Iowa Air National Guard 185th Air Refueling Wing’s 75th Anniversary colors, 22DEC2020. Photo by Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot.
After more than six decades the KC-135 Stratotanker flies on, and by the end of 2020 some even got new clothes for 2021.
Iowa Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 22DEC2020.
Iowa’s bat tail was first used on F-16s in the 1990s. Iowa’s bat logo was first used over Viet Nam in the 1960s, to represent the unit’s night operations.
Iowa Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 01MAR2022.
The nose of the KC-135 has a diamond surrounded by silhouettes depicting the type of aircraft flown by the Iowa unit since 1946. The 185th switched from single seat aircraft to the KC-135 in 2003.
Video of Sioux City Bat tanker by Master Sergeant Vincent De Groot, 22DEC2020:
Alaska Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Julie Avey, 15OCT2020.
In October 2020, Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Wing revealed a new polar bear logo on their KC-135s.
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Kaylee Dubois, 18DEC2020.
The tail flash at the top of each Stratotanker’s vertical tail will bear the name of one of nine interior tribal/native communities. The final two will bear the name Fairbanks and North Pole.
Alaska Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Julie Avey, 17DEC2020.
Dramatic music video unveiling (by Technical Sergeant William A Keele) of Alaska’s polar bear tail KC-135, 15OCT2020:
Alaska Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Julie Avey, 17DEC2020.
Here’s a New Jersey Air National Guard KC-135R from May 2020 covid-19 flyover ops:
New Jersey Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sergeant Cristina J. Allen, 12MAY2020.
KC-135: Pandemic Overflight
Rivet Joint-Airseeker: RC-135V/W PATRIOT & RED COAT
Bare Metal: KC-135R GETS STRIPPED
2019: KC-135 CITY OF DERBY