340th EARS 50,000 Flight Hours for 2012

A 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker prepares to refuel a B-1B Lancer over Afghanistan, Dec. 22. The B-1B, deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., flew 26 U.S. flags over Afghanistan for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut while conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Capt. Matthew Mills, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, keeps a stuffed animal on board for his niece to show her everywhere he has travelled. Mills is deployed from Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H. and is a native of Clemson, S.C. (US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ashley Reed)

340th EARS 50,000 Flight Hours for 2012

Chief Master Sgt. Robert Renn, KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, performs an air refueling over Afghanistan, Dec. 22. During this flight the 340th EARS reached 50,000 flying hours for the year 2012. During the mission, the aircrew refueled a B-1B Lancer and an F-16 Fighting Falcon over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Renn is deployed from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. and is a native of Tampa, Fla. (US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ashley Reed)

62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

U.S. Air Force members of the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (ERS), a coalition squadron operated by U.S. and Royal Air Force (RAF) forces, perform maintenance on an MQ-9 Reaper, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, June 25, 2012. The 62nd ERS mission is to launch and recover remotely piloted aircraft before handing over control to Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

22nd EARS goes where needed to make mission happen

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 4, 2012. The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq. (EARS) conducts missions out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Spirit of Aloha

A U.S. Air Force 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt over Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2012. The 22nd EARS provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mosness)(Released)

Spirit of Aloha

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 3, 2012. The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq. (EARS) conducts missions out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)