Flying from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the KC-135 Stratotanker squadron provides almost two-thirds of all U.S. Central Command air-to-air refuelling, including to Coalition aircraft deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria and the NATO Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, according to Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Carr, 340th EARS director of operations.
In the last 10 years the squadron has deployed in major operations including Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom Sentinel and Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.
“Without a doubt, the USCENTCOM mission would not happen without the efforts of the men and women of the 340th EARS,” said Carr.
A US Air Force maintainer, assigned to the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, performs a pre-flight inspection with a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot before a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve July 3, 2017, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Image: US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Battles)A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, reviews flight plans before a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, July 1, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker with the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron takes off in support of Operation Inherent Resolve at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, July 18, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Amy M. LovgrenA US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon refuels from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker over Iraq, Jan. 18, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Senior Airman Jordan CastelanA US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon refuels from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Feb. 15, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Senior Airman Jordan CastelanA boom operator, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, refuels a US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve June 20, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideTwo Belgian Air Force F-16A Fighting Falcons fly in formation after receiving fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker in support of Operation Inherent Resolve June 23, 2017. Belgian F-16s have been deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve since October 2014. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot watches as the aircraft receives fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of May 20, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideA US Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler departs after receiving fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, July 1, 2017. The Prowler intercepts communications and denies the enemy’s ability to communicate. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA US Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler fires flares after receiving fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, July 1, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA French Air Force Rafale departs after receiving fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on August 31, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideA US Air Force F-22 Raptor departs after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve Aug. 22, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator refuels an F-22 Raptor during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, August 22, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA US Air Force F-22 Raptor departs after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve July 31, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator walks through a KC-135 Stratotanker with an oxygen tank after refueling an F-22 Raptor during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve August 22, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator reviews refueling documents aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve August 14, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA US Navy F/A-18C from the VFA-37 Ragin’ Bulls prepares to receive fuel from a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, May 21, 2017. Image: US Air National Guard/Master Sgt. Andrew J. MoseleyA US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet departs after receiving fuel from a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, during a mission over Iraq on August 31, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideA Royal Australian Air Force EA-18F Super Hornet after receiving fuel from a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in support of Operation Inherent Resolve on July 1, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Amy M. LovgrenTwo F-15E Strike Eagles fire flares over Iraq during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, on Sept. 6, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideA US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fires flares after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve June 27, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideA US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle receives fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve May 23, 2017. TImage: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideTwo US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker pilots, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, perform a pre-landing systems check during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, July 1, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesA US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II arrives to receive fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, July 6, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBrideA US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II departs after receiving fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve May 9, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Michael BattlesThe underside of a US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II as it departs after receiving fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, July 6, 2017. Image: US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride
