US Air Force, MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE: Airmen from the 18th Air Refueling Squadron here took part in the first operational aerial refueling mission for the F-22A Raptor Jan. 21 in support of Operation Noble Eagle.
The F-22A Raptor was declared operational by the Air Force Dec. 15. It is the newest fighter aircraft for the Air Force, combining stealth, supercruise, maneuverability and integrated avionics.
During the eight-hour mission, the KC-135 Stratotanker transferred 18,200 pounds of fuel into two Raptors from Langley Air Force Base, Va. The boom operator on the mission, from Wichita, Kan., was Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. Chris Norris.
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