Beale AFB showcases joint airpower capabilities in Elephant Walk

A number of USAF-operated aircraft that are home-based at Beale AFB carried out an elephant walk on January 4 to demonstrate the California base’s joint airpower capabilities.

Nine T-38A Talon jet trainers six U-2S Dragon Lady high-altitude surveillance aircraft, two TU-2S Dragon Lady dual-seat trainers and chase cars from the USAF’s 9th RW – along with two KC-135R Stratotankers from AFRC’s 940th ARW – took to Beale AFB’s runway on January 4 to demonstrate the California base’s joint airpower capabilities. — Nine T-38A Talon jet trainers, six U-2S Dragon Lady high-altitude surveillance aircraft, two TU-2S Dragon Lady dual-seat trainers and chase cars from the USAF’s 9th RW – along with two KC-135R Stratotankers from AFRC’s 940th ARW – took to Beale AFB’s runway on January 4 to demonstrate the California base’s joint airpower capabilities. USAF/Senior Airman Juliana Londono

The elephant walk saw six U-2S Dragon Lady high-altitude surveillance aircraft and chase cars from the USAF’s 99th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) – a component of Air Combat Command’s (ACC’s) 9th Reconnaissance Wing (RW) – along with two TU-2S Dragon Lady dual-seat trainers and nine T-38A Talon jet trainers from the 9th RW’s 1st RS, and a pair of KC-135R Stratotankers from the 314th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) – a part of Air Force Reserve Command’s (AFRC’s) 940th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) – take to Beale’s runway. The aim of this demonstration was to showcase a display of joint airpower between the wings that are home-based at Beale.

Following this (on January 11), one of the two TU-2S trainers that took part in the elephant walk (80-1065/BB) completed its final flight at Beale AFB, becoming the first example of the dual-seat Dragon Lady to be withdrawn from use