US Air Force Maj. Barry James and his family walk in front of a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during the aircraft’s 70th anniversary at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, on August 31, 2026. Airmen and their families, retired brass, and community members gathered at Altus to celebrate the crucial aircraft. (US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Emma Wright)
US Air Force Celebrates 70th Anniversary of One of Its Most Important Aircraft
The KC-135 Stratotanker, which has been in service since 1957, refuels America’s bombers, carries cargo, and even occasionally transports wounded or sick service members.
This year, the US Air Force is marking the 70th anniversary of an aircraft it simply couldn’t successfully operate without—namely, the often overlooked KC-135 Stratotanker.
Although the Air Force’s bombers are what get the headlines, the missions couldn’t be accomplished without aerial refuelers, and the Stratotanker does the job better than any other aircraft in service today.
“The KC-135 is a true power-projection platform that allows us to overcome the tyranny of distance,” retired Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II, former Air Mobility Command commander, said at an event celebrating the aircraft at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. “It remains essential to our global mobility, and its enduring legacy is a testament to the thousands of Airmen who have maintained and flown it over the decades.”
The KC-135 can carry up to 200,000 pounds (90,719 kg) of fuel to thirsty warbirds, pumping 6,500 pounds of fuel per minute. The KC-135 utilizes a dual refueling system that includes a rigid “flying boom” for most US Air Force jets, and a trailing basket (or drogue) for US Navy, US Marine Corps, and allied aircraft.
In addition to the fuel, the KC-135 Stratotanker, which was also the first all-jet engine refueling aircraft to enter service, can carry 83,000 pounds of cargo, and even transport sick and wounded patients during medical emergencies.
Seven Decades as a Flying Service Station
The Stratotanker was first deployed on August 31, 1956. In the past seven decades, it has been the backbone of the US military’s aerial refueling fleet.
Past and present aircrews and their families, retired brass, and community members joined the Air Force’s 97th Air Mobility Wing in paying homage to the Stratotanker at Altus AFB.
The event served as an opportunity for attendees to view KC-135 simulators and see static displays of not only the Stratotanker but also the KC-46 Pegasus and the C-17 Globemaster III. Atlus AFB has been the home for KC-135 Stratotanker training since 1957. A formal training school opened in 1994.
“The KC-135 is an incredible aircraft, but it is the dedication of our Airmen—those who fly, fix, and support it—that truly keeps this mission in the air, and has done so for seven remarkable decades,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jonny Adams, 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief. “Their professionalism, resilience, and commitment deliver global mobility to the Joint Warfighters whenever and wherever the nation calls.”
The Development of the KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 Stratotanker is based on the Boeing 707, the aerospace manufacturer’s first intercontinental passenger jet. It has provided the Air Force with its core aerial refueling capability since it entered service in June 1957. The KC-135 allows the US military to accomplish its primary mission anywhere in the world.
A total of 803 Stratotankers were produced between 1955 and 1965. About half of them (417) have been updated with new engines, enabling them to serve as flying fuel stations for the US military and its allies for decades to come.
The KC-135 Stratotanker’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1957
- Number Built: 803
- Length: 136 ft, 3 in (41.53 m)
- Wingspan: 130 ft, 10 in (39.88 m)
- Weight (MTOW): 322,500 lb (146,285 kg)
- Propulsion: Four CFM International CFM-56 turbofan engines (21,634 lbf each)
- Top Speed: 530 mph (853 km/h)
- Range: 1,500 mi (2,419 km) with 150,000 lb (68,039 kg) of transfer fuel; ferry mission, up to 11,015 mi (17,766 km)
- Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: Up to 200,000 lb (90,700 kg) fuel; 83,000 lb (37,648 kg) cargo; 37 passengers
- Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot, boom operator); some KC-135 missions also require a navigator
Two Airmen Added to Boom Memorial
This week’s event also included the Altus Boom Association’s annual “Boom Memorial Ceremony,” which honors fallen boom operators from across the aerial refueling community. The names of those warfighters were inscribed on a memorial in the Wings of Freedom Park, with each name read aloud.
This year saw two names added to the list—the first since 2013.
They were Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt and Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, two boom operators from Zeus 95, who were killed in the March 2026 crash of a KC-135 in the Syrian Desert of western Iraq. The Stratotanker was lost after a mid-air collision with another US tanker aircraft during Operation Epic Fury.
“By adding the names of Tech Sgt. Pruitt and Master Sgt. Simmons to this memorial, we ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten,” said Staff Sgt. Sage Ledet, president of the Altus Boom Association. “We carry their memory, along with that of all fallen boom operators, on every flight.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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