459th ARW refuels F-15s

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Sandra Henriquez, a boom operator with the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Maryland, operates the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker over the southeastern United States December 18, 2025. The KC-135 is the U.S. Air Force's core aerial refueling platform, extending the global reach of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)

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459th ARW refuels F-15s

A KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Maryland, refuels an F-15E Strike Eagle, assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, North Carolina, over the southeastern United States, December 18, 2025. The KC-135 is the U.S. Air Force's core aerial refueling platform, extending the global reach of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)

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459th ARW refuels F-15s

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt Nicholas Vietri, a boom operator with the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Maryland, operates the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker over the southeastern United States December 18, 2025. The KC-135 is the U.S. Air Force's core aerial refueling platform, extending the global reach of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)

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459th ARW refuels F-15s

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Gilliard and 2nd Lt. Kyle McCoy, pilots with the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Maryland, operate a KC-135 Stratotanker over the southeastern United States December 18, 2025. The KC-135 is the U.S. Air Force's core aerial refueling platform, extending the global reach of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)

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459th ARW refuels F-15s

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Gilliard, a pilot with the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Maryland, executes exterior preflight checks of a KC-135 Stratotanker on the flightline of Joint Base Andrews December 18, 2025. Joint Base Andrews has evolved from its 1940s origins supporting early fighter aircraft to a modern airfield hosting nationally significant assets like Air Force One and the F-16, earning its reputation as “America’s Airfield.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)

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459th ARW refuels F-15s

Published Jan. 5, 2026
By 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
459th Air Refueling Wing

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --

Rain or shine. Day or night. Training is a constant here at the 459th Air Refueling Wing. This photo series features one of the 459th ARW's KC-135 Stratotankers refueling F-15E Strike Eagle, assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, North Carolina, over the southeastern United States, December 18, 2025. The KC-135 is a workhorse and is the U.S. Air Force's core aerial refueling platform, extending the global reach of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nations.