Dusty Trail and the "Tri-Level" Refueling Legend Inducted into History

We are proud to honor our '59er classmate, Richard "Dusty" Trail, whose heroism in the skies over Vietnam has been cemented in Air Force history.

Surrounded by the Hawaii ANG crew who flew 0329’s last flight are: Dusty Trail and his crew members, LTC John Casteel and SMS Jack Barnes.

Dusty’s storied aircraft, the KC-135 Stratotanker #60-0329, took its final flight from Hickam AFB to Wright-Patterson AFB in June 2022, where it was inducted into the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This specific aircraft is legendary for the events of May 31, 1967, when he and his crew executed the first-ever "tri-level" aerial refueling—a feat that earned them the prestigious Mackay Trophy for the most "meritorious flight of the year" (1967).

While on a routine mission over the Gulf of Tonkin, Trail’s crew answered a desperate "Mayday" call from Navy aircraft critically low on fuel. Breaking protocol to save lives, they descended to a dangerously low 5,000 feet to intercept two Navy KA-3 Skywarrior tankers that were themselves running on fumes while trying to save Navy fighters.

Illustration of a tri‑level aerial refueling, inspired by the historic 1967 mission flown by Capt. Richard “Dusty” Trail and his KC‑135 crew. While not an original photo of the event, this image symbolizes the unprecedented feat that earned them the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year.

In a display of incredible airmanship, his crew refueled a KA-3 Skywarrior, which simultaneously passed that fuel to an F-8 Crusader daisy-chained behind it. This emergency "tri-level" formation had never been attempted before. By the end of the mission, he and his crew had saved six Navy aircraft (two KA-3s, two F-8 Crusaders, and two F-4 Phantoms) and two Air Force F-104s, landing at Da Nang with their own fuel tanks critically low.

Dusty, we salute you for your courage, your skill, and this permanent legacy at the National Museum.

---

The "Save Count"

The total "save" count for that single mission was 8 aircraft:

• 2 USAF F-104 Starfighters (their original scheduled receivers)

• 2 USN KA-3 Skywarriors (emergency)

• 2 USN F-8 Crusaders (emergency)

• 2 USN F-4 Phantoms (emergency—refueled on the way to the emergency landing at Da Nang)

Full Crew List (1967 Mackay Trophy Winners) Dusty's Crewmates

• Aircraft Commander: Maj. John H. Casteel

• Co-Pilot: Capt. Richard L. "Dusty" Trail

• Navigator: Capt. Dean L. Hoar

• Boom Operator: MSgt. Nathan C. Campbell

The "Tri-Level" Mechanics

The "tri-level" refueling was not planned. The Navy KA-3 tanker was so low on fuel it could not disconnect from the KC-135 without flaming out, but the F-8 Crusader behind it also had only minutes of fuel remaining. The KC-135 crew had to pump fuel into the KA-3 faster than the KA-3 was offloading it to the F-8 to keep both aircraft flying.

Additional Reading is Available on VVA Veteran linked below

From left, Maj. John Casteel, Capt. Richard Trail, Capt. Dean Hoar, and Master Sgt. Nathan Campbell used miniature models to demonstrate how they executed a tri-level midair refueling, one of the Vietnam War's most extraordinary tanker rescue operations. (Department of Defense)

The World's First Tri-Level Aerial Refueling. By Henry Zeybel

Engine Out Refueling by Dick Dusty Trail