It's an old photo, but it is the inflight refuelling probe, although you're right it is being used for something else.
Perhaps
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbenson/images/0265.jpg or
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbenson/images/0257.jpg show it better on an in service a/c and the background may be more interesting to our US readers. Where are they? Answers on a postcard please.