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200114-F-WH061-1112

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing performs an air refueling mission with a 97th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III during the 97th Air Refueling Squadron’s first mission over the skies of Washington, Jan. 13, 2020. Refueling the C-17 served as a training mission for aircrew Airmen from both aircraft, and included air refueling training contacts as well as simulated emergency separation procedures, ensuring mission readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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200114-F-WH061-1215

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dillon Poole, 97th Air Refueling Squadron superintendent and boom operator, performs the 97th ARS’ first mission as a squadron with a C-17 Globemaster III from the 97th Airlift Squadron over the skies of Washington, Jan. 13, 2020. Refueling the C-17 served as training mission for aircrew Airmen from both aircraft, and included air refueling training connections, as well as simulated emergency separation procedures to ensure mission readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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200113-F-WH061-1006

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Dieter, 97th Air Refueling Squadron director of operations, signs official orders of the first mission for the 97th ARS at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Jan. 13, 2020. The 97th ARS’s first mission comes after its reactivation that took place October 2019 in order to support the addition of 12 new KC-135 Stratotankers and the estimated 1,000 Airmen and families being transferred to Fairchild. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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200114-F-WH061-1025

U.S. Air Force Capt. Steve Suhrie, 97th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, initiates take-off in a KC-135 Stratotanker for the 97th ARS’s first mission at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Jan. 13, 2020. The 97th ARS has over 70 years of history that includes it serving as one of the first Air Force air refueling units in 1949, its deactivation in 2004, and now the successful completion of its first mission since its reactivation in October 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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200114-F-WH061-1026

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Cindy Dawson, 97th Air Refueling Squadron commander, monitors aircraft instruments during the first mission for the 97th ARS as a squadron over the skies of Washington, Jan. 13, 2019. With success of the 97th ARS’ first mission as a squadron, Team Fairchild can expand its Global Reach mission, enhancing its lethality and capabilities as the world’s largest air refueling wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lawrence Sena)

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Airman preparing box

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Ekker, 97th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, inspects the 97th Air Refueling Squadron’s memorabilia box before loading it onto Fairchild’s KC-135 Stratotanker, on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Aug. 20. The 97th ARS was inactivated Sept. 30, 2004, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, and is scheduled to reactivate Oct 1, 2019, at Fairchild.

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Airman giving a brief

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Ekker, 97th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, gives a brief to individuals from Data Monitor Systems and Airmen from the 97th ARS, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Aug. 20. The memorabilia box was located at the U.S. National Air Force Museum due to an Air Force Instruction that states that if a squadron is deactivated, items deemed full of heritage and imperative to the reactivation of the squadron are to be packaged and sent there.

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Airman giving directions

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Ekker, 97th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, signals to Kevin Shaffer, Data Monitor Systems material handler, on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Aug. 20. Due to the addition of 12 KC-135 Stratotankers coming to Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, the squadron is scheduled to reactivate Oct. 1, 2019.

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Airmen moving memorabilia box

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 97th Air Refueling Squadron move a box of memorabilia onto a KC-135 Stratotanker on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Aug. 20. The flight to WPAFB was the first flight that the 97th ARS accomplished as a team since inactivating in 2004.

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Airmen unboxing 97th ARS guidon

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 97th Air Refueling Squadron unbox a guidon from their memorabilia box on Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, Aug. 22. The guidon from the memorabilia box will be the same one used in the reactivation ceremony.

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Airman adjusting dials in the cockpit

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Chris Dieter, 97th Air Refueling Squadron director of operations, adjusts dials in the cockpit while flying over Idaho, Aug. 20. On the way to and from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to pick up the memorabilia, the 97th ARS also aided in rapid global mobility through aerial refueling a Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt, an F-35 Lightning II and a B-1 Lancer.

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Airman stabalizing tail

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Ekker, 97th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, supports the tail of a Fairchild KC-135 Stratotanker in preparation for 97th ARS Airmen to load 97th ARS memorabilia, on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Aug. 21. The memorabilia contained the original guidon, history of the squadron, old patches, old aerial refueling photos, and many more historical artifacts.

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