Stratotanker crew comes to aid of F-16 pilot
by Capt. Mae-Li Allison
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
11/5/2004 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- The Yogi Berra saying that “it ain't over ‘till it’s over” seems to be the most appropriate way to describe one particular flight over Iraq in October, when a KC-135 Stratotanker crew thought they had completed their mission and were returning to their forward-deployed base.
“We had already secured all our classified material and were on our way back home when we tuned in to hear an emergency call from an F-16 [Fighting Falcon] that had trapped fuel,” said Capt. Jeffrey Webb, the KC-135’s aircraft commander.
Other crewmembers from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., were 1st Lt. Mark Skalko, co-pilot; and Airman 1st Class Joseph Pittman, boom operator. All became mission qualified in their particular crew positions within the past year.
Recognizing that the Illinois Air National Guard F-16 could not access its fuel properly, and that the jet was heading to the same forward-deployed base as they were, Lieutenant Skalko informed the air traffic control center that he and his crew were available to help.
“We told ATC we were heading home and still had fuel onboard to accommodate the jet,” Captain Webb said. “And before (ATC) could answer, the F-16 pilot radioed in that he had gotten the OK from his chain of command, too.”
The pilot who received the fuel says he is very grateful for the assistance.
“We had just completed a mission and were flying over Tallil (Iraq) to get home when I discovered the problem and realized I didn’t have enough fuel to get back to my deployed base," said Captain Brett, the pilot of the aircraft in distress. "The KC-135 crew’s high situational awareness allowed me to get out of there.”
The rule of thumb is to get into the area, complete the mission and return to the same air base if at all possible, Captain Brett said.
“And by allowing me to get back to the base safely, they facilitated future missions by keeping me, my wingman and our jets at our deployed base and ready for the next mission,” he said.
On the way home, the KC-135 crew, Captain Brett and his wingman flew in a three-ship formation just in case the troubled jet needed more fuel.
“We don’t normally fly in formation on the way home, so it was different having to do things like make the radio calls for all three of us,” Lieutenant Skalko said. “But I was relieved that all the formation flying instruction I got in pilot training kicked in. It just solidified the idea that we are all well-trained, and even though we’re the youngest crew in our squadron here, we are prepared.”
Although this particular mission was a little out of the ordinary, it exemplifies what the KC-135 crew and others in their squadron do every day, which is supply aircraft with jet fuel -- about 19 million pounds in October -- so the overall mission of getting bombs on target can promptly continue.
“We have a fantastic job,” Captain Webb said. “I like the fact that we are helping others on a daily basis while still having an operational mission.” |
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