EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- An Airman de-ices a KC-135 Stratotanker from Kadena Air Base, Japan, before it takes off on its first Cope Thunder mission Oct. 10. The two-week Alaskan exercise is the largest air combat training exercise, involving more than 1,000 active-duty and Air National Guard Airmen and 87 aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. A.C. Eggman)
