Revisiting History: Meeks and Cornwell return to 79-0433 Published Jan. 12, 2024 By Tech. Sgt. John Strong Dover Air Force Base, Del. -- Retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Billy Meeks walks KC-10A 79-0433 at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Dec. 12, 2023. Meeks and retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jimmy Cornwell were members of the flight test crew for the KC-10A 79-0433 as boom operators. Meeks and Cornwell were instrumental in establishing boom operations in the KC-10A. Tail number 79-0433 was the first of 60 KC-10A aircraft produced for the Air Force by McDonnell-Douglas and used primarily for aerial refueling. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. J.D. Strong II)