Brothers in Flight: Twin Pilots share the sky

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jordan Wesemann, left, 909th Air Refueling Squadron instructor pilot, and Capt. Jared Wesemann, 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, deployed to Kadena Air Base, pose for a photo at Kadena AB, Japan, Dec. 4, 2025. The twin brothers shared the same sky and mission during Jordan Wesemann’s final flight at Kadena, a rare opportunity that united tanker and fighter aircrews over the Indo-Pacific. (Senior Airman Melany Bermudez/U.S. Air Force)

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan — High above the Pacific, two aircraft eased into formation as if guided by instinct rather than instruments. In one cockpit, a KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot held steady; in the other, an F-35A Lightning II pilot closed the gap.