Tanker on the Scene

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Airmen at Fairchild AFB, Wash., earlier this month hosted Air Mobility Command’s first exercise to prepare KC-135 aircrews for acting as on-the-scene commanders during rescues of downed airmen. “This is a role that KC-135s are rarely used for, but fully capable of,” said Capt. Dana Stockton, a pilot with Fairchild’s 92nd Air Refueling Squadron. The designated OSC aircraft coordinates rescue efforts at the rescue site and acts as the initial responder. The exercise took place over a densely wooded area in Ione, Wash., north of Fairchild. The KC-135 crew communicated with a mock downed crew in enemy territory, transferring information on the survivors to an A-10 pilot to complete the mock rescue. “We see the immediate benefit of this training,” said Capt. James Blech, a 93rd ARS pilot at Fairchild. “We hope to set the standard for KC-135 combat search and rescue preparedness.” (Fairchild report by TSgt. J.T. May III)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org