An Air Combat Command 55th Wing RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft from Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, flies a training mission over Nebraska. The RC-135W works closely with the E-3A Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) during war or contingency situations, providing direct, near real-time reconnaissance information and electronic warfare support to theater commanders and combat forces. All RC-135s are equipped with an aerial refueling system, which gives the aircraft unlimited range. In his rookie year as an RJ navigator, US Air Force 1ST Lieutenant John Nygaard deployed to Operation ALLIED FORCE. He had to know his stuff, because if the airplane had been out of ...

The original finding aid described this photograph as:

[Complete] Scene Caption: An Air Combat Command 55th Wing RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft from Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, flies a training mission over Nebraska. The RC-135W works closely with the E-3A Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) during war or contingency situations, providing direct, near real-time reconnaissance information and electronic warfare support to theater commanders and combat forces. All RC-135s are equipped with an aerial refueling system, which gives the aircraft unlimited range. In his rookie year as an RJ navigator, US Air Force 1st Lieutenant John Nygaard deployed to Operation ALLIED FORCE. He had to know his stuff, because if the airplane had been out of position by 1/100th of a mile, it would have skewed valuable battle data. This image is from the May 2000 Airman Magazine and included in the article "Rivet Joint:Recon Ready"

State: Nebraska (NE)

Country: United States Of America (USA)

Scene Camera Operator: MSGT Dave Nolan, USAF

Release Status: Released to Public
Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files