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Reserve KC-135 crew first to refuel F-35

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shannon Mann
  • 916th Air Refueling Wing
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C --  The 916th Air Refueling Wing here scored another first when they refueled an F-35 Lightning II over California recently.

A flight and maintenance crew from the 911th Air Refueling Squadron deployed to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., became the first wing in Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command to refuel the F-35, the Air Force's newest joint strike fighter.The crew was in California from late March to early April supporting both F-35 and F-22 flight testing.

"We were the very first aircrew allowed to refuel the F-35, since the guidance allowing AMC crews to do so had just come out the night before," said Capt. Robert Draper, pilot.

The 916th Air Refueling Wing was also the first wing to refuel the F-22 a few years ago off the coast of Florida.