916th Air Refueling Wing | |
|---|---|
 The first KC-46A Pegasus lands at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, June 12, 2020 | |
| Active | 1963–1972; – 1986 – present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Aerial refueling |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina |
| Motto | Maximo ConatoLatin By the Utmost Effort (1963–1972) |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | ColonelDiane E. Patton |
| Insignia | |
| 916th Air Refueling Wing emblem(approved 4 May 1964)[1] |  |
| Tail stripe | Green, "First in Flight" in yellow |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Tanker | Boeing KC-46 Pegasus |
The916th Air Refueling Wing is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of theUnited States Air Force. It is assigned to theFourth Air Force,Air Force Reserve Command, stationed atSeymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. If mobilized, the Wing is gained by theAir Mobility Command.
The wing was scheduled to start flying theKC-46A Pegasus in 2019.[2] The first KC-46A was delivered on June 12, 2020, the second on August 7, 2020,[3] and the third and fourth on September 10, 2020.[4]
Fly the KC-46A Pegasus in air-to-air refueling and other air mobility missions.
During the first half of 1955, the Air Force began detaching Air Force Reserve squadrons from their parent wing locations to separate sites. The concept offered several advantages. Communities were more likely to accept the smallersquadrons than the largewings and the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate recruiting and manning.Continental Air Command (ConAC)'s plan called for placing Air Force Reserve units at fifty-nine installations located throughout the United States. When these relocations were completed in 1959, reserve wingheadquarters and wing support elements would typically be on one base, along with one (or in some cases two) of the wing's flying squadrons, while the remaining flying squadrons were spread over thirty-five Air Force, Navy and civilian airfields under what was called the Detached Squadron Concept.[5]
Although this dispersal was not a problem when the entire wing was called to active service, mobilizing a single flying squadron and elements to support it proved difficult. This weakness was demonstrated in the partial mobilization of reserve units during theBerlin Crisis of 1961 To resolve this, at the start of 1962, ConAC determined to reorganize its reserve wings by establishinggroups with support elements for each of its troop carrier squadrons. This reorganization would facilitate mobilization of elements of wings in various combinations when needed. However, as this plan was entering its implementation phase, another partial mobilization occurred for theCuban Missile Crisis, with the units being released on 22 November 1962. The formation of troop carrier groups occurred in January 1963 for units that had not been mobilized, but was delayed until February for those that had been.[6]
As a result, the916th Troop Carrier Group was established atDonaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina on 17 January 1963,[1] as the headquarters for the 77th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been stationed there since March 1958.[7] Along with group headquarters, a Combat Support Squadron, Materiel Squadron and a Tactical Infirmary were organized to support the 77th.
The group's mission was to organize, recruit and train Air Force Reserve personnel in the tactical airlift of airborne forces, their equipment and supplies and delivery of these forces and materials byairdrop, landing or cargo extraction systems. The group was equipped withFairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars forTactical Air Command airlift operations.
The 916th was one of three C-119 groups assigned to the435th Troop Carrier Wing in 1963, the others being the915th Troop Carrier Group atHomestead Air Force Base, Florida and the917th Troop Carrier Group atBarksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
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In 1966 was equipped withDouglas C-124 Globemaster II airlifters, being a reserve unit ofMilitary Airlift Command.
Conducted air and ground training activities, airlifting personnel and cargo in support ofactive duty forces worldwide. It has supported missions included military airlift toSouth Vietnam beginning in 1965 and to U.S. forces in theDominican Republic during a 1965 crisis. It also participated in numeroushumanitarianairlift missions.[1]
Since October 1986 it has flown air mobility operational and training missions within and beyond the United States. It refueled aircraft and airlifted passengers and cargo for various trainingexercises and contingency and humanitarianoperations around the world.[1] In 2008, the911th Air Refueling Squadron, an active duty unit, was attached to the group for operational control.[8] February 8, 2020 the wing retired its last KC-135R tanker.[9] On June 12, 2020, the wing accepted its first of twelve KC-46A.[10]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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