MacDill AFB conducts Operation Violent Storm

Published April 27, 2023
By Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster
6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --

The 6th Air Refueling Wing, in collaboration with the 927th ARW and the U.S. Army’s 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, conducted Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, April 26.

The operation consisted of an elephant walk with 18 KC-135 Stratotankers mobilizing through the efforts of more than 700 personnel from across the installation, all in under six hours.

KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 6th and 927th Air Refueling Wings taxi in formation on the flightline during Operation Violent Storm April 26, 2023, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Violent Storm proved that MacDill AFB has the capability to project overwhelming airpower in a short timeframe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shannon Bowman)

Service members assigned to the 6th Operations Group marshal KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 6th and 927th Air Refueling Wings during Operation Violent Storm, April 26, 2023, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Violent Storm proved that MacDill AFB has the capability to project overwhelming airpower in a short timeframe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster)

This is the first time the 6th ARW has conducted a large-scale elephant walk since the wing transferred from a mobility wing to a refueling wing in 2016.

“What Operation Violent Storm showcases is our ability to, in rapid succession, provide airpower for America,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Adam Bingham, 6th ARW commander. “We are able to put booms in the air that fuel America’s strategic fighters and bombers who will ultimately be delivering hope and projecting violence at a time that America really needs it.”

Operation Violent Storm was designed to force operations, maintenance and support personnel from active duty, reserve and sister-service units to work together to launch as many aircraft in as little time as possible.

Despite the aircraft being more than 60 years old, Airmen were able to perform around the clock maintenance to ensure the aircraft retained operational capability for the operation.

“It takes several weeks to prepare for an event of this scale,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Billy Keller, a maintenance officer with the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “The 6th Maintenance Group has really been focusing on training our Airmen for the last several weeks to make sure this exercise was conducted safely and smoothly.”

Crew chiefs with the 6th Maintenance Group prepare a KC-135 Stratotanker for takeoff during Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2023. The exercise consisted of an elephant walk including 18 KC-135 Stratotankers mobilizing through the efforts of more than 700 personnel from across the installation, all in under six hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin)

A crew chief with the 6th Maintenance Group marshals a KC-135 Stratotanker during Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, April 26, 2023. The exercise consisted of an “elephant walk,” with 18 KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft mobilizing through the efforts of more than 700 personnel from across the installation, all in under six hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin) — A crew chief with the 6th Maintenance Group marshals a KC-135 Stratotanker during Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2023. The exercise consisted of an elephant walk including U.S. Army aircraft and 18 KC-135 Stratotankers mobilizing through the efforts of more than 700 personnel from across the installation, all in under six hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin)

Airman 1st Class Grace Pritchard, 6th Maintenance Squadron crew chief, prepares a KC-135 Stratotanker for takeoff during Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2023. Operation Violent Storm showcased that MacDill AFB Airmen can provide rapid global mobility at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin)

Violent Storm is the latest show of force as a part of a series of “elephant walks” across the Air Force, mimicking the actions of other installations like McConnell AFB, Kansas, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina and Sheppard AFB, Texas.

Exercises like Operation Violent Storm serve as a reminder to the global community that the 6th ARW and their mission partners are able and willing to deliver hope and project lethality anywhere in the world at any time.

“It takes an entire team to pull something like this off,” Bingham said. “This is the culminating event of their professionalism and readiness. I think the message everyone needs to take away from today is that we’re ready and we’re lethal.”

Col. Cory Damon, 6th Air Refueling Wing vice commander, attends a pre-flight briefing during Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2023. The event proved that MacDill AFB has the capability to project overwhelming airpower in a short timeframe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin)

Eighteen U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 6th and 927th Air Refueling Wings, and two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawks assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Regiment, participate in Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, April 26, 2023. Violent Storm showcased that MacDill Airmen can provide rapid global mobility at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Luther Mitchell Jr.) — Eighteen KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 6th and 927th Air Refueling Wings and two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawks assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Regiment, participate in Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2023. Violent Storm showcased that MacDill AFB Airmen can provide rapid global mobility at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Luther Mitchell Jr.)

Col. Jonathan Burdick, 6th Operations Group commander, conducts pre-flight briefings during Operation Violent Storm at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2023. The exercise proved that MacDill AFB has the capability to project overwhelming air power in a short timeframe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Cobin)

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