Refuelers keep aircraft flying during exercise

Staff Sgt. Ron Davis, a KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator with the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., keeps the boom steady while refueling a U. S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet over the waters of Hawaii July 20, 2010, during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise. RIMPAC, the world's largest maritime exercise, is a biennial event which stresses interoperability among the 14 nations participating in the exercise. The tanker is staging out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Wing air refuelers keep Hornets buzzing

Published July 28, 2010
By Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Boston, Mass. native, Staff Sergeant Ron Davis, a boom operator with the 465th Air Refueling Squadron, 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., keeps the boom of his KC-135 stratotanker steady while refueling a U. S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet over the waters of Hawaii before returning to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii in support of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise on July 20. RIMPAC, the world's largest maritime exercise is a biennial event which stresses interoperability of all partner nations as a key element of regional stability. There are 14 nations, 32 ships, five submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 20,000 personnel involved here in this exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young)