The leadership for U.S. Air Forces in Europe has determined that a KC-135 aerial tanker did not mean to fly in a phallic flight pattern near a Russian base in Syria recently, said USAFE spokesman Capt. Ryan Goss.

“The KC-135 Stratotanker (RAKE71) operating in the Eastern Mediterranean adjusted between multiple different flight tracks during the course of the mission,” Goss said in a recent statement. “While these adjustments and movements appear to create a vulgar outline, there was no intent by the pilots or the unit to do so. As we continue to look into this, USAFE-AFAFRICA, AMC [Air Mobility Command] and the USAF will continue to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and airmanship.”

A US military plane "painted a penis" in the sky near a Russian airbase, La Repubblica.

A KC-135 Stratotanker refueling plane remained for almost two hours east of Cyprus on Tuesday, in front of the Syrian base of Tartus, a stronghold of Moscow.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/SCs0QZhUMV

— MAKS 22🇺🇦 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) November 2, 2022

[Via my pal Olivier Knox. And I’m considering this headline for a new sci-fi/action hero novel. — Ed]