European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 04, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes wednesday october 4, 1967 Refu Elers tankers feed 6 million pounds to Chicks by John Reese staff writer Rhine main a Germany is air National guardsmen of two air refuelling wings base Dat this air base have fed nearly six Mil lion pounds of fuel to airborne fighter aircraft since May 1. This is the proud record disclosed b Brig. Gen. How Ard t. Marke commander of Gen. Markey the Illinois 126thair refuelling Wing monday. Markey is on his third inspection trip to Germany where men of his Wing Are providing air re fueling support to the 3rd and 17th air  of Markey s unit have alternated with those of the 136thair refuelling Wing of Texas since last May. Markey claimed that this Isth first time in air Force his tory that a non regular air Force unit has been based overseas for an extended period of time without being mobilized into Federal service. Detachments from the two wings rotate 60 men and five kc97l Tanker aircraft from the states to Rhine main. The offi cers and men Are on an Active duty for training status. Most of the air guardsmen serve for two weeks at a time then return to their civilian occupations in the states. Some who can get the time away fro their jobs stay longer or make a second tour Markey explained. The Jet fuel has been pumped from the huge Tanker mothers into some 2,000 fighter Chicks on 320 sorties Markey said. Average time to refuel each fighters about four minutes. Asked whether the presence of the air guardsmen in Germany indicated insufficient regular air Force refuelling units Markey had Little to say. However restated that the purpose of the Mission was primarily one of training both for his Crews and for the fighter  further explained that air refuelling speeds up close air sup port and extends the capability of fighters to Render close sup port to ground troops. Markey reported that the re Tention of the air guardsmen on the refuelling Mission Here is expected to continue indefinitely. Since the Mission began mar key said some 665 men from lower the Boom an f100 super Sabre prepares to Book up to the Mother ship for an inflight refuelling. The kc97l Mother ship aver Ages 4 minutes to refuel the fighters. Of both wings have put in about9,500 Man hours in air refuelling operations in . Who is a Patent Law yer in Chicago in civilian life1,credits the air National guard with developing the Type aircraft being used Here. The kc97l has two Jet engines in addition to the Normal four reciprocating in  additional thrust of the1 jets he explained allows the planes to get off Shorter runways and to drop Down under radar surveillance. The big planes can refuel a Jet fighter at As Low as500 feet. Markey obviously proud of the record his unit has marked up quoted defense depart ment figures which he said indicate air guardsmen in Airlift missions have turned in a performance 60 per cent As effective As would be done by a fully mobilized unit and at only15 per cent the Cost. He Esti mates that his refuelling unit would come close to Matching these figures. Asked How a Busy lawyer finds time to command a refuelling Wing Markey replied i Don play Golf or Bridge or bowl or Chase women. During the time other men Are doing those things i m either flying or attending meetings connected with the , who has nearly 5,000 hours in the air As a Pilot flew for the air Force for seven years during world War ii and the korean War. He has been in the1 air National guard for 12 years. Another new stars and stripes Bookstore