Description:
Airmen maintainers from the 459th ARW (Air Reserve Wing) perform routine engine maintenance on a KC-135 at Joint Base Andrews, MD. The “Stratotanker”, serves as the core aerial refueling capability of the United States Air Force, to accomplish global reach missions. The KC-135 also provides aerial refueling support to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. Without the “backbone” however of also ground support personnel, no aircraft would be able to safely get to the skies
Reserve Citizen Airmen, in concert with Active Duty and Air National Guard Airmen, maintain and operate the KC-135 Stratotanker, which serves as the core aerial refueling capability of the United States Air Force. Airmen deploy this unique platform to enhance the Air Force's capability to accomplish the global reach mission. The KC-135 provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. It also facilitates litter and ambulatory patient transport using on-board patient support pallets for aeromedical evacuations. Pilots assume responsibility of the aircraft and transport aircrew to where fuel is needed, whereupon boom operators offload fuel to various aircraft so they can remain airborne longer and accomplish their missions. The KC-135 has contributed to this critical role in American air superiority for more than 50
years. Today, the AF Reserve operates the KC-135 refueling mission from eight bases including the 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom ARB, IN; 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, CA; 459 ARW, Joint Base Andrews, MD; 507 ARW, Tinker AFB, OK; 914 ARW, Niagara Air Reserve Station, NY; 916 ARW, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC; 927 ARW, MacDill AFB, FL, 931 ARW, McConnell AFB, KS and MacDill AFB, FL; 940 ARW, Beale AFB, FL.
In this nocturne painting, Tech. Sgt. Katie "Kat" Justen, 459 ARW, public affairs, and artist for Air Force Reserve Office of History and Heritage, highlights Reserve Citizen Airmen maintainers from the 459 ARW performing routine engine maintenance on a KC-135 at Joint Base Andrews, MD.
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