Fuels Airmen perform ‘wet-wing’ defuel for first time

Courtesy Photo | Airmen assigned to the 139th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s petroleum, oils, and lubricants office, Missouri Air National Guard, perform a ‘wet wing’ defuel of a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Missouri, Aug 16, 2022. This was the first time the 139th POL office conducted a ‘wet wing’ defuel which means the aircraft engines were running during the operation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Scott Crane)  

ST. JOSEPH, MO, UNITED STATES

08.16.2022

Story by Michael Crane 

139th Airlift Wing

Airmen from the 139th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s petroleum, oils, and lubricants office conducted a ‘wet-wing’ defuel operation at Rosecrans for the first time on Aug. 16, 2022.

“This process is new to the Air Force and allows aircraft to defuel while the engines are running,” said Senior Master Sgt. Ed Sollars, fuels superintendent assigned to the 139th LRS.

Two POL Airmen received certification training at Rosecrans from the Connecticut Air National Guard in order to conduct the so-called wet-wing defuel, which is considered a special fueling operation. Those Airmen can now train the rest of the shop or other units that need certification, said Sollars.

The event consisted of class room training followed by a walk-through during daylight hours. The session was also performed at night to provide Airmen the experience of limited visibility operations.

This procedure supports the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment concept by using existing weapon systems to fuel the fight on forward operating bases.

“They could drop a C-130 off at a remote location where you didn't have a bulk [fuel] storage,” said Sollars. “You could get fuel from certain aircraft and refuel helicopters or fighters.”

There are also requirements on the aircrew side, said Sollars.

“It’s all part of ACE…and part of the operations group's plans to get certified on [this training].”

*This story differs from the version published on Aug. 16, 2022, in that Sollars name has been corrected.
* Story was originally posted to the 139th Airlift Wing base website on Aug. 16, 2022, and may be found at https://www.139aw.ang.af.mil/News/Article/3144390/fuels-airmen-perform-wet-wing-defuel-for-first-time/

• Date Taken: 08.16.2022
• Date Posted: 08.30.2022 14:40
• Story ID: 428329
• Location: ST. JOSEPH, MO, US