KC-135 RETURNS HOME FROM THE GULF

The crew of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) KC-135 tanker aircraft returned home on 14 Jul, having completed their three-month deployment in the Gulf.

They were welcomed back by family members and senior SAF officers at a home-coming ceremony at Changi Air Base.

The KC-135 detachment had conducted about 350 hours of air-to-air refuelling in support of the coalition forces during their deployment. This was part of Singapore's on-going contribution to the multinational reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

KC-135 Detachment Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Zakir Hamid, said the detachment had completed all their missions successfully, adding: "We also gained valuable operational experience by working with some of the most advanced air forces in the world."

Since 2003, the SAF made five deployments of KC-135 tanker aircraft, four deployments of Landing Ships Tank and one deployment of a C-130 transport aircraft to the Gulf.