Civic leaders witness air refueling

James Havers-Strong, 931st Air Refueling Group honorary commander and The Aviation Business International Group of Companies CEO and managing director, watches as Staff Sgt. Malcom Lee, 22nd Operations Support Squadron operational support training NCO in charge, refuels a B-52 Stratofortress, April 23, 2015, over New Mexico. Havers-Strong was one of 15 local civic leaders on the flight who witnessed the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and 931st Air Refueling Group mission first-hand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo)

Civic leaders witness air refueling

Civic leaders from the Wichita, Kan., area pose with Col. James Dermer (9th from left), 22nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander, before a flight April 23, 2015, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The flight was a demonstration of how the support from the local community helps Team McConnell accomplish its mission of aerial refueling on a daily basis. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo)

Civic leaders witness air refueling

Published April 23, 2015
By Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Fifteen local civic leaders were flown onboard a KC-135 Stratotanker during a demonstration of McConnell's aerial refueling mission as part of a regularly scheduled training sortie April 23.

The Kansans witnessed a B-52 Stratofortress get refueled during the flight, a first-hand demonstration of how the Air Force is able to extend its reach across the entire globe.

"We are deeply appreciative of the support we receive from our friends in and around Wichita," said Col. Albert Miller, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "This flight helped exhibit just how challenging and important one of our primary missions is here at McConnell. It also allowed us to show off our great people and the pride they take in executing this mission. The most important objective for today was to demonstrate how the support we get from our community partners plays a vital role in our success, which extends to not just the Air Force, but the entire American military, our allies and, most importantly, our troops fighting for us away from home."

The flight was informative for many of the civic leaders on various different levels, ranging from how surprisingly large a B-52 is to how important an open exchange of information is between the base and the local community.

"The more that civilians in the community understand about what the Airmen here do to support national defense, the better off both sides will be," said Thomas Bertels, 22nd Operations Group honorary commander and Sullivan, Higdon, Sink Inc. managing partner. "Just seeing the teamwork between everyone, from the people on the ground to the crews of both aircraft, is something that I think, as Wichitans and Americans, should be proud of."