March spouses take to skies Published Oct. 3, 2008 By SrA David Flaherty 452 AMW Public Affairs MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- March Air Reserve Base showed its gratitude, and its mission, to the husbands and wives of Airmen stationed here by hosting its biannual Spouse's Flight on base. More than 180 spouses filled two KC-135s and two C-17s during a four hour, midair refueling simulation in the skies over North East Arizona and the Grand Canyon. "This is just a small way to show the military's appreciation," said Lt. Col. Tom Bell, the 452nd Operations Group Deputy Commander who organized this year's event. "We're just thankful that the spouses are so supportive of military members. It really helps them do their job." As soon as the military plane hit cruising altitude, cheese, crackers and sodas were served on the C-17 and the spouses got up from their seats to look out the window, and even take a peek inside the cockpit. "This is an opportunity not everyone gets," said Fredi Slickelman, whose husband is an aircraft mechanic on base. "I'm very supportive of him and the Air Force, and I think it's very nice that the military does this for us."