TheOttoman
Posts: 139
Joined: 12/14/2017 Status: offline
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If you really want, I can go back into my notes, but I'm fairly positive that the planes from Langley left with tankers to support 4 F-15's each, and they covered the fueling from CONUS to Lejas where the first of 6 inflight refuelings happened. They then flew through the Med, not overflying any country's airspace, with the exception (I believe) of Egypt, and (of course) Saudi Arabia. I the tracks somewhere, and I know that SAC tankers were operating from Al Dhafra, Lajes, Moron, Zaragoza, Mildenhall, Anderson and Diego Garcia as soon as 6 Aug. Knowing that, it's pretty easy to make up your own tracks. I do know that on 3 Aug all of the F-15Cs were reconfigured to add fuel tanks to maximize their range. On 7 Aug, the 1st TFW is given orders to prepare, and 24 F-15Cs of the 71st TFS depart. They conduct 6-7 inflight refuelings and it takes 14-17 hours to transit to Dhahran AB. On 8 Aug, the 27th TFS departs Langley at it takes them over 14 hours to get to Dhahran. Planes land there every ten minutes. The tankers (KC-10) tankers stay with the F-15's the entire trip and are used for the TFS throughout. One of the 71st TFS does not make it to Dharhan and has to divert enroute.
< Message edited by TheOttoman -- 6/30/2020 10:54:04 PM >
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