KC-135 Prototype Project

Staff Sgt. Brian Harris, 191st Maintenance Squadron, prepares to cut an opening in the top of a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Jan. 30, 2013.Tthe opening will accommodate an additional antennae on the aircraft, which will allow it to serve as a platform for testing a prototype of a new aircraft defense system. The aircraft is assigned to the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

KC-135 Prototype Project

Technical Sgt. John Kerschenheiter, an avionics technician with the 191 Maintenance Squadron connects wiring for a new antennae to the flight controls of a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Jan. 30, 2013. The KC-135, assigned to the 127th Air Refueling Group of the Michigan Air National Guard, was being outfitted with the additional antennae to allow it to serve as a platform for testing a prototype of a new aircraft defense system. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

KC-135 Prototype Project

Senior Airman Jake Tufts, 191st Maintenance Squadron, performs an air test during work on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Jan. 16, 2013. The test reports on the presence of jet fuel vapor in the air, a critical safety consideration during indoor maintenance work. The KC-135, assigned to the 127th Air Refueling Group of the Michigan Air National Guard, was being prepared to serve as a platform for testing a prototype of a new aircraft defense system. (Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson)

KC-135 Painting

Staff Sgt. Brian Harris, 191st Maintenance Squadron, removes a yellow mask from the newly-painted 127th Wing logo on the fuselage of a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Jan. 17, 2013. Over the past year, the fleet of KC-135s at Selfridge have been receiving a checkerboard and stripe and logo paint scheme as mission requirements and other maintenance work allows. The checkerboard design has been used by the Michigan Air National Guard on aircraft at Selfridge since at least the early 1970s when the “Michigan Six-Pack” was assigned F-106 Delta Dart fighter-interceptors. The stripe on the fuselage harkens back to the former Strategic Air Command, a former Air Force major command that operated bomber and air refueling aircraft in the 1940s-1990s. (Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson)

KC-135 Painting

Staff Sgt. Brian Harris, 191st Maintenance Squadron, applies tape to mask off a checkerboard pattern being painted on the skin of a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Jan. 16, 2013. Over the past year, the fleet of KC-135s at Selfridge have been receiving the paint scheme as mission requirements and other maintenance work allows. The checkerboard design has been used by the Michigan Air National Guard on aircraft at Selfridge since at least the early 1970s when the “Michigan Six-Pack” was assigned F-106 Delta Dart fighter-interceptors. The stripe on the fuselage harkens back to the former Strategic Air Command, a former Air Force major command that operated bomber and air refueling aircraft in the 1940s-1990s. (Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson)

Avionics Testing

Avionics specialists from the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for a radar threat detection test on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. The test ensures that the aircraft threat warning system operates properly to ensure pilot safety during flight. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt Robert Hanet)

Avionics Testing

Avionics specialists from the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for a radar threat detection test on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. The test ensures that the aircraft threat warning system operates properly to ensure pilot safety during flight. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt Robert Hanet)

Selfridge Photos of the Year

PHOTO OF THE YEAR: This composite photo of photos taken by Technical Sgt. Robert Hanet, highlight the work of Airmen from the 127th Maintenance Group as they change an engine in an A-10 Thunderbolt II as part of a routine, scheduled maintenance operation, Sept. 16, 2012. The photo composite was one of the finalists for the title of 2012 Photo of the Year at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. (Air National Guard photo illustration by TSgt. Robert Hanet)

Insignia Tells Tanker Story

U.S. Air Force pilots wear cloth name tags on their flight suit uniforms that often feature several distinctive marks. In this photo illustration – the name has been altered for security purposes – a patch of a pilot from the 171st Air Refueling Squadron is seen. The squadron’s colors are seen in the patch, yellow and black. The checkerboard stripe has been utilized by the squadron as a marking since the early 1970s. This individual is rated as a senior pilot, which is indicated by the star located above the wings. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

Insignia Tells Tanker Story

Tail markings are seen on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. This aircraft is operated by the ANG – Air National Guard. The first digit in the number below represents the year that the aircraft was manufactured, in this case 1959, as well as the tail number. Every aircraft has its own distinctive tail number. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

Insignia Tells Tanker Story

The 191 Six Pack engine covers on this KC-135 Stratotanker honor the heritage of a key unit of the Michigan Air National Guard. The 191st can trace its history back to World War II and has been operating at Selfridge since the early 1970s. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

Insignia Tells Tanker Story

The 127th Wing crest rests on a checkerboard stripe on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The checkerboard salutes the heritage of the 171st and 191st squadrons at Selfridge, which have been using the checkerboard design, often seen in black and yellow, since at least 1972. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

Fly the Fleet

Capt. Deryck Castonguay, a pilot with the 171st Air Refueling Squadron, performs his walk-around pre-flight inspection prior to a mission on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Nov. 4, 2012. More than 200 Airmen from the 127th Air Refueling Group supported a “Fly the Fleet” exercise at Selfridge on Nov. 4. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt. Robert Hanet)

Fly the Fleet

KC-135 Stratotankers taxi out of the parking area during a “Fly the Fleet” demonstration at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Nov. 4, 2012. More than 200 Airmen from the 127th Air Refueling Group supported the exercise. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt. Robert Hanet)

Fly the Fleet

While in communication with air traffic controllers in the tower, a KC-135 Stratotanker takes off from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Nov. 4, 2012. Operators in the Selfridge tower provide air traffic control to both military and general aviation aircraft flying in the general vicinity of Selfridge. (Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson)

Fly the Fleet

Known as the “Commander’s Plane” due to the distinctive yellow markings, a KC-135 Stratotanker lifts off at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Nov. 4, 2012. The KC-135 is flown by the 171st Air Refueling Squadron and maintained by the 191st Maintenance Squadron and 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The striping on the mid-section of the aircraft features the black and yellow checkerboard design that has been marking aircraft of the 191st since the early 1970s, when the unit was flying F-106 Delta Darts and became known as “The Michigan Six-Pack.” The styling of the stripe also recalls the heritage of the former Strategic Air Command of the U.S. Air Force, units of which were assigned to Selfridge in the 1950s and ‘60s. (Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson)

Fly the Fleet

A KC-135 Stratotanker lifts off during a “Fly the Fleet” exercise Nov. 4, 2012, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. More than 200 Airmen from the 127th Air Refueling Group participated in the exercise during the November Unit Training Assembly (UTA) of the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard. (Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson)

Fly the Fleet

A fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers taxi out of the parking area during a “Fly the Fleet” exercise Nov. 4, 2012, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. More than 200 Airmen from the 127th Air Refueling Group participated in the exercise during the November Unit Training Assembly (UTA) of the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard. (Air National Guard photo by John S. Swanson)

MARE Selfridge Mi

Investigation photo of a KC-135 tanker and a simulated fuel spill crash site, taken during a Major Accident Response Exercise at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., October 31, 2012. A MARE is training that brings a host of departments together to respond to major accidents or incidents which involve military personnel and property. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt. David Kujawa) (Released)

A-10 Operations

Airmen wearing chemical warfare protective equipment salute an A-10 Thunderbolt II as it begins to taxi toward the runway at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Oct. 13, 2012. Airmen at Selfridge spent much of their October Unit Training Assembly weekend working on a variety of survival and related drills, classes and exercises. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt. Robert Hanet)

A-10 & 107th FS Insignia

This photo illustration shows the names of a pilot and two crew chiefs, along with the logo of the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, on the skin of an A-10 Thunderbolt II, at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. The names painted on the aircraft are not necessarily the names of the individuals who will fly and work on that particular aircraft every day, but are part of the squadrons who are assigned to the aircraft. The names of the individuals in this photo have been electronically altered for security purposes. (Air National Guard photo illustration by Brittani Baisden)

A-10 & 107th FS Insignia

The 127th Wing patch is one of several unit patches worn by the pilots of the 107th Fighter Squadron, which is a component of the 127th Wing. Unit patches and aircraft insignia help build unit esprit de corps. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

A-10 & 107th FS Insignia

The name “Selfridge” graces the top engine cover on an A-10 Thunderbolt II based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. Such markings on the aircraft help build unit esprit de corps. This A-10 is flown by the 107th Fighter Squadron and maintained by the 127th Maintenance Group. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)

A-10 & 107th FS Insignia

The Red Devils unit insignia is featured prominently on the skin of an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The insignia recognizes that the aircraft is flown by the pilots of the 107th Fighter Squadron, which has long been known as the Red Devils. Such markings on the aircraft help build unit esprit de corps. (Air National Guard photo by Brittani Baisden)