Wynonna gets close-up view of in-flight refueling

Wynonna Judd observes as Master Sgt. Riccardo Bonicelli operates the boom in a KC-135 during an in-flight refueling mission June 30, 2011, somewhere over the southeastern United States. Ms. Judd, a 5-time Grammy Award winning country singer, is the featured artist for the Independence Day Concert in Warner Robins, Ga., July 1. The KC-135 from the Air Force Reserve's 916th Air Refueling Wing, refueled a pair of F-15E Strike Eagles during the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ken Hackman)

Wynonna gets close up view of in-flight refueling

Master Sgt. Riccardo Bonicelli gives Wynonna Judd and her family a mission briefing prior to their orientation flight aboard the KC-135 Stratotanker June 30, 2011. Ms. Judd, a 5-time Grammy award winner, is the featured guest artist for the July 1 Independence Day Concert in Warner Robins, Ga.. Sergeant Bonicelli is a boom operator with the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. The Judd family observed as Sergeant Bonicelli refueled a pair of F-15E Strike Eagles during the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ken Hackman)

Wynonna gets close up view of in-flight refueling

Wynonna Judd listens intently to Col. Caroline Evernham, 916th Air Refueling Wing Operations Group commander, during a KC-135 in-flight refueling orientation flight June 30, 2011, somewhere over the southeastern United States. Ms. Judd observed as the KC-135 crew, from the 916th ARW, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., refueled a pair of F-15E Strike Eagles. Ms Judd, a 5-time Grammy Award winner, is the featured guest artist for the July 1 Independence Day Concert in Warner Robins, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ken Hackman)

Wynonna gets close-up view of in-flight refueling

Wynonna Judd flashes the peace sign June 30, 2011, during an orientation flight aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker somewhere over the southeastern United States. Ms. Judd and her family had the opportunity to watch as the KC-135, from the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., refueled a pair of F-15 Strike Eagles, before returning to Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Ms Judd, a 5-time Grammy Award winning county singer, is the featured guest artists for the July 1 Independence Day Concert in Warner Robins, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ken Hackman)

Wynonna gets close-up view of air refueling

Published July 1, 2011
By Maj. Dave Belton
Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Wynonna Judd showed her love for America's military by blowing kisses to F-15E Strike Eagle pilots June 30.

The five-time Grammy winner and "New York Times" bestselling author flew from here on a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling mission. The plane belongs to the 916th Air Refueling Wing from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.

"We're proud to show Wynonna how our missions supports the troops," said Col. Caroline B. Evernham, 916th Operations Group commander. The colonel escorted Wynonna during the flight.

The day after the mission, Wynonna takes center stage at the annual Air Force Reserve Command Independence Day Concert in neighboring Warner Robins.

On the mission, Wynonna was next to boom operator Master Sgt. Riccardo E. Bonicelli as he transferred 10,000 pounds (nearly 1,700 gallons) of fuel to two F-15E Strike Eagle fighters flown by pilots from the 413th Flight Test Group here. Wynonna and Sergeant Bonicelli were a mere dozen feet away from the fighter jets during the refueling.

"My daughter was absolutely ecstatic I was meeting Wynonna," Sergeant Bonicelli said. "It's my pleasure to serve and make a difference in the world. The Air Force Reserve lets me do that."

Wynonna was so close to the F-15 fighters that she blew kisses to the pilots. "It makes me feel humble and so aware of how great it is to be an American," she said.

She was all smiles during the refueling operation, calling it "wondrous."

Sergeant Bonicelli agrees.

"I've never flown with anybody who didn't think it was amazing," he said.

Wynonna said she appreciates the sacrifices made by the men and women serving in the U.S. military.

"There's no more committed team in the world," she said." I've never seen anything like it."

As a result of her work with the military, she has received the USO Merit Award.

The crew she flew with had returned a few days earlier from Afghanistan, where they had flown refueling and emergency medical missions. The crew's missions included transporting more than 50 wounded warriors.

"That particular mission was very rewarding," said boom operator Master Sgt. Mark E. McElmurry. "You read about it in the papers, but you rarely ever see it."

Speaking about the refueling mission with Wynonna, he added, "It's a great opportunity for her to see what we do on a day-to-day basis. Not many people get to see that."

The 916th ARW won the Air Force Association Reserve Wing of the Year award in 2010. The wing flies with the first active associate KC-135 unit, the 911th Air Refueling Squadron. The crew on Wynonna's mission was comprised of Reserve and Regular Air Force members.

"It's been wonderful," Colonel Evernham said. "The active-duty and Reserve personnel brings out the best in both." Saying that the active-duty brings enthusiasm and the Reserve experience, she added, "We are all getting more out of it than we originally imagined."