California reservists refuel fighters, bombers in exercise over Alaska

Published May 15, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Four KC-135 Stratotankers delivered more than 55,000 gallons of fuel to two B-2 Spirits during a long-range training mission, Polar Lightning, May 7-8.

The Stratotankers and their air refuelers are from Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif. While deployed, they belong to the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, supporting the Continuous Bomber Presence and Theater Security Package here.

"Being a part of the [mission] here at Guam is particularly important," said Capt. Mary E. Guest, 506th EARS KC-135 Stratotanker pilot. "It gives us a chance to do some training that we might not normally be able to do at home. For us, it's a good opportunity to do things that we're not necessarily doing all the time at home."

Captain Guest was one of the pilots flying the tankers providing the first fuel delivery 800 miles from Guam May 7 as the B-2s flew to Alaska.

Airmen in the 506th EARS don't often have the opportunity to provide fuel to the stealth bombers.

"I've refueled them a couple of times, but not that often," said the captain. "We just don't see them very often. It's a little different for us."

Since the B-2s are stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Captain Guest isn't the only reservist in the refueling squadron having limited experience with the airframe.

"I think I've refueled B-2s three, maybe four times," said Master Sgt. Yvonne M. Sell, a 506th EARS boom operator.

Sergeant Sell was one of the boom operators who provided the first delivery of fuel for the B-2s on the long-range mission, which took place at night.

"It's definitely trickier refueling a B-2 at night," she said. "You have depth perception issues. Things that look perfectly clear during the day are so much different at night. Probably for me, it's the most challenging airplane out there to refuel at night because of the parameters and the shape of the airplane."

Despite the challenges, the 506th EARS delivered the fuel and the pilots flying the B-2s were able to complete their training mission and returned to Andersen AFB May 8. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)