FB-111 air refueling with KC-135

Boom operator’s view out rear of KC-135 (basically a modified Boeing 707) refueling a FB-111. The small wings on the boom allowed the boom operator to “fly” the boom into position via a joy stick. Another control allowed the operator to extend the telescopic boom to engage the receiver aircraft’s refueling receptacle and start offloading fuel. The offloaded fuel was JP4 … same as used by the KC and taken from one of about 10 connected fuel cells on the tanker. Pilot’s job during the refueling was pretty simple … maintain a stable platform generally with autopilot and altitude hold engaged … plus maintaining a constant airspeed consistent with the type of aircraft being refueled. Just about all aircraft types in USAF inventory were air refuelable. I flew KC's for a number of years at Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH after returning from C-130's in SEA (Southeast Asia).