Air refueling giant continues ops in Southwest Asia

Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | KC-10 Extender aircraft from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron are parked on the flightline for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on May 19. According to the 380th AEW history office, In the first three months of 2010, Airmen supporting the KC-10 deployed air refueling mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility helped the KC-10 fly more than 1,000 sorties offl-loading more than 108 million pounds of fuel to more than 6,600 aircraft in support of combat operations. KC-10's and the Airmen who support them are deployed from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

05.22.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Aircrews and maintenance Airmen from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron continue their work every day from a non-disclosed base here supporting the deployed air refueling operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. It's a "giant" responsibility the Air Force's largest air refueling tanker is more than ready for.

According to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing History Office, in the first three months of 2010, Airmen supporting the KC-10 deployed air refueling mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility helped the KC-10 fly more than 1,000 sorties offl-loading more than 108 million pounds of fuel to more than 6,600 aircraft in support of combat operations.

"The 380th AEW's deployed air refueling mission is among the largest in the area of responsibility," said Mr. Yancy Mailes, wing historian.

Maj. June Cruse, 908th EARS director of operations, coordinates with the Combined Air Operations Center at another Southwest Asia location as well as with the 380th Expeditionary Mission Support and Maintenance Groups to ensure safe execution and timely response for daily KC-10 operations. She also oversees the well-being and preparedness of 120-plus crewmembers and readiness of the squadron supporting contingency operations. What's being accomplished, she said, is critical to the war effort.

"The job we do here is without a doubt essential to the success of the mission," said Cruse, who is deployed from the 32md Air Refueling Squadron, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

On the maintenance side of KC-10 operations, crew chiefs like Senior Airman Tyler Bishop with the 380th EAMXS Extender aircraft maintenance unit keep the Air Force's biggest tanker ready to go.

"As a crew chief on the KC-10, my career field covers all the inspections of the aircraft," said Bishop, who is deployed to a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia from the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 60th Air Mobility Wing, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. "I am required to know a little about every system on the jet. So when I find a problem, I can either try to fix it myself or task it out to the specific maintenance career field such as communications-navigation or aerospace propulsion.

"I am also responsible for all the other aspects of the jet not specified such as changing tires, oil, lights, brakes, general servicing of all fluids and gases," Bishop said. "When the flight crew comes out to the jet, we are the ones who inform the crew of any problems or malfunctions of the jet and fix anything that they find during their pre-flights prior to launch."

All this work is necessary to ensure successful operations for the KC-10, Bishop said.

"If it wasn't for the KC-10 and its air refueling, the fighters and bombers supporting operations over Afghanistan, for example, would not be able to fly long sorties like we do now," Bishop said. "We bring the fuel to them so they can stay in the air to provide air support to those on the ground. Without my job, the KC-10's would not get in the air to provide that fuel."

KC-10's and the Airmen who support them are deployed from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

The 380th AEW is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

• Date Taken: 05.22.2010
• Date Posted: 05.22.2010 02:10
• Story ID: 50083
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)