One of two military planes involved in an incident in Iraq appears to have ties to Northern California.A U.S. Air Force aerial refueling plane that landed in Israel with damage to its tail fin has a marker that indicates it came from Beale Air Force Base, according to photos shared by Israeli media. The two images of a KC-135 Stratotanker were posted on Telegram by Israeli public broadcaster Kan, a CNN affiliate.U.S. Central Command said two planes were involved in an incident “in friendly airspace” on Thursday during Operation Fury. A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down over Iraq, while the other plane landed safely. U.S. Central Command said that all six members aboard the KC-135 that went down died and the loss of the aircraft “was not due to hostile or friendly fire.” Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said on X that the plane that landed safely did so in Israel. KCRA 3 has reached out to the military for more information about a Northern California connection to the incident. A representative for Beale Air Force Base directed comment to U.S. Central Command.“Out of respect for the families, we have nothing to add to our press release at this time,” a representative for U.S. Central Command said. What is a KC-135 Stratotanker?The KC-135 Stratotanker provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nations’ aircraft. It can also be used for aeromedical evacuations, according to a fact sheet.The aircraft is also capable of carrying up to 83,000 pounds of cargo. Air Mobility Command manages an inventory of 396 Stratotankers, of which the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard fly 243 aircraft, according to the fact sheet. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.Crews typically include a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator, with some missions also having a navigator. Aeromedical evacuation crews can be added that include two flight nurses and three medical technicians. Beale Air Force Base connection to KC-135 StratotankersBeale Air Force Base, in Yuba County, is home to the 940th Air Refueling Wing and the 9th Reconnaissance Wing.The 940th Air Refueling Wing dates back to 1963 and received its first KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft in preparation for becoming an air refueling unit in 1976, according to an online fact sheet. It has performed air refueling missions worldwide for decades. “Beginning as a troop carrier unit, the mission transitioned to air transport, military airlift, tactical airlift, air refueling, C2ISR (command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) mission, and back to air refueling over the years,” the fact sheet says. “Fundamentally, the 940th has been a ‘flex’ organization for the nation and has been willing to do whatever the nation required.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. —
One of two military planes involved in an incident in Iraq appears to have ties to Northern California.
A U.S. Air Force aerial refueling plane that landed in Israel with damage to its tail fin has a marker that indicates it came from Beale Air Force Base, according to photos shared by Israeli media. The two images of a KC-135 Stratotanker were posted on Telegram by Israeli public broadcaster Kan, a CNN affiliate.
U.S. Central Command said two planes were involved in an incident “in friendly airspace” on Thursday during Operation Fury. A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down over Iraq, while the other plane landed safely.
U.S. Central Command said that all six members aboard the KC-135 that went down died and the loss of the aircraft “was not due to hostile or friendly fire.”
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said on X that the plane that landed safely did so in Israel.
KCRA 3 has reached out to the military for more information about a Northern California connection to the incident.
A representative for Beale Air Force Base directed comment to U.S. Central Command.
“Out of respect for the families, we have nothing to add to our press release at this time,” a representative for U.S. Central Command said.
What is a KC-135 Stratotanker?
The KC-135 Stratotanker provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nations’ aircraft. It can also be used for aeromedical evacuations, according to a fact sheet.
The aircraft is also capable of carrying up to 83,000 pounds of cargo.
Air Mobility Command manages an inventory of 396 Stratotankers, of which the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard fly 243 aircraft, according to the fact sheet.
The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.
Crews typically include a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator, with some missions also having a navigator.
Aeromedical evacuation crews can be added that include two flight nurses and three medical technicians.
Beale Air Force Base connection to KC-135 Stratotankers
Beale Air Force Base, in Yuba County, is home to the 940th Air Refueling Wing and the 9th Reconnaissance Wing.
The 940th Air Refueling Wing dates back to 1963 and received its first KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft in preparation for becoming an air refueling unit in 1976, according to an online fact sheet. It has performed air refueling missions worldwide for decades.
“Beginning as a troop carrier unit, the mission transitioned to air transport, military airlift, tactical airlift, air refueling, C2ISR (command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) mission, and back to air refueling over the years,” the fact sheet says. “Fundamentally, the 940th has been a ‘flex’ organization for the nation and has been willing to do whatever the nation required.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel