944, half the 1st Bombardment Division's losses consisted of a dozen 100th bombers. With a group authorisation of 40 B-17s, it lost 177 planes to enemy action. It became a legend for these losses and was referred to as the "Bloody Hundredth.
For more info
100BG Museum
www.100bgmus.o...
Square D Article
www.mildenhall...
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Got to love the heavies! especially the one's with the square D, proudly displayed on the tail. USAFE and UK still protecting the skies together 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Oii oiii Ellesee
Another important aircraft. How can something so big & bulky look so graceful & majestic? Fascinating! The tail markings & history info is interesting, thank you Ted.
Oii oiii Margo. Thank you and it is always staggering to think that such big iron can get airborne like that. Ooohhh yeah
Great footage Ted & Nikos.
Seeing just 1 of these wonderful servants depart is always good to see, but 3's even better
Thanks Colin and we were so lucky to see a three-ship
USAF AND UK 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸 Protection in the skies.
Love the Heavies great capture. Nikos you don't often see 3 go together.
Something big going on somewhere.
Good luck 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇬🇧🇬🇧
Ooohhhhh yeah thanks Ann. Heavies are so awesome to watch
I love dat lovely little bear Der Naw , especially with the fire engine 🚒🚒🚒
Thanks Rachel
3 mighty KC-135 Stratotanker's take off from RAF Mildenhall such muscle and such grace nice one Nikos and Ted amazing technology gorgeous.
Oii oiii Debbie thank you very much. This was pretty heavy here with a few tonnes of big iron. Ooohh yeah
I remember seeing the KC before engine up grades. They used to smoke like a trooper!! Thank you for upload regards😊😊👍👍❤
Love these heavy irons, also love the fact that some still have nose art ❤🫡
Oii oiii Captain A 🤙🏼 yeah man, the nose art is very special
beep beep firetruck , I'll take that !!! 😍😍😍😍
REALLY LIKE TO THANK YOU AGAIN,ALLIES!!!
The 90,s were great here at Mildenhall especially the starlifters and the galaxy's.
Loook at this!!!
Oii oiii Nikos & Teds...Hope you are fijne in these ruff times!!!What up!!?
Can't imagine the power...
Uuuuuuhhhh yeaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!@@@
HOORAAH!
USAF Heavies have such wonderfully painted Heavies. The Matte grey sinister appearance not hiding the point of them but despite this they hold an incredibly important role in US, UK and Nato exercises. How lucky are we to see them each day? Three is just being creedy lol..
The great fuel stations of the skies for everything from nato countries but masterful too watch.. With that 'D' an eye catcher indeed. Wonderful capture, slick as filming. You know their moves der naow
Great camera work, thanks.
A trio of tankers smoothly take to the skies of Suffolk. RAF Mildenhall bringing us the Big Iron once again.
Ooooohhhh yeah
KC and the sunshine band...
Nikos you should make plushies of ted with different shirts or hats and a flag
❤❤❤❤
What a sound
Love me some biggins.. great video Ted and crew. Oii oii
Ooohhh yeah
If Duty calls...
awesome stuff, love it, great filming nikos
Thank you
Too heavy? No such thing!
Btw nice jingle
4ever USAF!!@@@!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇹🇹
Can u go Lakenheath next Thursday
Got the Heavies out. What Radio reciver are you useing im looking at getting one.
Hi Ted where do you stand to do your filming at Milldenhall? Love the content.👍
Nook Campsite. Currently it is £2 per person and opens around 0900. Please adhere to the viewing times when you get there
Accidently spammmed 1 flag.sorry
Some more Teds
Once was lost...
???
Oh,listen to this button wouldn't be bad.Would'nt it oiii oii
Oii oii
Ppphhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh