A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker returning from the Middle East stunned aviation enthusiasts after landing at RAF Mildenhall, UK, covered with dozens of visible repair patches from nose to tail. T
he aircraft had sustained extensive shrapnel damage during an Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Despite the damage, USAF maintenance crews conducted field repairs that allowed the aging tanker to safely fly thousands of miles back toward Europe. Reports indicate the aircraft even diverted to Crete during its journey before continuing to the UK.
Photos of the battle-damaged tanker highlight both the intensity of recent attacks on U.S. assets in the region and the remarkable resilience of the 1950s-era KC-135 design. Aviation experts say the aircraft’s successful transit is a testament to the skill of Air Force maintainers and crews who kept it airworthy despite suffering dozens of shrapnel impacts.