Team McConnell aircrews stayed one step ahead of the inclement weather this season and evacuated a total of 8 KC-135 Stratotankers and 3 KC-46 Pegasuses in less than six hours early last month.
The order to evacuate the aircraft was given at 9 a.m. By 2 p.m. that same day, all the aircraft had been successfully transferred.
The KC-135s went to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., and March Air Reserve Base, Calif. Though this isn’t the first time Team McConnell has evacuated their aircraft to prevent damage, according to Senior Master Sgt. James Guldjord, 18th Air Refueling Squadron superintendent, it was the first time the process was nearly seamless.