in and around the theatre in support of
operations and exercises, and all changes
are made in full co-ordination with host
nations and support partners. The 100th
provided two tankers for OJM again in April,
this time being based at Zaragoza, Spain.Also in October, the wing operated from
Pápa Air Base, Hungary, in support of a
major Strategic Airlift Capability exercise.
The primary reason for the get-together
was to practise air-to-air refuelling, which
included night ‘hook-ups’. Later that samemonth an aircraft from the 351st deployed
to Athens International Airport, for a series
of support ights for the Hellenic Air Force.
Aircraft commander Capt Richard Jackson
commented at the time: “Conducting air-to-air
refuelling with the Hellenic Air Force was a
huge opportunity for us to gain training for our
boom operators. We started off a little rocky,
with a 30-minute delay, but after we took off
everything was on par with the timing.
“We arrived on our refuelling track and
completed aerial refuelling with the F-16 pilots
from the Hellenic Air Force. We did about ve
initial quali cations and requali cations for
their pilots, along with currency training for us
and them. All in all, it was a very successful
day.” This was the rst time the 100th had
operated from Greece.
In late October and early November
another usual mission was completed.
The aircrew and maintenance personnel
travelled to Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to
work with the RAF in Exercise Tartan Flag, in
preparation for a Red Flag in 2018 at Nellis
AFB, Nevada. Stratotanker aircrew from the
351st partnered with RAF Voyager crews to
execute mission planning, cell departure and
recoveries, formation aerial refuelling and
area manoeuvres.
It culminated with the rst USAF KC-
135 and RAF Voyager cell aerial refuelling
when two RAF Tornado GR4s received fuel
off the east coast of Scotland. Flt Lt Jase
Orr, Voyager air-to-air refuelling instructor,
explained: “Cell formation allows two tankers
to y closer together than they normally
would during operations. This enables us to
operate more tankers in a smaller air space.”
Flt Lt Orr said the main objectives of the
joint exercise were to develop Voyager force
capabilities and to advance operations in
conjunction with foreign militaries.WIDE-RANGING
DEPLOYMENTS
One of the major events for the 100th so far
this year has been its participation at Red
Flag 18-1 at Nellis in February. The Red Flag
Tanker Task Force comprised personnel,
aircraft and equipment from McConnell
AFB, Kansas, Fairchild AFB, Washington
and Mildenhall, and provided air refuelling
and airlift support throughout the prestigious44 Aviation News incorporating Jets July 2018A formation of two RAF Typhoons, two USAF F-15Cs and a B-52H over the North Sea off the
English coast on January 19, 2018. USAF/Tech Sgt David DobrydneyAn Ohio Air National Guard F-16C Fighting Falcon trails a 100th ARW Stratotanker in Swedish
airspace during a Theater Security Package ight on February 8, 2018. USAF/Airman 1st Class
Luke MilanoTwelve KC-135s from the 100th ARW taxiing down the runway at Mildenhall
on February 27, 2018 to demonstrate the readiness of the wing to provide
global air refuelling support at short notice. USAF/Senior Airman Justine Rho42-47_usaf_arwDC.mfDC.indd 44 07/06/2018 12:59