A Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 tanker flew its first mission as part of Operation Inherent Resolve on Feb. 1, refueling multiple aircraft over a five and a half hour period. The tanker completely emptied its fuel during a mission from a base in Kuwait, refueling aircraft from Australia, Canada, Germany, and the US, according to a press release. About 30 Dutch airmen and the tanker had deployed from their home base in Eindhoven just days before the misison. The aircraft previously deployed to operations in Afghanistan in 2004 and was part of Operation Unified Protector in Libya in 2011.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…