CHRONOLOGY-U.S. Air Force tanker saga rumbles on

June 18 (Reuters) - U.S. government auditors ruled on Wednesday that the Air Force made "significant errors" in running the competition for $35 billion worth of new aerial refueling tanker aircraft, the latest twist in a nearly eight-year long procurement saga with strong political overtones.

The Government Accountability Office recommended that the Air Force reopen the competition, a boost for losing bidder Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which had protested the award and lobbied for it to be overturned.

It is a blow for Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and its European partner EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), which were awarded the contract in February.

The following is a chronology of events in the Air Force's effort to replace its aging fleet of KC-135 refueling tankers, which is no nearer to completion than it was in 2001:

- Sept. 25, 2001 - Darleen Druyun, then the Air Force's No. 2 acquisition official, meets with Boeing officials to lay out a strategy to lease 100 Boeing 767s.

- January 2002 - Congress OKs lease plan.

- February 2002 - Air Force requests information from Boeing and Airbus parent EADS about tanker capabilities.

- May 2002 - Sen. John McCain, now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, slams the proposed tanker lease deal as a taxpayer "ripoff."

- Oct. 17, 2002 - Druyun meets then Boeing Chief Financial Officer Michael Sears to discuss a job offer. Sears tells her: "This meeting really didn't take place."