92d Air Refueling Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 92d Air Refueling Wing


caption= 92d Air Refueling Wing emblem
dates= 1942-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Combat Operations
role= Air Refueling
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison= Fairchild Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= DUPLUM INCOLUMITATIS - Twofold Security
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders= Arthur Lichte
anniversaries=
decorations= The 92d Air Refueling Wing (92 ARW) is a United States Air Force unit located at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington. Its mission is to train and equip KC-135 flight and support crews in support of Air Mobility Command and US Strategic Command missions.

History

92d Bombardment Group

The 92d Bombardment Group was established on 28 January 1942. It was activated at Barksdale Field (now Barksdale Air Force Base) on 1 March 1942. During World War II the group flew B-17 Flying Fortress bombers as a component of the Eighth Air Force. The group was based in England from 18 May 1942 to sometime in June 1945 when it moved to Istres Air Base, France.

The group remained in France until July 1946 when it moved to Fort Worth Army Air Field, Texas. In October 1946 the 92 BG moved again, this time to Smokey Hill Army Air Field, Kansas where they remained until June 1947. The groups final move was to Spokane Army Air Field (now Fairchild Air Force Base) near Spokane, Washington.

In 1951 the group converted to the B-36 bomber. These were replaced in 1952 by B-52s. In June of that year the unit was inactivated and it was 39 years before being reactivated as the 92d Operations Group, again with B-52s at Fairchild Air Force Base.

Korean War

In early July 1950, 92nd BG B-29s arrived from the United States at Yokota AB, Japan. By the time the entire group completed its deployment on the July 13, its aircraft had already flown a leaflet mission to Seoul and a combat mission against the Wonsan marshalling yards in North Korea. Under control of the FEAF Bomber Command (Provisional) until October 20, the 92nd bombed factories, refineries, iron works, hydroelectric plants, airfields, bridges, tunnels, troop concentrations, barracks, marshalling yards, road junctions, rail lines, supply dumps, docks, vehicles and other strategic and interdiction targets. The 92nd BG returned to Spokane AFB, Washington in late October and November 1950.

Operational Units:
* 98th Bombardment Group (July - November 1950)
** 325th Bombardment Squadron
** 326th Bombardment Squadron
** 327th Bombardment Squadron

Stations:
* Yokota AB, Japan, (July - November 1950)

Aircraft Flown:
* Boeing B-29 Superfortress

92d Operations Group

When the 92d BG was reactivated after 39 years as an inactive unit, it was renamed to 92d Operations Group even though some of its components were flying B-52 bombers. As part of their new mission, the 92d also gained two squadrons of KC-135 tankers. The 92 OG ended B-52 alert duties in Sep 1992, and from Feb 1993, performed air sampling missions for the Department of Energy with modified B-52Hs. The group's mission changed to solely air refueling in 1994. During 1993 the group also had a UH-1 helicopter squadron, but this unit was gone by 1994 as were the B-52s.

Regularly deployed elements during the late 1990s to support overseas tanker taskforces in support of humanitarian, peacekeeping, and contingency operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia. Today the 92d Operations Group is only responsible for KC-135 operations.

In 1999 the Wing became the 92d Air Expeditionary Wing at Morón Air Base in Spain, tasked with providing fuel to Operation Allied Force. In addition to serving as the HQ 92 AEW (serving units in France, Crete, Sicily and Spain), Morón hosted 37 tankers (KC-135 and KC-10) and 800 personnel. The 92 AEW became the largest Tanker Wing since the Vietnam War and held the distinction of being the largest tanker base during the Kosovo war.

Unit Lineage

* 92d Bombardment Group (Heavy), 28 January 1942 - 14 July 1946 (inactive, 28 February, 1946 - 3 August 1946)
* 92d Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, 15 July 1946 - 27 May 1948 (reactivated 4 August, 1946)
* 92d Bombardment Group, Medium, 28 May 1948 - 15 June 1951
* 92d Bombardment Group, Heavy, 16 June 1951 - 16 June 1952)
* 92d Operations Group, 29 August 1991 - present

Currently Assigned Units

* 92d Operations Support Squadron
* 92d Air Refueling Squadron
* 93d Air Refueling Squadron

Component units

*17th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 407th Bombardment): 1 March 1942-28 February 1946.
*43d Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1991-1 June 1992; 1 July 1994-31 March 1995.
*92d Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1991-1 June 1992; 1 July 1994-.
*93d Air Refueling Squadron: 31 March 1995-.
*96th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1994-31 March 2005.
*97th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1994-30 September 2004.
*98th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1994-1 July 1998.
*325th Bombardment Squadron (later, 325th Bomb): 1 March 1942-28 February 1946; 4 August 1946-16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951-15 June 1952); 1 September 1991-1 July 1994.
*326th Bombardment Squadron: 1 March 1942-28 February 1946; 4 August 1946-16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951-15 June 1952).
*327th Bombardment Squadron: 1 March 1942-28 February 1946; 4 August 1946-16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951-15 June 1952).

ee also

* Pacific Air Forces
* Fifth Air Force
* Fifteenth Air Force
* Eighth Air Force
* United States Air Force In South Korea

References

* Futrell, Robert Frank (1983) The United States Air Force In Korea, 1950-1953, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0912799714
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/wwwroot/rso/wings_groups_pages/0092og.php Air Force Historical Research Agency]
* [http://public.fairchild.amc.af.mil/library/ Fact Sheets at Fairchild Air Force Base web site]