I was assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, 349th Air Refueling Squadron when it operated the KC-135Q model refueling the SR-71 from Beale AFB, CA (Mar 80-Jun 83). Also the same place I met my lovely bride of over 30 years now. I also hung out with the Wing Historian at the time. He had a lot of literature on the “Bloody Hundredth” Bombardment Group as it was known in WWII.
Apparently during one of the 100th Bomb Groups first missions over Occupied-France a crippled B-17 was making its way back to England when a Luftwaffe fighter pulled up to finish them off. The crew dropped their gear as a sign of surrender and the fighter flew along side instead of opening fire. Someone on the crew decided to open fire on the fighter and shot it down. The fighter pilot survived by bailing out and every since that day the 100th Bomb Group received special attention from the Luftwaffe during the duration of the air war in Europe.
I work with a guy in my current simple service position who has a son that is a Boomer with the 100th ARW at RAF Mildenhall. It is a good fit as those of us when stationed at Beale AFB spent a great deal of time TDY to RAF Mildenhall operating with the SR-71.
I was at Mildenhall from 72-75. What a great place for a young, single man to be stationed!!