The photo in this post shows an F-22 Raptor of the 1st Fighter Wing, refueling after a mission over Syria. The mission was the stealth fighter jet's baptism by fire as it operated alongside other US assets including the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.
The image, taken from a KC-135 tanker (based at Al Udeid, Qatar), shows an interesting detail inside the cockpit of the F-22 — a U.S. flag.
It’s not infrequent for U.S. pilots to carry the American flag inside the cockpit during real operations and wars.
SEE ALSO: The US used F-22 stealth fighter jets in combat for the first time ever last night