Tribute to the KC-135 Stratotanker

One of the best values the Air Force ever got for it's dollar. A workhorse that started in the 1950's and still going strong.

A Converted Boeing 707 (the same plane used for Air Force One by Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan & Bush), the KC135 has seen action in every conflict the US has been involved in since the Korean War.

While America slept, KC-135 Tankers were on alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year during the cold war in every kind of weather conditions imaginable.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• KC-135
• Tanker
• USAF
• Air
• Force

[elthreepoints]

Crew Chief, Carswell AFB, 1972-1975, Super experience with a super bird! 57-1470!

[smg1486]

Great vid!! Hubby flew tankers from 1986-2008!!! Long live the KC-135!

[MrJp1437NC]

Glad to see one of SJ's tankers immortalized in your video. It was a snowy, wet, winter day but maintainers were of course at work in the early morning cold when I snapped the photo for our local unit paper. We dreaded losing the KC-10's for the -135's but it proved to be a good thing for maintainers. Long live the KC-135 and the 916th ARW.

[dcpj8533]

I was with these 135's for refueling the fighters and B-52's from 1964 through 1967 on the ground crew. Wish I was back. But this film and tribute really brings back those great memories of yesteryears from my 18th through 22nd Birthdays. God Bless the U.S. Air Force men and Women carrying on for us. I was at Seymour-Johnson AFB during those years.

[routan1]

I was at Offutt '84-'88, 55th FMS, 55th SRW. We had KC, RC and ECs on the line. We sweated blood for the these bastards in the cold, heat, dust, snow, wind and rain...and loved 'em. What a marvelous airplane...

[TheRichram]

@nickconsiglio Iwas at U-tapao 68/69 135 line chief ole metro van still have the seat inprint in my butt. loved every minute.

[TheRichram]

@NIGHTFIGHTER44 53118 was stationed at minot early in her career flew a few times TDY with her .watchin these old films brings tears of joy. 62/69 a water wagon chief . my last bird was 55136 shes probly chopped up now.

[fabfaruk]

@jamesyurisich I can't say for sure but I think I took 1511 to RAF Fairford in 1985 for an Airshow and TTF deployment. I'm going to have to go look at some old photo albums to see if I can pin down the tail number. I share your opinion of the bird and the great times I had serving on a tanker crew. God bless.

[fallout3freak360]

@YukkiHabiki so which is better?

[YukkiHabiki]

@fallout3freak360 The gross maximum weight of the KC-135 is less than the fuel in the bladders of the KC-10. The capabilities differences of the KC-135 and KC-10 are astronomical.