379th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is one of the largest units in the Persian Gulf region to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Its primary aircraft are KC-10 Extenders and KC-135 Stratotankers. The wing has delivered almost 300 million pounds of fuel to U.S. and coalition aircraft in the war on terrorism. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid is supported by the 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, and the 340th EARS which flies KC-135 Stratotankers. By 25 July 2002 the wing had flown more than 3,000 combat refueling sorties during OEF, more than any unit in the region.
The 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, flew its 2,000th combat sortie 22 July 2002 in support of the war on terrorism. The squadron flies KC-10 Extenders and had delivered about 200 million pounds of fuel to more than 13,000 U.S. and coalition aircraft in the skies over Afghanistan since October 2001. The first KC-10 mission during OEF launched on Oct. 7, 2001, less than a month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Five Extenders flew eight sorties from Al Udeid on that day, refueling Navy EA-6B Prowlers, F-14 Tomcats and F-18 Hornets. The first KC-10 unit in the region was comprised of both active duty and Reserve forces from McGuire and Travis AFB, Calif. McGuire active duty aircrews were the backbone of KC-10 operations at Al Udeid.
