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High-spirited aircrew fuels fight in AOR

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar
  • U.S. AFCENT Combat Camera Team
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Carrying thousands of pounds of fuel, an aircrew of three - a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator - demonstrated the ability to operate on a flexible schedule in a constantly-changing environment July 8 as they provided fuel to multiple receivers in need of a top off in the area of responsibility.

Behind the scenes, the crew from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., operated as a cohesive team working toward a common goal of getting aircraft refueled and back in the fight. The team's close working relationship, according to each crew member, makes the missions run much smoother.

"We have to have a real tight-knit relationship because when we get in the air... we have to be able to depend on one another," said Senior Airman Drew Kueffler, a KC-135 Stratotanker in-flight refueling boom operator. "Basically, the whole time we're (deployed), we're a three-person crew. So even on our off-duty time, we're together."

That also means enduring the miserable heat together. As a hazy cloud of humidity hung over the flightline and temperatures soared to a sweltering heat, the crew members battled through dripping sweat and throat-burning air - enough to warrant a change of clothes.

It would be tough for anyone to keep morale up when the mercury is at the thermometer's peak, but the crew managed to remain jovial.

"It's hot out, you know, nobody wants to be sweating all day long," said Airman Kueffler, a Racine, Wis., native. "A day like today when it's extremely hot, it can get up to 160 or more degrees (on the aircraft prior to take-off)."

To keep spirits up, the crewmembers found ways to entertain themselves by singing songs over the aircraft intercom, sharing stories or badgering each other like sibling rivals.

The camaraderie is something not all crews are fortunate enough to experience, according to Airman Kueffler.

Capt. Adam Kornitzer, the aircraft commander and a KC-135 instructor pilot, and Airman Kueffler were previously deployed and TDY together. They introduced first-time deployer Capt. Nick Williams, a KC-135 pilot originally from Charlotte, N.C., to the world of deployed operations.

"Having (previously deployed with Captain Kornitzer) helps things go a little bit smoother," Airman Kueffler said, and "we're trying to walk Captain Williams through the ropes."

Other than the typical changes seen when adapting from home-station to deployed-location duties, "the ropes" include a series of pranks - from sending Captain Williams to the barber shop with no warning of the follow-on massage of which many are not accustomed, to sending him on an unnecessary scavenger hunt around the base.

"It's a tradition that's carried on," the boom operator explained. "When he's an aircraft commander he'll do the same thing to his co-pilot."

So, the crew keeps it fun with traditional teasing and practical jokes, he said. "In the long run it makes it fun, but we still keep it professional to make sure the job gets done in a timely manner and the best that we can."

The change of pace is like night and day once it's mission time.

"We have as much fun as we can, but when it comes time to work - to get the job done - all of that gets put on hold," said Airman Kueffler, who is on his sixth deployment in his nearly four years in the Air Force.

The pilots and boom operator made their way through detailed checklists for air refueling. Using MPRS, a multi-point refueling system, the KC-135 can provide fuel to two aircraft simultaneously using pods from each wing. This allows for quick refueling to get the receiver back to their mission faster than the common, one-point refueling system seen on the majority of tankers.

The day's flight marked a milestone for Captain Williams, as he received qualification on MPRS with the instruction of Captain Kornitzer, a Kansas City, Mo., native on his ninth deployment.

The mission was also notable to Captain Williams as he was able to experience the flexibility required of air refuelers in the deployed environment. The original mission plan included the refueling of U.S. Navy F-18 Hornets and British GR4 Tornados.

But as other refuelers were not able to support their scheduled receivers due to maintenance or systems issues, Captain Kornitzer explained, the KC-135 crew stepped in to offer their supply of gas - down to the last drop possible while still having enough fuel to land safely at their original starting point.

With the air refueling missions complete, the aircrew reverted back to relaxed mode as they made their way home. Once off duty, their mischievous behaviors sprung back to life as they unwound for the night.