Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: TSgt on March 30, 2011, 06:39:14 AM

Title: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: TSgt on March 30, 2011, 06:39:14 AM: [img]I've been a USAF Crew Chief for about 12 years now, and was just given my "wings" as the lead KC-135 Flying Crew Chief (FCC) about 2 years ago (I was a B-1B guy before that).. It wasn't until just the other day over Afghanistan that I truly got complete fulfillment and appreciation of what I've been doing for the last 12 years. Below is the story.
After working for 15 hrs on some major repairs to make our KC-135 airworthy, we taxied and took off from Kyrgyzstan. Once airborne we transited to the refueling track and...waited...and listened...for about an hour...and then it began. Over the radio you could hear the beginnings of what was sounding like a pretty epic fight on the ground. The Forward Air Controller, with an alarming tone in his voice, was calling strike coordinates for a flight of F-15Es. They were providing cover for our Army/Marine guys on the ground. Over the next couple of minutes you could tell that the fighting on the ground was intensifying. The Forward Air Controller was yelling out target locations because the gunfire was making it hard for the F-15s to hear him. From our high perch, we could see some smoke coming from areas where the fight was going on. The F-15s informed the FAC that they were bingo fuel, and were climbing to refuel. The FAC informed them that they were the only thing keeping the enemy from over running their position. The F-15 lead opted to split his flight to maintain cover for the fight. We rondvued with the first few fighters about 2 min later to pass the needed fuel. The second/third group were right behind. All in all the battle lasted approximately 35 minutes. We suffered NO CASUALTIES on the ground this day. The FAC relayed this info to the F-15 flight and thanked them for staying through the whole thing. The fighter lead informed him that they would not have been there had it not been for the KC-135 orbiting high overhead. My Aircraft Commander then told them both that the Maintenance guys really made this day possible. In all my years of wrenching on jets, I have never felt like my efforts were so directly connected to the fight. Usually we quantify our efforts in generation rates/flight data. It was such a humbling experience to be there first hand, to see the fruits of my teams long hours.
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Wolfala on March 30, 2011, 06:46:21 AM: When yr back stateside, send yr address. Yr owed a bottle
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Masherbrum on March 30, 2011, 06:48:22 AM: Quote from: Wolfala on March 30, 2011, 06:46:21 AM
When yr back stateside, send yr address. Yr owed a bottle

This. Thank you for your Service TSgt! :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: ozrocker on March 30, 2011, 07:24:01 AM: :salute

Oz
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Dichotomy on March 30, 2011, 07:47:02 AM: :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: VonMessa on March 30, 2011, 07:53:44 AM: Awesome when it goes down like that, isn't it? :)
:salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: TSgt on March 30, 2011, 08:10:09 AM: Thx guys.. It really is awesome when things work. It's a very different feeling know that what I did contributed to saving those guys on the ground the other day. Usually they want us to get real happy over Rates, and other managieral data and percentages when they go up. I like knowing that I helped those guys down there. They are the ones that deserve a bottle or 10. But I'll take one on this one too! :) Thanks again for all the support. This really is a great community!

AirFreaknPower
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: TSgt on March 30, 2011, 08:12:26 AM: on another note, I was able to snap a pic of one of the F-15Es while we were gassin. How the heck do I post it??
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: noTch on March 30, 2011, 08:24:50 AM: Quote from: TSgt on March 30, 2011, 08:12:26 AM
on another note, I was able to snap a pic of one of the F-15Es while we were gassin. How the heck do I post it??

Get a free Photobucket account, upload said picture, then copy link of pic, then paste it into a this post :joystick:

By the way, WFTG on all your wrench turning, Sarge. It always made me feel good to see our Flyboys get home safe & sound too.

ECM is the name, Penetration is the game :salute

Notch
USAF, Sgt
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Fender16 on March 30, 2011, 09:10:05 AM: Keep those birds over our heads and we'll be happy :aok
:salute
-One of the dudes on the ground
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Kermit de frog on March 30, 2011, 09:22:41 AM: :salute Sargeant
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: EskimoJoe on March 30, 2011, 11:08:12 AM: Nicely done, to all hands!
:salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Shuffler on March 30, 2011, 11:25:10 AM: A building is only as strong as the ground upon which it sits.

Thanks for your service!!

NKAWTG :D
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Strip on March 30, 2011, 11:40:25 AM: TSgt,

Not much I can say that hasn't already been said except keep up the excellent work!

Thanks for your service!

:salute

Strip
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Maverick on March 30, 2011, 11:54:35 AM: Logistics and maintenance are crucial to modern war fighting. Far far more than most realize as they never hear about it or study it.

Thanks for serving TSgt. I hope the welcome date home is not far off for you. :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Puma44 on March 30, 2011, 01:17:33 PM: Not a more welcome sight to thirsty fighter jock than a boom in the contact position. :aok. Well done, Sarg!

Thanks for stepping up and volunteering to serve our great nation! :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Penguin on March 30, 2011, 02:41:41 PM: As the saying goes:

Amatuers talk strategy, professionals talk logistics

Thanks for keeping those planes in the air! By the way, which planes do you do maintenance on? All of them, or a specific group?

-Penguin
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: SHUKES on March 30, 2011, 03:28:37 PM: :saluteTsgt THANK YOU......
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: SFRT - Frenchy on March 30, 2011, 05:25:17 PM: Wtg thx. :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: RufusLeaking on March 30, 2011, 05:31:44 PM: Nice after action report, TSgt.

:salute for keeping planes built in the 1950's and 60's up in the air.
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Yenny on March 30, 2011, 05:35:59 PM: WTG =) the support side of the house never get enough appreciation. Great to see it.
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Babalonian on March 30, 2011, 05:44:19 PM: :salute

Thanks for your service and the shared story. Be sure to let the community here know if you and your plane come around to visit any of us at any airshows when you get back stateside, I know it's not very likely though since they usually keep you guys and gals pretty busy in the air all the time.
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: trax1 on March 30, 2011, 07:17:09 PM: Amazing story there TSgt, I can only imagine the pride you felt in those moments knowing that if it wasn't for your crew they wouldn't have been able to hold off the enemy attacks, keep up the good work to keep our men & women safe over there. :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: morfiend on March 30, 2011, 07:46:29 PM: :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: DMGOD on March 30, 2011, 10:39:22 PM: (http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/noelle1231/dmtsgt4.jpg)

(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/noelle1231/dmtsgt2.jpg)

(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/noelle1231/dmtsgt3.jpg)

(http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/noelle1231/dmtsgt5.jpg)

these are pics TSGT is talking about ( pulled em off our website )

<S> TSGT can't thank you enough sir :cheers:
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: TSgt on March 31, 2011, 07:11:15 AM: THX DMGOD!! Always nice to have a good squad CO to back you up!! :rock
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: TOMCAT21 on March 31, 2011, 10:21:14 AM: :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: ROX on March 31, 2011, 11:57:46 AM: Bless you and all who serve :salute
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: Reschke on March 31, 2011, 02:08:44 PM: Absolutely drop us a line when you get back and some of us can help you guys out with some house hold favorites!

A couple of years ago my old co-workers oldest son got to refuel Air Force One on its trip outbound to Europe with Pres. Obama on it. I have a pic that the kid sent me of it somewhere.
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: DMGOD on March 31, 2011, 06:29:19 PM: Quote from: TSgt on March 31, 2011, 07:11:15 AM
THX DMGOD!! Always nice to have a good squad CO to back you up!! :rock

My pleasure sir wish I could do more
Title: Re: My first combat refueling sortie
Post by: rpm on April 01, 2011, 06:29:44 AM: <S> TSgt

You guys rock! :rock