Airpower: The First Gulf War
KC-135 Stratotanker
Role: Arial tanker
Mission: Arial refueling of combat and transport aircraft, in addition to transporting cargo.
"While Vietnam could be called the "first tanker war" because of the volume of air refueling missions providing direct support to combat aircraft, the Persian Gulf War confirmed that airpower was critically dependent on air refueling." ⁴¹
"The deployment and containment phase, Operation Desert Shield, lasted from 7 August 1990 until 16 January 1991. Operation Desert Storm, 17 January to 28 February 1991, included one of the most intensive air refueling operations of all time." ⁴²
"During the 43 days of Operation Desert Storm, US and coalition tankers flew 15,434 sorties, offloading 110.2 million gallons of fuel." ⁴³
"Planners scheduled less than half of the available fuel from the KC-135A1Q and KC-135E because of their smaller fuel load and operating efficiency. This offload allowed tanker sorties to fly longer or at lower altitudes. The contingency planning also facilitated emergency offloads and solved problems as they emerged."⁴⁴
"By the time the conflict started on 17 January 1991, SAC had 262 KC-135s and 46 KC-10s operating from 21 locations in 10 countries." ⁴⁵
"At the peak of Operation Desert Storm, 81 percent of the US Air Force's KC-10 fleet and 44 percent of its KC-135s were committed." ⁴⁶
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41. Ellery D. Wallwork, et al “United States. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Office of History. Air Refueling: Without Tankers We Cannot…” October 2009.
42. Wallwork, et al “United States. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Office of History. Air Refueling: Without Tankers We Cannot…” October 2009.
43. Wallwork, et al “United States. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Office of History. Air Refueling: Without Tankers We Cannot…” October 2009.
44. Wallwork, et al “United States. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Office of History. Air Refueling: Without Tankers We Cannot…” October 2009.
45. Wallwork, et al “United States. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Office of History. Air Refueling: Without Tankers We Cannot…” October 2009.
46. Wallwork, et al “United States. Air Force Air Mobility Command. Office of History. Air Refueling: Without Tankers We Cannot…” October 2009.