Reserve aircraft, Airmen deploy to Turkey Published Oct. 3, 2008 By Lt. Col. Rich Curry 507th Air Refueling Wing TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma -- KC-135R aircraft from the 507th Air Refueling Wing departed this week for Incirlik AB, Turkey in support Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The 45-day overseas deployment will involve three of the wing's air refueling aircraft and nearly 250 personnel. Aircrews from the 465th Air Refueling Squadron and aircraft maintainers from the 507th Maintenance Group form the air refueling aviation package with the mission of providing air refueling support to aircraft flying OEF missions over Afghanistan and Iraq. Other members from the wing's Logistics Readiness Squadron, Medical Squadron and Communications Flight are deploying to support the mission. In addition to the three aircraft deploying, two additional aircraft will take part in ferrying personnel back and forth during the rotation points. All aircraft are expected to return to Tinker AFB by mid-November. "We've deployed to this AEF location in the past and are looking forward to again being on the front line in support of operations there," said Lt. Col. Bill Mason, 465th ARS Commander. "Our mission will directly support the war fighter in the air as well as on the ground by providing air refueling to cargo aircraft flying supplies and personnel. We help those cargo planes to get to locations without the extra stop for fuel." "I'd really like to thank the hard work and efforts of everyone at the wing who were involved in helping us prepare for this deployment," the colonel said.