We used to refuel these babies over SE Asia and other areas. I worked on the KC-135Q (queer) aircraft, so designated because it had special tanks for JP-7 fuel. Loved watching them take off at Beale AFB. Straight down the run way with afterburners going! Then straight up till out of sight!
Alas, never got to work on one.
I guess I can say I also saw one crash at Beale. Coming in for a landing, lost sight of it behind trees, Lots of smoke, fire engines on the roll toward it!
And as soon as they got into the air, they had to refuel because what didn’t leak out on the ground was burned up in takeoff! Best part of my career was at Mildenhall, the pilots would come out to our shop to use the phone to call back to the states. Used to play backgammon with them.
I got to work on one at Otis AFB on Cape Cod in 1971 when I was a DOD contractor.
I was the only one in the electronics shop with a high enough clearance, and even then I was sworn to secrecy afterwards.
Part of the problem I had fixing the panel was the fact that they didn’t want to let me see any of the manuals.
Told them No Manuals, No Repair. If I don’t know how it’s supposed to work, then I can’t figure out why it’s not working.
They finally gave in, but I had an armed MP right beside me the entire time. I guess so I didn’t try to sneak off with one of those 6 inch thick manuals.