Iowa Guard KC-135 tail 2606 "Free Bird" retires after 65 years’ service, first of 15 headed to the boneyard

An Iowa Air National Guard KC-135 with a giant bat tail flash retired this week after 65 years of service. Tail number 57-2606 nick named “Free Bird” took off this week for a one way trip to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. Due to its age and flight hours the 185th aircraft was selected to be the first of 15 Stratotankers to be pulled from the Air Force inventory during the current round of decommissioning.