171st Air Refueling Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 171st Air Refueling Wing


caption= 171st Air Refueling Wing emblem
dates= 1964-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= Air National Guard
type= Wing
role= Aerial Refueling
size=
command_structure= Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command
current_commander=
garrison= Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=

The United States Air Force's 171st Air Refueling Wing is an aerial refueling unit located at Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania.

Mission

History

The 171st Aeromedical Airlift Wing was redesignated as the 171st Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in October of 1972, transitioning from the C-121G to the KC-97L. On July 1, 1976, the Wing received notice of reassignment to the Strategic Air Command (SAC). A year later, the Wing transitioned to the KC-135A, a four-engine jet aircraft. This was a significant upgrade, increasing air refueling capacity and expanding the Wing's global mission capability. In 1982, the ANG increased its mission capability through an interim program by retrofitting commercial Boeing 707 engines to their tankers redesignating the aircraft to the KC-135E. In 2007, the wing converted to the KC-135T enabling an even greater global reach and continuity in the Total Force.

. These operations were upgraded to a full federal activation in December 1990 through May 1991. During this period over 300 members of the unit were deployed throughout the world in numerous functions supporting both Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During this period the 171st ARW refueled nearly 3,000 allied aircraft while stationed near the Iraqi border in support of Operation Desert Storm. Maintaining a remarkable 100% mission effectiveness rate, the 171st flew 556 combat missions and offloaded 4.6 million gallons of fuel during the Gulf War.

Assignments

Major Command

*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command (1992-Present)
*Air National Guard/Strategic Air Command (1976-1992)

Previous designationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0

*171st Air Refueling Wing (1992-Present)
*171st Air Refueling Group (1972-1992)
*171st Aeromedical Airlift Group (1968-1972)
*171st Air Transport Group (1964-1968)

quadrons assigned [171st Air Refueling Wing Official Webpage http://www.papitt.ang.af.mil/]

* 147th Air Refueling Squadron (1964-Present)
* 146th Air Refueling Squadron (1993-Present)
* 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron, "Geographically Separated Unit at John P. Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport" (???-Present)

Bases stationed

*Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania (1947-Present)

Aircraft OperatedWorld Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3 [171st Air Refueling Wing Official Webpage http://www.papitt.ang.af.mil/]

*KC-135T Stratotanker (2004-Present)
*KC-135E Stratotanker (1982-2004)
*KC-135A Stratotanker (1977-1982)
*A-7D Corsair (1975-1991)
*F-102A Delta Dagger (1972-1975)
*KC-97L Stratotanker (1972-1977)
*C-121G Super Constellation (1964-1972)
*P-47 Thunderbolt (1947-???)

Decorations

* [http://wwa.afpc.randolph.af.mil/AwardsNet/SearchUnitAwards.aspx?Mode=Graphics Air Force Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991)]
**

ee also

*Pennsylvania Air National Guard
*KC-135 Stratotanker

References

External links

* [http://www.papitt.ang.af.mil Official Homepage]