Members of the Afghan air force’s Kandahar Air Wing and US Army’s Task Force Thunder recently conducted their first joint air assault mission. During Operation Sand Hill Crane, two Army UH-60 Black Hawks and one AAF Mi-17 helicopter inserted specialized teams into villages around Kandahar Airfield to target Taliban fighters with reintegration leaflets. “The mission was absolutely successful,” said Lt. Col. Fred Koegler of the 441st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron. Army OH-58D Kiowa Warriors and AH-64 Apaches provided overwatch during the two-day mission. “Our Afghan air force partners worked hard with us to ensure success, and we couldn’t have performed this mission without their dedication,” said TSgt. Jason Sitzes, an adviser evaluator. (Kabul report by Capt. Jamie Humphries)
KC-46’s Refueling Boom Damaged While Refueling F-22s
July 8, 2025
A U.S. Air Force KC-46 tanker suffered damage to its boom while refueling F-22 Raptors off the coast of Virginia on July 8, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed, with reported radio communication from the crew indicating the boom “detached.”