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EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- A Drogue refueling basket hangs off the boom of a KC-135R Stratotanker belonging to the 168th Air Refueling Squadron, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, prior to taking off for a refueling mission in support of exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 2004-01 on 21 July 2004. The KC-135 Stratotanker's principal mission is air refueling. This unique asset greatly enhances the USAF's capability to accomplish its primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft as well as those of allied nations. Cope Thunder is a multi-service, multi-platform coordinated, combat operations exercise and corresponds to the designed operational capability of participating units. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang)


KC-135 Stratotanker Drogue

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- A Drogue refueling basket hangs off the boom of a KC-135R Stratotanker belonging to the 168th Air Refueling Squadron, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, prior to taking off for a refueling mission in support of exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 2004-01 on 21 July 2004. The KC-135 Stratotanker's principal mission is air refueling. This unique asset greatly enhances the USAF's capability to accomplish its primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft as well as those of allied nations. Cope Thunder is a multi-service, multi-platform coordinated, combat operations exercise and corresponds to the designed operational capability of participating units. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang)

Related Imagery
Eielson’s 168th and 354th work together to support Operation Noble Eagle
A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 350th Air Refueling Squadron out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., keeps a KC-135 Stratotanker in formation as F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets prepare to refuel Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. Aircrews operating KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are essential to RF-A exercises that provide commanders training for full spectrum engagements, ranging from individual skills to complex, large-scale joint engagements in the realistic threat environment inside more than 67,000 square miles of airspace within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A pair of U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, flies in formation with a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A exercises are vital to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and signify the United States' commitment to its partners throughout the area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, inverts as it heads back to the fight after refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A exercises provide realistic combat training to joint and international forces essential to the success of air and space operations with minimal impact on the environment within more than 67,000 square miles of airspace inside the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A pair of U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, fly in formation next to a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A exercises are conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which provides expansive co-located air and land ranges within a more than 67,000 square mile area, including one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators, both manned and unmanned to provide a realistic training environment for participants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, flies in formation next to a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises, provides unique opportunities to integrate various into joint, coalition and multilateral training from simulated forward operating bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Maxwell Smesny, a boom operator assigned to the 350th Air Refueling Squadron out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., follows a preflight checklist prior to take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1. Aircrews operating KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are vital to the success of RF-A, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, enabling joint and international units to sharpen their skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., returns to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2016, after completing its first RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. The Tanker Task Force provides a crucial aerial refueling capability for this Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise, enabling missions conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which provides more than 67,000 square miles of combat training airspace for U.S. and international partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing out of Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., gains speed for takeoff from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1. The Tanker Task Force provides a crucial aerial refueling capability for this Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise, enabling missions conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which provides more than 67,000 square miles of combat training airspace for U.S. and international partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing out of Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1. As part of the Tanker Task Force, these aircraft provide crucial aerial refueling capability for this Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise, enabling combat training missions for U.S. and international partners conducted within the more than 67,000 square mile Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor multi-role fighter aircraft assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft assigned to the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 16, 2016, in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex during RED FLAG-Alaska 16-3. During air refueling a boom operator is responsible for making sure aircraft are refueled properly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Isaac Johnson)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andy Birmingham, a boom operator assigned to the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, out of Birmingham Air National Guard Base, Ala., refuels a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor multi-role fighter aircraft assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 16, 2016, in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-3. Air refueling allows aircraft participating in RF-A to stay in the air longer and extend sortie times. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Isaac Johnson)
Senior Airman Joshua Strang
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