The world’s most famous KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling jet hails from MacDill Air Force Base.
A blast of videos of aerial attacks on Islamic State targets in Syria, distributed by U.S. Central Command and seen around the world, includes a 77-second YouTube video of a KC-135 refueling F-16s that were part of the first strike package to hit IS targets in Syria Sept. 23.
The green-hued video, using night vision technology, shows an F-16 approaching the tanker as the boom operator carefully guides the refueling boom down to the bomb-laden fighter to offload fuel.
About 22 seconds into the video, the boom is lowered close enough to the fighter that viewers can make out the distinct markings of the 6th Air Mobility Wing – the Air Force refueling wing at MacDill, and the 927th Air Refueling Wing – its partner Air Force Reserve unit at the base.
Centcom officials would not say how many crews from MacDill, which has 16 Stratotankers, are involved in the U.S. and coalition air efforts over Syria.
But one thing is clear.
Since the bombing campaign against IS in Iraq began on Aug. 8, tankers like the ones at MacDill have played a key role.
There have been about 3,500 individual aircraft flights, called sorties, according to Air Force Capt, Malinda Singleton, a spokeswoman for U.S. Air Forces Central. More than a third of those, about 1,200, were flown by tankers.
By comparison, about 1,400 of those missions were flown by fighters and bombers on attack or tactical reconnaissance missions.