<article><hdr>Airborne shot of KC-97L refuelling F-4D</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The Boeing KC-97 entered service around the same time as the B-47, and was capable of performing inflight refuelling operations effectively. However the KC-97 lacked the speed to refuel many of the aircraft types which entered service during the latter part of the '50s without the receiver slowing down. The Air Force need to retain the KC-97 in operational service as it was desperately short of air refuelling assets due to the tanker requirements in South East Asia. The answer was to fit a pair of J47-GE-25A jet engines in small pods outboard of the Pratt and Whitney powerplants. 82 aircraft were modified by Hayes Industries, with the designation KC-97L being applied. The aircraft were assigned to the Air National Guard exclusively and performed an ongoing rotation to Rhein Main Air Base, Germany for several years during the late '60s/early '70s for refuelling operations in Europe. The photograph shows a Texas ANG KC-97L refuelling an F-4D of the 50th TFW from Hahn AB, Germany.</hi>
