Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Mar

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Kemp, 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, performs preflight checks aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 20, 2025. The 909th ARS is the U.S. Pacific Air Force’s premier unit for conducting air refueling, providing key mission extending capabilities to joint and allied aircraft throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Mar

U.S. Air Force Capt. Arica Snodgrass, left, and Capt. Wil Andahazy, both 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilots, fly a KC-135 over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2025. The 909th ARS executes rapid deployment of KC-135s to support a multitude of Pacific Air Force missions, displaying Kadena’s commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Mar

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2025. The 909th ARS is the U.S. Pacific Air Force’s premier unit for conducting air refueling, providing key mission extending capabilities to joint and allied aircraft throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Mar

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2025. The 909th ARS is the U.S. Pacific Air Force’s premier unit for conducting air refueling, providing key mission extending capabilities to joint and allied aircraft throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Mar

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts aerial refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2025. The VMFA-242 F-35B’s primary mission is to provide electronic warfare support, intercept and destroy enemy aircraft, and locate, attack and destroy enemy surface targets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Mar

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts aerial refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2025. The VMFA-242 F-35B’s primary mission is to provide electronic warfare support, intercept and destroy enemy aircraft, and locate, attack and destroy enemy surface targets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Mar

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, fly in formation with a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2025. The 909th ARS is the U.S. Pacific Air Force’s premier unit for conducting air refueling, providing key mission extending capabilities to joint and allied aircraft throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Tigers and Bats patrol Pacific skies: Joint Force in Motion: Marines and Airmen Integrate Over the Pacific

Published Nov. 24, 2025
By Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron conducts aerial refueling with U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, over the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 20, 2025. The 909th ARS is the U.S. Pacific Air Force’s premier unit for conducting air refueling, providing key mission extending capabilities to joint and allied aircraft throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)