Revision History

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on March 12, killing four of six crew members, in what appears to be a mid-air collision with another tanker during Operation Epic Fury. The loss — the fourth U.S. aircraft downed since the war with Iran began on February 28 — highlights the immense operational strain on America's aging aerial refueling fleet, the logistical linchpin of the entire air campaign against Tehran.