Brothers meet at 20,000 feet

Published Sept. 19, 2008
By Master Sgt. Jeff Loftin
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Family reunions are always special, but for two brothers stationed at different bases in Southwest Asia their meeting at 20,000 feet over a combat zone is even more memorable.

During the encounter Sept. 10, Capt. Jason Moraes, a KC-10 Extender pilot for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, refueled his older brother's B-1B Lancer aircraft from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

"It's a very rare event to join up with your brother at 20,000 feet over Afghanistan," said Maj. Eric Moraes. "In the area of responsibility you're never quite sure which tanker will refuel you due to the fluidity of operations on the ground. To be more efficient and effective, the [Combined Air and Space Operations Center] is usually moving players around to best support the ground commanders."

The reunion occurred on Captain Jason Moraes first combat sortie in the AOR, and his brother's last.

"I was supposed to go home in July, but they kept extending me," said Major Eric Moraes, who has been deployed since June. "If I had left then I would have missed this opportunity."

His younger brother called him the weekend prior to the flight upon his arrival to the AOR. During the conversation Major Moraes said he was flying Sept. 10. He didn't realize at the time how his brother would use that information.

"I told the schedulers that my brother is flying Wednesday night and I would like to be on the sortie that is supposed to refuel a B-1," said Captain Moraes, deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. "I have to thank the KC-10 schedulers. They did an awesome job coordinating it."

The major did not know his brother had coordinated their rendezvous, but knew there was a chance they could meet.

"When I went to mission planning I saw there were two KC-10s we were going to rendezvous with," said the bomber pilot. "I thought 'I wonder if he is on one of them?' There was no time to call or e-mail him, so I thought 'I guess I'll find out.' We came up to our first tanker kind of at the beginning of our time in country. It wasn't him. When it came time for our second tanker, we made an initial call about 30 minutes out to get everything straight - altitudes, air speeds, rendezvous point. Low and behold there's my little brother on the radio. It was a pretty proud moment for me. There is my little brother flying over Afghanistan."

The moment was also exciting for his younger brother.

"I recognized my brother's voice instantly," he said. "It was pretty sweet to hear him on the radio."

Once the aircraft were joined for refueling, the brothers who had been apart for about a year were able to talk for about 10 minutes over an interphone between the aircraft.

"Being spread out makes family reunions kind of tough," said Major Moraes, deployed from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., "but when we do get together it's always good."

Reunions become more difficult to plan with the third sibling of the family also flying tankers for the Air Force. The oldest brother, Maj. Steven Moraes, flies KC-135 Stratotankers for the National Guard's 108th Air Refueling Wing at McGuire AFB, N.J. His service impacted his brothers' career choice.

"I decided to become a pilot since my older brothers enjoy being Air Force pilots," said Captain Jason Moraes. "Their stories on what they have done motivated me to become a pilot. From listening to their experiences, I wanted to follow in their footsteps."

The youngest brother said the best part of them all being pilots is the advice.

"I still look up to them, not only as my brothers, but as trustworthy pilots from whom I can gain experience and knowledge," he said. "Also, having Eric as a bomber pilot, I can hopefully get debriefed on what the tanker does well and what it needs to work on so I can pass along the information to my crew and fellow tanker pilots. I will also pass along the tanker community's way of thinking so that he can get a better idea of my side of the house. This will hopefully ensure that we are finding the niche to make sure operations go as smoothly as possible."

Both Major and Captain Moraes are proud to be serving in the Global War on Terror.

"I want to support the combat aircraft and the combat troops on the ground," said the younger brother. "I know I do not drop bombs or provide close air support, but I feel I am a key player by providing the gas for those, like my brother, who do. My brother, as well as the other fighter, attack and bomber pilots, plays a pivotal role in allowing the troops on the ground to do their jobs."

Their service to the troops on the ground provided them a rare opportunity for the unusual reunion.

"Being able to be refueled by my brother over the skies of Afghanistan had to be one of the highlights of my 12-year career," said Major Moraes.