RAF Mildenhall continues support over Mali

  • Published
  • By Gina Randall
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron continues operating out of Moron Air Base, Spain, providing aerial refueling support to French fighter aircraft operating over Mali.

At the request of the French government, the U.S. Air Force is supporting anti-terrorist operations in Mali with valuable air refueling for close-air-support missions conducted by the French air force.

The French deployed troops to Mali in January 2013 in response to unrest there and an influx of terrorist cells in the northern portion of the country. The 351st EARS soon began providing in-flight refueling support and has since provided 1,515 French receiver aircraft with more than 11 million pounds of fuel.

"Our vision in the 100th Operations Group is to become the European center of air refueling excellence," said Col. Nancy Bozzer, 100th OG commander. "One facet of this goal is to provide support to our allied partners."

The fuel passed by U.S. KC-135R Stratotankers from RAF Mildenhall has directly impacted the French operations in Mali, allowing fighter aircraft to perform around the clock close-air support for French and coalition troops on the ground.

In addition to striking terrorist strongholds, French fighter aircraft have been able to provide air cover for French, Malian, and other anti-terrorist forces operating in Mali. France was able to, "stop the splintering of a nation-state by a terrorist organization, and now is in a position to reaffirm democracy and legitimacy and an effective government inside of Mali," according to President Barack Obama after a G-8 summit press conference.

"We recognize our role as tankers will always be to support others," said Lt. Col. Timothy Kuehne, 351st Air Refueling Squadron commander and former 351st EARS commander, in an interview earlier this year. "Our combined operations with the French in Mali have given us a chance to prove our ability to contribute to anti-terrorism operations led by our partners around the world."

The 100th ARW's support of French operations in Mali highlights the U.S. Air Force's ability to provide critical support in operations led by other nations. A past operation was Operation Unified Protector, a NATO operation spearheaded by British and French forces. The support provided by the KC-135 Stratotanker and its crews is significant in locations such as Mali, where the anti-terrorism operation was being taken on by a French-led coalition.

"Airmen of the Bloody Hundredth are proud to be partnered with the French in a combined commitment to counter-terrorism in North Africa," Bozzer said.

The 351st EARS is an expeditionary component of the 100th ARW, ready to provide aerial refueling support as a forward deployed force in both U.S. and partner nation led operations.