Tinker Reservists Return From Southwest Asia Deployment

Some of Oklahoma's finest back on U.S. soil Monday.

Family and friends welcomed home more than 20 reserve airmen from the 507th Air Refueling Wing. They arrived at Tinker Air Force Base Monday following a five-month deployment to Southwest Asia in support of on-going air refueling operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The wing operates and maintains 12 KC-135R "Stratotanker" aircraft providing world-wide aerial refueling to U.S. Military and NATO aircraft. The Airmen returning make up approximately one third of the total number of 507th ARW reservists deployed downrange.

The 507th Air Refueling Wing is the largest Air Force Reserve Command flying unit in the state of Oklahoma and the majority of Airmen returning Monday live and work in Oklahoma permanently as Reservists.

They are the second group to return this year from the 507th ARW.