340th EARS 50,000 Flight Hours for 2012

A 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker prepares to refuel a B-1B Lancer over Afghanistan, Dec. 22. The B-1B, deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., flew 26 U.S. flags over Afghanistan for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut while conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Capt. Matthew Mills, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, keeps a stuffed animal on board for his niece to show her everywhere he has travelled. Mills is deployed from Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H. and is a native of Clemson, S.C. (US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ashley Reed)

340th EARS 50,000 Flight Hours for 2012

Chief Master Sgt. Robert Renn, KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, performs an air refueling over Afghanistan, Dec. 22. During this flight the 340th EARS reached 50,000 flying hours for the year 2012. During the mission, the aircrew refueled a B-1B Lancer and an F-16 Fighting Falcon over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Renn is deployed from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. and is a native of Tampa, Fla. (US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ashley Reed)

62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

U.S. Air Force members of the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (ERS), a coalition squadron operated by U.S. and Royal Air Force (RAF) forces, perform maintenance on an MQ-9 Reaper, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, June 25, 2012. The 62nd ERS mission is to launch and recover remotely piloted aircraft before handing over control to Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

22nd EARS goes where needed to make mission happen

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 4, 2012. The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq. (EARS) conducts missions out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Spirit of Aloha

A U.S. Air Force 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt over Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2012. The 22nd EARS provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mosness)(Released)

Spirit of Aloha

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 3, 2012. The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq. (EARS) conducts missions out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

French Air Force a coalition partner during Operation Enduring Freedom

Members of the French Air Force, Detachment 3/3, in the Mirage 2000-D takeoff during a combat mission at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, June 18, 2012. The French AF has been a coalition partner with the U.S. during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and perform air to ground close air support missions for friendly ground forces.

964th EAACS: Funny looking plane, important mission

Airmen of the 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sara Csurilla)

F-16 jets providing Top Cover in Iraq

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron provides top cover for U.S. forces as they transition personnel and equipment out of Iraq, Nov. 9, 2011. The 79th EFS is deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

F-16 jets providing Top Cover in Iraq

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon dispenses flares while flying over Iraq, Nov. 9, 2011. The jet is from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron which is providing top cover for U.S. forces as they transition personnel and equipment out of Iraq. The 125th EFS consists of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla., the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

F-16 jets providing Top Cover in Iraq

Two U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron fly over Iraq, Nov. 9, 2011, providing top cover for U.S. forces as they transition personnel and equipment out of the country. The 125th EFS consists of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla., the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

U.S. and Salvadoran airmen team up to mentor Afghans

U.S. and Salvadoran Airmen advise Afghan soldiers on maintenance, operations, flight operations, and security of the Mi-17 Helicopter. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SrA Tyler Placie)