Photo By Tech. Sgt. Cesaron White | Part of the 126th Maintenance Group team who painted plane 7981 a 126th Air Refueling...... read more read more
The 126th Air Refueling Wing has a long history that goes back prior to the formation of the Air Force in 1947, when it was the 344th Bombardment Group.
The bombardment group was activated Sept. 8, 1942. The 344th flew combat operations over occupied France, Belgium, and Holland, helped prepare for the Normandy invasion by striking vital bridges in France, and attacked the coastal batteries at Cherbourg during D-Day operations. The 126th Air Refueling Wing traces its lineage directly to the formation of the 344th.
To honor that heritage the 126th Maintenance Group painted a KC-135R Stratotanker in the style known as the Normandy invasion stripes, recalling the B-26 Marauder the bomb group flew.
“I don’t know how many people throughout the wing even know that our unit was part of the D-Day invasion,” said Master Sgt. Derek Jones, a 126th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief.
“I hope it brings a little bit more pride than what they already have and feel like they are a part of something way bigger,” said Jones.
It took 14 Airmen over 10 days to sand and paint aircraft 7981 to resemble a B-26 Marauder.
“It was a process,” said Master Sgt. Mathew Mehring, a 126th Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance supervisor. “We just took our time and tried to make it as good as we could.”
The Aircraft Structural Maintenance shop is responsible for painting planes for corrosion prevention measures.
“We’re functional painters,” said Mehringer. “As good as we are capable of, I think we nailed it”
To get approval to paint a plane takes several layers of approval. It starts at the maintenance group level and goes through the wing commander while heading to the National Guard Bureau for final approval.
Several proposals for a paint scheme were brought to the maintenance group commander for approval.
“I had to provide all the backstory, all the proof and legitimacy of it,” Jones explained. “We weren’t doing racing stripes just to be cool. There was a premise and a purpose behind it. So, for them to be on board, I think was huge.”
Jones went on to say that he hopes it boosts morale in the wing.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.06.2025 14:35 |
| Story ID: | 499876 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The 126th Honors it's D-Day Heritage, by SMSgt Brian Ellison, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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