Unique operator refuels the war

  • Published
  • By Marine Corporal M. Todd Hunter
  • American Forces Network Okinawa
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The KC-135 Stratotanker helps the Air Force accomplish its mission by providing gas during flight. But to accomplish its mission, this fuel station in the sky requires an operator with a very unique job. He goes by the name of "Boom" or Boom Operator. 

Staff Sgt. Larry Nahalea has refueled various jets as a boom operator aboard KC-135 Stratotankers for nearly nine years. While he's been stationed at Kadena Air Base, he's had the opportunity to re-fuel the Air Force's newest threat in the sky -- the F-22-A Raptor. 

"You can usually tell the inexperienced pilots by how erratic their control is," laughed Staff Sgt. Nahalea as he hooked up the next F-22 to his boom. "But the F-22 is the most stable airplane out there. It pretty much comes in and parks." 

But the Raptor has substantially more room to park itself than Sergeant Nahalea has to park himself when he's inside the boom pod -- an area in the back of the KC-135 smaller than the bottom rack of a bunk bed.  He has to lie on his stomach to look out the boom window as he refuels each aircraft. 

"I'd say it's like a bathtub. After a while your back starts to hurt, but you get used to it," explains Sergeant Nahalea. "With today's fighters, it's no problem, they're in and out and we're done." 

He knows his job plays an important role in the Global War on Terrorism and he's proud to help support the troops on the ground. 

"So when I'm in Operation Iraqi or Enduring Freedom and I'm giving fighters gas, I know that his bombs are protecting my family and they're protecting everybody else's families."