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380AEW Article

Photo essay: Deployed KC-10 Airmen refuel Navy F-18s in Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  On a combat air refueling mission April 24, 2010, Airmen aboard a KC-10 Extender from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refueled U.S. Navy F-18 fighters in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The KC-10s and the Airmen who support and fly them are assigned under the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. In the first three months of 2010, Airmen supporting the KC-10 deployed air refueling in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility flew 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 crews and maintenance Airmen assigned to the 380th AEW are deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

The 380th AEW is home to not only the KC-10 Extender, but also the 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.

To see more on the April 24 air refueling mission, click on the Slideshow.