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B-1B Lancer refuels over Southern Afghanistan

  • Published
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
Southern Afghanistan --  Lt. Col. Sloan Hollis, 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander and B-1B Lancer pilot, receives fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker over Southern Afghanistan, Nov. 6, 2013. Sloan hails from Rapid City, S.D.

The pilot of the KC-135R Stratotanker,Capt. Derrick Baker, carefully maneuvers the aircraft to refuel the B-1B Lancer bomber. Baker, a Brandon, Fla., native, is deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

While both pilots maneuver their aircraft into position, Senior Airman Daniel Frost, 340th EARS boom operator, is stationed in the rear of the plane and controls the boom during in-flight air refueling.
Frost, a Saint Paul, Minn. native, is deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 50 years. This unique asset enhances the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary mission of global reach. It also provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. The KC-135 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations.

Carrying the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, the multi-mission B-1 is the backbone of America's long-range bomber force. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.

To view a slideshow of the photos in this news story click here.