Polish F-35A refuelled in US air for the first time
A US Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing successfully refuelled a Polish F-35A Lightning II for the first time on 6 March. The operation took place over northern Arkansas in cooperation with the Illinois Air National Guard.
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This mission was an important milestone in the integration of the F-35 into the Polish Air Force. The Polish fighter took off from Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, while the KC-135 took off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
The Polish student pilot called the event an honour, highlighting the historical ties between Illinois and the Polish community. According to him, the state is home to many Americans of Polish descent.
The operation was the result of six months of planning between the United States and Poland. The mission's aircraft commander, Lieutenant Colonel Tony Meyers, stressed the importance of this event for strengthening cooperation with the Polish Flight Training Unit.
The 126th Air Refueling Wing has been supporting the Polish Air Force since 2018, having previously conducted refuelling operations in Europe. This is the first time that Polish fighter pilots have performed mid-air refuelling in the United States as part of a training programme.
Source: US National Guard
