Right Place, Right Time: 185th ARW Trains with Minot B-52
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — An Iowa Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker crew conducted an impromptu aerial refueling training opportunity with a B-52H Stratofortress while operating over South Dakota, Sept. 15, 2026.
Airmen assigned to the 185th Air Refueling Wing were already airborne in the area after completing a separate aerial refueling mission when the opportunity arose to conduct additional training with a B-52 assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.
With both aircraft operating in the region, the crews were able to coordinate an additional aerial refueling hookup, providing valuable training for both tanker and bomber aircrews.
Airman Basic Levi Anderson and Tech. Sgt. David Asbra, boom operators assigned to the 174th Air Refueling Squadron, worked from the rear of the KC-135 during the refueling. Boom operators visually direct receiving aircraft into position and operate the KC-135’s refueling boom to transfer fuel while the aircraft are in flight.
The impromptu training provided Anderson and Asbra an additional opportunity to maintain aerial refueling proficiency while working with one of the Air Force’s long-range bomber platforms.
The 185th ARW operates the KC-135 Stratotanker from Sioux City, providing aerial refueling capability that extends the range and endurance of U.S. and allied aircraft.
| Date Taken: |
09.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: |
09.16.2026 11:36 |
| Story ID: |
574863 |
| Location: |
US |
| Web Views: |
81 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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This work, Right Place, Right Time: 185th ARW Trains with Minot B-52, by SSgt John Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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