The Castle KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, CCTS, had a syllabus requirement for new boom operators to get trained on performing contacts on fighter aircraft. The co-located B-52s (at Castle) provided ample practice for new booms*. Travis provided C-141 and C-5 contact experience, so the Castle 106s likely were used for getting fighter-type refueling experience.

*I flew KCs for five years and we called the boom operator "boom." Receiver pilots often used the term "boomer" but we always laughed at that.

The Castle KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, CCTS, had a syllabus requirement for new boom operators to get trained on performing contacts on fighter aircraft. The co-located B-52s (at Castle) provided ample practice for new booms*. Travis provided C-141 and C-5 contact experience, so the Castle 106s likely were used for getting fighter-type refueling experience.

*I flew KCs for five years and we called the boom operator "boom." Receiver pilots often used the term "boomer" but we always laughed at that.

The Castle KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, CCTS, had a syllabus requirement for new boom operators to get trained on performing contacts on fighter aircraft. The co-located B-52s (at Castle) provided ample practice for new booms*. Travis provided C-141 and C-5 contact experience, so the Castle 106s likely were used for getting fighter-type refueling experience.

*I flew KCs for five years and we called the boom operator "boom." Receiver pilots often used the term "boomer" but we always laughed at that.

The Castle KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, CCTS, had a syllabus requirement for new boom operators to get trained on performing contacts on fighter aircraft. The co-located B-52s (at Castle) provided ample practice for new booms*. Travis provided C-141 and C-5 contact experience, so the Castle 106s likely were used for getting fighter-type refueling experience.

*I flew KCs for five years and we called the boom operator "boom." Receiver pilots often used the term "boomer" but we always laughed at that.

The Castle KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, CCTS, had a syllabus requirement for new boom operators to get trained on performing contacts on fighter aircraft. The co-located B-52s (at Castle) provided ample practice for new booms*. Travis provided C-141 and C-5 contact experience, so the Castle 106s likely were used for getting fighter-type refueling experience.

*I flew KCs for five years and we called the boom operator "boom." Receiver pilots often used the term "boomer" but we always laughed at that.

The Castle KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, CCTS, had a syllabus requirement for new boom operators to get trained on performing contacts on fighter aircraft. The co-located B-52s (at Castle) provided ample practice for new booms*. Travis provided C-141 and C-5 contact experience, so the Castle 106s likely were used for getting fighter-type refueling experience.

*I flew KCs for five years and we called the boom operator "boom." Receiver pilots often used the term "boomer" but we always laughed at that.

The Castle KC-135 Combat Crew Training School, CCTS, had a syllabus requirement for new boom operators to get trained on performing contacts on fighter aircraft. The co-located B-52s (at Castle) provided ample practice for new booms*. Travis provided C-141 and C-5 contact experience, so the Castle 106s likely were used for getting fighter-type refueling experience.

*I flew KCs for five years and we called the boom operator "boom." Receiver pilots often used the term "boomer" but we always laughed at that.

That's Hamilton, not Castle. Mount Diablo, some 20 miles east, can be seen in the background. The C-130 is parked out in the old "pea patch" of WWII-era parking hardstands north of the runway.

That's Hamilton, not Castle. Mount Diablo, some 20 miles east, can be seen in the background. The C-130 is parked out in the old "pea patch" of WWII-era parking hardstands north of the runway.

That's Hamilton, not Castle. Mount Diablo, some 20 miles east, can be seen in the background. The C-130 is parked out in the old "pea patch" of WWII-era parking hardstands north of the runway.