Story perspectives

Photos Reveal Damaged Alaska Guard KC-135, Missing Boom

6/3/2026

Center

Alaska Guard Damage

Photos released in May show the Alaska National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker “Tetlin” with shrapnel damage and a missing refueling boom.
The KC-135 “Tetlin” was linked to Operation Epic Fury, though U.S. Central Command declined to confirm its deployment.
Flight-tracking logs show the aircraft left Eielson on 5 March, later reached Ben Gurion before disappearing.
Alaska National Guard spokesperson referred to CENTCOM as CRS listed seven KC-135 losses 42 incidents.

Left

Pentagon Censors Images

The Pentagon pressured satellite-imaging firms to limit public images of Iranian strikes that have damaged dozens of U.S. assets.
An Iranian missile strike hit Kuwait, and the Pentagon reported five injuries from falling debris.
BBC analysis said Iranian attacks damaged 20 U.S. sites in eight countries, costing billions.
Since Strait of Hormuz shutdown in February, U.S. gasoline prices rose to $4.33 per gallon.

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasised the KC-135 Stratotanker damage, including shrapnel, missing boom, and a CRS report listing seven KC-135 losses among 42 aircraft incidents, which Left coverage did not mention.
Center coverage also detailed flight-tracking data showing the aircraft’s movements from Alaska to Ben Gurion Airport, a level of operational-security information absent from the Left summary.

History

Historical Context

When the coalition launched its air campaign on 17 January 1991, the United States Air Force flew more than 100,000 sorties, relying on KC-135 Stratotankers for the first large-scale Gulf-war aerial refueling. That experience showed how tanker loss can affect transparency, a concern echoed today as the Alaska National Guard’s KC-135 “Tetlin” vanished, prompting CENTCOM scrutiny.

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Alaska Guard Damage

Photos released in May show the Alaska National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker “Tetlin” with shrapnel damage and a missing refueling boom.
The KC-135 “Tetlin” was linked to Operation Epic Fury, though U.S. Central Command declined to confirm its deployment.
Flight-tracking logs show the aircraft left Eielson on 5 March, later reached Ben Gurion before disappearing.
Alaska National Guard spokesperson referred to CENTCOM as CRS listed seven KC-135 losses 42 incidents.

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