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Air refuelers keep 'Eagles' soaring

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EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (USTCNS) --- A nine-ship formation of KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers took to the sky above Alaska for a second day of Northern Edge 2002 flying missions here April 23.

Air Force Capt. Jeff Devore, pilot, Air Force 1st Lt. Jerrad Krapp, co-pilot, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Turcotte, boom operator, all with the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., manned the sixth aircraft in the formation, destined for refueling missions over the Gulf of Alaska.

"Refuelers have a two-fold mission," said Devore. "We move [fuel] receiver aircraft anywhere in world, and we are also responsible for getting people to the fight."

Devore and the other crewmembers aboard the flight are tasked with keeping aircraft up and training during Cope Thunder - flying operations for Northern Edge 2002. And they - along with the other refueling crews - give a true illustration of the joint operations the exercise is known for.

"Today we'll be refueling F-15s," said Devore. "But tomorrow we may have to refuel Navy aircraft. Joint air refueling with Navy F-18s has been seamless.

"Sometimes Navy controllers direct Air Force aircraft to Navy receivers. It's the same as real world. Sometimes we're controlled by other services and sometimes by foreign governments," added Devore.

The captain also noted that the Air Force is making modifications to the KC-135 so crews will be able to refuel both Navy and Air Force aircraft during a single mission. Currently, the KC-135 requires an attachment - called a groue - to refuel aircraft such as the Navy EA-6B. The groue can only be attached on the ground.

While Devore and Krapp piloted the aircraft south over the snow-capped mountains and more than 100 miles over the Gulf, Turcotte was doing some flying of his own in a small compartment at the rear of the aircraft. From there, he guided the Stratotanker's rudder-controlled boom to the fuel tanks of F-15 Eagles from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, participating in the exercise.

"This is definitely one of the best jobs in the Air Force," said Turcotte, shortly after refueling an F-15 Eagle just feet away from the KC-135. "We refuel bombers and fighters so they can go the extra mile. Our mission is to make sure they can complete their mission."

Turcotte chose the challenge of being a boom operator after spending several years working in a relatively risk-free job.

"There are inherent dangers in having aircraft in close proximity," said Turcotte, "Receivers are usually about 15 to 20 feet away from the refueler, traveling more than 300 knots. So there is always the risk of a mid-air collision, and there is the potential of the boom being ripped. But the job is definitely rewarding."

Each of the "airborne filling stations" was visited by several F-15s during the six-hour mission. The aircrew dispensed more than 87,000 pounds of fuel, and as they prepared for the return to Eielson, Krapp agreed that the more than 400 flying hours he has amassed in refuelers has been nothing less than gratifying.

"Both, real-world and training missions like this, they're all important," said Krapp. "It's great to feel like I've contributed to winning the fight."

(FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

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