Narrative:

The mission was thoroughly briefed the day prior by X Y assumed lead the day of the flight. WX in tailhook-a was marginal VFR to IMC -- worsening as the day progressed. Z went lost wingman 17 mins prior to the ear exit time. The lead aircraft Y made a series of unexpected maneuvers as Z attempted to rejoin the flight. Lead obtained a route clearance different than flight planned without #2's acknowledgement. Radios were extremely busy throughout the episode and many times unreadable -- hampering communication. All equipment on Z was functional except an inoperative pilot's radar scope. There was no way to back up the navigator to maintain cell position while IMC. Upon completion of the flight, Z and Y were told to contact ZDC. Center questioned how Z could get separated so far from the flight. They had to vector various aircraft to ensure safe IFR separation. We were advised separation was not compromised but an investigation would occur.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLT OF MIL TANKERS GOT SEPARATED IN THE WX OVER THE ATLANTIC.

Narrative: THE MISSION WAS THOROUGHLY BRIEFED THE DAY PRIOR BY X Y ASSUMED LEAD THE DAY OF THE FLT. WX IN TAILHOOK-A WAS MARGINAL VFR TO IMC -- WORSENING AS THE DAY PROGRESSED. Z WENT LOST WINGMAN 17 MINS PRIOR TO THE EAR EXIT TIME. THE LEAD ACFT Y MADE A SERIES OF UNEXPECTED MANEUVERS AS Z ATTEMPTED TO REJOIN THE FLT. LEAD OBTAINED A RTE CLRNC DIFFERENT THAN FLT PLANNED WITHOUT #2'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. RADIOS WERE EXTREMELY BUSY THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE AND MANY TIMES UNREADABLE -- HAMPERING COM. ALL EQUIP ON Z WAS FUNCTIONAL EXCEPT AN INOP PLT'S RADAR SCOPE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO BACK UP THE NAVIGATOR TO MAINTAIN CELL POS WHILE IMC. UPON COMPLETION OF THE FLT, Z AND Y WERE TOLD TO CONTACT ZDC. CTR QUESTIONED HOW Z COULD GET SEPARATED SO FAR FROM THE FLT. THEY HAD TO VECTOR VARIOUS ACFT TO ENSURE SAFE IFR SEPARATION. WE WERE ADVISED SEPARATION WAS NOT COMPROMISED BUT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD OCCUR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.