Sh1n reposted a report from @DefenceGeek describing a continuing tanker drawdown during the Iran war. According to the post, eight KC-135R tankers from Alaska (AK) and Hawaii (HH) units left the CENTCOM area within the previous 48 hours, with no replacements matching those numbers observed:

  • KC-135R 62-3571 #AE062D (AK)
  • KC-135R 63-8015 #AE05A9 (AK)
  • KC-135R 63-8043 #AE05AD (AK)
  • KC-135R 63-8029 #AE05AC (AK)
  • KC-135R 63-8880 #AE0392 (HH)
  • KC-135R 61-0290 #AE0427 (HH)
  • KC-135R 58-0056 #AE04BB (HH)
  • KC-135R 62-3578 #AE07BE (HH)

The report added that another Hawaii (HH) tanker departed on September 16.

The repost quoted @ArmchairAdml, who identified the four Alaska aircraft as Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers from the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Air Refuelling Wing at Eielson Air Force Base, returning home from bases in the CENTCOM area of responsibility:

  • #AE062D 62-3571 - REACH (???)
  • #AE05AC 63-8029 - REACH (???)
  • #AE05AD 63-8043 - REACH (???)
  • #AE05A9 63-8015 - REACH (???)