McConnell Air Force Base Evacuates Tankers from Tornado’s Path

McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., conducted a major relocation of its tanker fleet ahead of the severe weather impacting the Midwest and Southern United States through May 19.

The base is home to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, which oversees a fleet of 18 KC-135s and 24 KC-46s. The wing moved all of them to other nearby Air Force bases except for four KC-46s and three KC-135s currently undergoing maintenance. These seven aircraft are now safely housed in hangars.

“As for the aircraft we sent off-station, we’re able to operate out of just about anywhere, so moving those aircraft away from McConnell and the potential storms preserved our tankers’ capability to be tasked for upcoming missions and meet existing taskings,” a McConnell Air Force Base spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The spokesperson declined to say where the aircraft went, citing operational security concerns.

The base has no reported damage from May 18 storm, but as of May 19, the base had issued a Notice to Airmen restricting “some air traffic.” The temporarily relocated tankers are expected to return by May 20, the spokesperson added.

Wichita was bracing for severe storms the evening of May 19, with thunderstorms, hail over a three-quarters of an inch, winds up to 60 knots, and tornado risks. The region is no stranger to severe weather, and the 22nd Wing usually has many of its 42 tankers deployed.

“We rarely have all of our aircraft at home station, as there’s always an Air Force, Joint partner or Allies who needs aerial refueling, and our tankers are what makes Global Mobility and Global Reach work.” The spokesperson added.

Another round of severe weather is set to sweep the Plains, Midwest, and South this week, bringing the threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail potentially as large as baseballs. The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Nebraska.

Communities in Kentucky and Missouri, which were struck by tornadoes on May 16, are once again under weather threats. Flood watches are also in effect for southwestern Missouri, northwestern Arkansas, and southeastern Kansas. The region under warnings includes several major Air Force bases that host bombers and airlifters.

Officials at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, home to B-1B bombers, said the base currently has no plans to relocate aircraft, but that could change if commanders deem it necessary to disperse the fleet.

Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas has held meetings related to the weather, but officials did not disclose any plans for aircraft relocation. Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and Whiteman Air Force Base, Miss.—the home base of the service’s fleet of B-2 stealth bombers— did not immediately respond to inquiries about their aircraft.

There have been no reports of aircraft damage at any base, a Department of the Air Force spokesperson said.

The widespread storms have contributed to a national death toll of 28 so far, according to the Associated Press.