Final mission

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Brig. Gen. Dean Despinoy, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, is welcomed back to Grissom by fire department personnel as he taxis in following landing his last mission. General Despinoy is retiring after 37 years of service and has more than 4,300 flying hours. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays)

Flyin' around the flag pole

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- A giant C-5 Galaxy cargo aircraft assigned to the 445th Air Lift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, passes over Grissom recently. The airlifter's crews were "shooting approaches" for training where they practice lining the aircraft up for different types of landings. Grissom?s Midwest location away from major cities and population areas makes it ideal for aircraft from bases all over the eastern United States to practice ?approach? procedures for training. The C-5 is one of the largest aircraft in the world and the largest airlifter in the Air Force inventory. The C-5 can carry more cargo than any other airlifter. Although C-5 aircraft are almost 40 years old they continue to play a key role in strategic airlift for the nation. (Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chris Bolen)

Pulling away

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- A specially painted F-16 from the 122nd Fighter Wing from the Indiana Air National Guard based out of Fort Wayne, Ind., pulls away from the boom following an aerial refueling with a Grissom KC-135R Stratotanker. The F-16 is designated as a 'Heritage Bird' and is painted to pay homage to the 122nd FW's history. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays)

Grissom refuels Heritage Bird

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- A pair of Indiana Air National Guard F-16s from the 122nd Fighter Wing at Fort Wayne, line up off the wing of a Grissom KC-135R Stratotanker following an aerial refueling Mission Nov. 13. The lead aircraft is designated as a Heritage Bird, and pays homage to the unit's history throughout the years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays)

Rapid cargo loading

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- Air transportation specialists from Grissom's 49th Aerial Port Flight practice specialized cargo loading using a Halverson aircraft loader during a unit training assembly. The training was done with the help of a C-130 cargo aircraft from the 357th Airlift Squadron at Maxwell AFB, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chris Bolen)

Heading home

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind., -- An A-10 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft drops from behind a KC-135R Stratotanker following the completion of a recent aerial refueling. KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft from the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom ARB routinely provide aerial refueling to fighter, bomber and cargo aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Omar Delacruz)