380AEW Article

Combat air refueling over Afghanistan

A KC-10 Extender rom the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refuels F-16 Fighting Falcons over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom air refueling operations in February 2010. The air refueling capability of the KC-10 in combat operations allows fighters to provide close-air support for "troops in contact" in Afghanistan and other areas of operations. The 908th EARS is part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing which supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. In 2009, KC-10s from the 380th AEW and the 908th EARS flew 4,760 combat sorties offl-loading 422,222,300 pounds of fuel to 31,434 aircraft. In the same year, the KC-10s and their crews accumulated 40,011 hours of flight time. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Sean Chuplis/Released)

Photo essay: KC-10 Extender -- combat mission start to finish

Published March 24, 2010
By Capt. Sean Chuplis, Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol, and Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- It takes a concentrated team effort to complete the cycle of a successful combat air refueling mission is support of overseas contingency operations and Airmen in the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron and the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron complete it every day.

At a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, deployed Airmen supporting the KC-10 mission at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. In 2009, KC-10s from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing and the 908th EARS flew 4,760 combat sorties off-loading more than 422 million pounds of fuel to more than 31,000 aircraft. In the same year, the KC-10s and their crews accumulated more than 40,000 hours of flight time.

To see how a KC-10s complete the cycle of a combat air refueling mission, click on the Slideshow.