The Snapshots in Time Collection

Air Refueling Visual Signals Reference Page, USAF Aircrew Manual, 15 July 1971

Air Refueling Visual Signals Reference Page, USAF Aircrew Manual, 15 July 1971

A page from a 1971 U.S. Air Force flight manual outlining standardized visual signals used during aerial refueling. These procedures, communicated through tanker boom movements and receiver light signals, ensured safe fuel transfer between tanker and fighter aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom, even without radio contact — a critical capability for extending combat range during the Vietnam War. Project: 218454