The First Combat Use Of Air-To-Air Refueling Of USAF Fighter

May 29,1952 airplanes took place on May 29,1952 when twelve F-84E's of the 159th Fighter-Bomber Squadron flew a bombing mission from Itazuke Air Base in Japan against targets at Sariwon, North Korea.

The planes were refueled by KB-29 tankers after they had bombed their targets and were homeward bound. By July 4, 1952, three moreof these "Operation Hightide" missions had been flown. The F-84Es had probes sticking out in front of their tip tanks for use with drogues trailing on hoses from the KB-29s.