Mildenhall base to celebrate KC-135 birthday Published Aug. 6, 2006 By Senior Airman Clark Steahle 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- RAF Mildenhall will commemorate the birthday of KC-135s with a ball to celebrate 50 years of the jet's service. "50 years goes well beyond what the plane was supposed to be used for," said Capt. Matt Ghormley 100th Operations Group and Air Force Ball co-chairman. "The plane is 50 years old and it's still exceeding our expectations. It has the reliability and capability of a 10-year-old jet ... with a few 1960s style comfort issues. To have and maintain a fleet of 530 50-year-old jets like the Air Force does is spectacular. The KC-135 is a great plane." A golden anniversary can be a big deal and, accordingly, should have a comparable celebration. The Air Force Ball, to be held Sept. 9, will feature a five-course meal, free child care, dancing, music from Chris Smith and the String of Pearls and more. "We want to encourage anyone who wants to take advantage of the free child care for kids over 3 years to R.S.V.P. right away so we can make sure their kids are taken care of and they can come and have a good time, said Jan Saville, Air Force ball co-chairman and wife of Col. Michael Saville, 100th Maintenance Group commander. We want to accommodate as many people as we can, but we can only take care of as many kids as we can hold." The 600-seat event is open to everyone who is a part of Team Mildenhall. "People work hard every day so we hope they'll come out here and have a nice time," Mrs. Saville said.