107th Airlift Wing Bids Goodbye to Last Tanker

Crew Chief Master Sgt Ronald Szpaicher says good bye to the aircraft he has maintained for the last 14 yrs at Niagara Falls, NY. 21 June 2008 was the day the last KC-135R left the 107th to Scott AFB. There it would join other members of the Niagara fleet, at the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard to continue to faithfully serve its country. With over 18,000 hours and 14 years of service with the New York Air National Guard, this tanker was instrumental in offloading millions of pounds of fuel to aircraft all over the world. World contingencies included Operations Deny Flight, Decisive Endeavor, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt Veronica Jadoch)

KC-135 Stratotanker

Senior Airman Stephen Nicolls inspects a surge boot installation tool he created to service a KC-135R Stratotanker boom pod. The tool had to be created because none were being manufactured any longer for the aging tanker aircraft. Airman Nicholls is an aircraft metals technician with the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bennie J. Davis III)

Mid-Air Refuel

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam-- Captain Mark Ladwig, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Il. flys a KC-135 over the Philippine Sea during a routine refueling mission for the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-2 Spirit bombers from Whiteman AFB, Mo. The KC-135’s ability to refuel planes mid-air helps accomplish The Air Force's primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sergeant Vanessa Valentine)

Mid-Air Refuel

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam-- A KC-135 from 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Il. delivers fuel over the Philippine Sea during a routine refueling mission for the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-2 Spirit bombers from Whiteman AFB, Mo. The KC-135’s ability to refuel planes mid-air helps accomplish The Air Force's primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sergeant Vanessa Valentine)

Mid-Air Refuel

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam-- Captain Steve Olsen, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Il. flys a KC-135 over the Philippine Sea during a routine refueling mission for the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-2 Spirit bombers from Whiteman AFB, Mo. The KC-135’s ability to refuel planes mid-air helps accomplish The Air Force's primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sergeant Vanessa Valentine)

Mid-Air Refuel

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam-- Captains Mark Ladwig and Steve Olsen, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Il. taxi onto the runway just before take off. The KC-135 pilots are flying over the Philippine Sea for a routine refueling mission for the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-2 Spirit bombers from Whiteman AFB, Mo. The KC-135’s ability to refuel planes mid-air helps accomplish The Air Force's primary missions of Global Reach and Global Power. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sergeant Vanessa Valentine)