A French Mirage fighter refuels from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, over Africa Jan. 30, 2013. Tankers from RAF Mildenhall, operating from a forward-deployed location, began flying refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali Jan. 27, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Jason Smith)
Two French Mirage fighters prepare to refuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, over Africa Jan. 29, 2013. Tankers from RAF Mildenhall, operating from a southwest Europe began flying refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali Jan. 27, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Jason Smith)
A French Mirage fighter prepares to refuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, over Africa Jan. 29, 2013. Tankers from RAF Mildenhall, operating from a southwest Europe began flying refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali Jan. 27, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Jason Smith)
Staff Sgt. Andrew Valence, 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, watches out the rear window of a KC-135 Stratotanker as a French Mirage 2000 refuels over Africa Feb. 2, 2013. Tanker crews from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, began conducting refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali from a deployed location in southwest Europe Jan 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin M. May/Released)
Staff Sgt. Andrew Valence, 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, watches out the rear window of a KC-135 Stratotanker as a French Mirage 2000 refuels over Africa Feb. 2, 2013. Tanker crews from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, began conducting refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali from a deployed location in southwest Europe Jan 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin M. May/Released)
A French Mirage 2000 prepares to refuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over Africa Feb. 2, 2013. Tanker crews from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, began conducting refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali from a deployed location in southwest Europe Jan 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin M. May/Released)
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crew flies over Africa Feb. 2, 2013, en route to refuel French fighter jets. Tanker crews from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, began conducting refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali from a deployed location in southwest Europe Jan 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin M. May/Release)
A French air force Mirage 2000 flies behind a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over Africa Feb. 2, 2013. Tanker crews from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, began conducting refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali from a deployed location in southwest Europe Jan 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin M. May/Released)
Capt. Tim Gerne, 100th Air Refueling Wing Detachment pilot deployed to a forward operating location, flies a KC-135 Stratotanker over Africa as the sun rises on Jan. 29, 2013. The detachment from RAF Mildenhall, England, deployed Jan. 26 to deliver air refueling support to French operations in Mali. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Jason Smith)
A French Mirage fighter prepares to refuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, over Africa Jan. 29, 2013. Tankers from RAF Mildenhall, operating from a forward deployed location began flying refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali Jan. 27, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Jason Smith)
Staff Sgt. Andrew Valence, boom operator deployed with a detachment from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, Enlgand, prepares to fuel a French Mirage fighter over Africa Jan. 29, 2013. Tankers from RAF Mildenhall, operating from a forward deployed location, began flying refueling missions in support of French operations in Mali Jan. 27, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Jason Smith
by Capt. Jason Smith
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
2/1/2013 - WESTERN EUROPE -- A detachment from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, operating from a forward deployed location, has completed aerial refueling mission in support of French Operations in Mali.
The first roughly 10-hour mission, during the daytime, gave the aircrew the opportunity to see the land area they will be potentially flying over on future missions.
"If you know distinguishing landmarks, it always helps," said Capt. Tim Gerne, aircraft commander for this mission and Barnegat, N.J., native. "It doesn't always mean there is a lot to look at though."
A detachment from the 100th ARW deployed on short notice on Jan. 26 and launched the first support refueling mission on Jan. 27.
"It's good to see things coming together," said 1st Lt. John Lachiewicz, the co-pilot of the mission and Chapel Hill, N.C. native. "We hope to make a positive difference in helping our NATO ally."
Just getting the chance to fly and participate in the operation was welcomed by the boom operator, Staff Sgt. Andrew Valence, an Anderson, S.C., native. He said all of the crews he talked with were eager to get started, and this first mission for his crew came with much excitement.
The KC-135 is capable of refueling a variety of U.S. and NATO aircraft. It can off-load a maximum of 200,000 pounds of fuel.
