3rd AF/CC flies 7M pound mission

  • Published
  • By U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Christopher Mesnard
  • 100 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST EUROPE --  The 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron passed another milestone April 9, crossing the 7 million pound threshold for total fuel offloaded.

Members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing stood up the 351st EARS here at the end of January to provide air-to-air refueling support to the French air force in support of operations in Mali.
Lt. Gen. Craig A. Franklin, 3rd Air Force commander, was on-site as the JP-8 fuel counter ticked past 7 million pounds.

"Air-to-air refueling is in our heritage, it's something we do better than any other nation," said Franklin to a group of flight line operators before the flight. "Your flexibility and readiness has been critical in getting our assets where they need to be, to support the French."

Franklin spent two days with the 351st EARS, assessing the tactical capabilities of his Airmen on the ground and in the air. Crossing the 7 million pound milestone during his visit was a coincidence, but really hammered home the squadron's capabilities to the general.

"The visit was a good opportunity to highlight the impressive job our people have been doing here over the past few months," said Capt. Jonathan Patrick Edwards, 351st EARS pilot, and aircraft commander for the 7 million pound flight. "It was especially meaningful that [Lt.] Gen. Franklin took the time to visit every part of the squadron and fly with us while he was here."

The 351st EARS is an expeditionary squadron assigned to the 100th ARW from RAF Mildenhall, England, and draws its roots from the World War II-era 100th Bomb Group. Today, the unit provides the only permanent U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa air-to-air refueling capabilities for both the European and African areas of operation.