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KC-135E Stratotanker
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New Jersey's first-ever "fly-over"
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| History was made Thursday, June 29 with the first "fly-over" of
a sporting event in the State of New Jersey. It was not at Giants Stadium but at Rutgers Stadium. It was not for
the Scarlet Knights but as a prelude to the 28th Annual North-South All-Star Football Game. |
| While Lieutenant Colonel Robert R. Doolittle, the 108 Air Refueling Wing
vice commander, tossed the coin at mid-field, overhead roared jets of New Jersey's elite unit that provides dedicated
rapid response airlift and is one of three "Super" wings in the United States Special Operations Command.
The pilots flying were: Lieutenant Colonel Dennis J. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Amisano along with boom operator
Master Sergeant Paul Matlack. |
| The unit consists of 1385 personnel and utilizes 16 KC-135E Startotankers
plus two Air Force Boeing C-32B planes. The unit had undertaken three KC-135E squadron mobilizations in five years
and filled over 3843 AF Tasked Positions since September 11, 2001. It flew 739 sorties over 3319 hours in Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan, 1349 sorties over 6757 hours for Iraqui Freedom and within the first 72 hours of the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina, logged 43 sorties to provide 256 tons of supplies and 61,000 gallons of water to ravaged
areas. |
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