Fog...

[Professor_M]

The day (today - 1st December) started with a stop at Mildenhall to see 58-0124 arrive - it was cold and very foggy.
Having initially been slightly disappointed to 'only' have seen a KC-135 during my stop (successfully missing the morning's C-17), looking in Military Aircraft Markings now, this is listed as a KC-135R(RT) - Capable of being itself aerially refuelled it was one of eight to receive the conversion - a new one for me.

Are the only KC-135s flying in USAF service now KC-135R, T or R(RT) - or are there some other niche variants or sub-variants I'm unaware of?

USAF KC-135R(RT) - 58-0124 - RAF Mildenhall - 01122022 by Professor M, on Flickr

Then on to Lakenheath, waiting for very little to happen after the Heritage Jet took the cable. After a while, two Strike Eagles launched (any help with the serial of the second appreciated, one had the large font number 301- they departed at 1256 and I'm also after the identity of the Lightning visible from the viewing area at this time). It was still quite foggy.

[Edit: F-15s were 301 and 209 whilst the F-35 was 5581 - With credit to andygolfer and slogen51]

USAF F-15E Strike Eagle - RAF Lakenheath - 01122022 (2) by Professor M, on Flickr
USAF F-15E Strike Eagle - RAF Lakenheath - 01122022 (3) by Professor M, on Flickr
USAF F-15E Strike Eagle - RAF Lakenheath - 01122022 (1) by Professor M, on Flickr

Thanks for looking - any comments or constructive criticism welcomed.

[Vulture 01]

If you're looking for the definitive work on the C135 you could do no better than Robert Hopkins book 'More than just a tanker'.
A bit expensive yet an absolute mine of information.

[Professor_M]

If you're looking for the definitive work on the C135 you could do no better than Robert Hopkins book 'More than just a tanker'.
A bit expensive yet an absolute mine of information.

Thanks - I've added it to my (long) list of books to get hold of.

Reading a bit more about the KC-135R(RT) in this article https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/4 ... idge-forms this morning showed that these are often used to support special operations aircraft (A/MC-130 and similar) with a better communications suite as well as the ability to be refuelled.