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| 137th Special Operations Wing | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | 137th Special Operations Wing |
| Dates | 1962–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air National Guard |
| Type | Special Operations |
| Role | Special operations aviation |
| Garrison | Will Rogers World Airport |
137th Special Operations Wing is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard assigned to the Air National Guard structure with operational alignment to Air Force Special Operations Command. The wing provides specialized aviation capabilities supporting federal missions under the United States Air Force and state missions under the Governor of Oklahoma. Its personnel and assets have participated in contingency operations alongside units from United States Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command, and multinational partners.
The wing traces lineage to airlift and special operations missions linked to Tinker Air Force Base and Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It operates in coordination with organizations including the National Guard Bureau, United States Northern Command, and allied forces such as NATO elements and partner air forces. The unit's role bridges tactical aviation, unconventional warfare support, and humanitarian assistance during crises like responses to Hurricane Katrina and international contingency operations in the Global War on Terrorism.
Originally established amid Cold War reorganization, the wing evolved from air transport and tactical airlift antecedents influenced by doctrine from United States Air Force and Military Air Transport Service. During the Vietnam era and post-Vietnam restructuring it adapted capabilities reflecting lessons from Operation Rolling Thunder and tactical mobility requirements tested in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. In the post-9/11 period the wing transitioned to special operations support, integrating training methods from United States Special Operations Command and interoperability standards promulgated by NATO and the United States Special Operations Command Europe community. Deployments to Iraq War and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) theaters further shaped force composition and tactics.
The wing's primary mission set includes support for special operations forces through infiltration, exfiltration, air refueling, and precision airdrop using aircraft configured for low-observable, low-altitude, and austere-field operations. It provides trained aircrews and maintainers capable of operating alongside units such as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and supporting joint missions directed by United States Special Operations Command taskings. During domestic crises the wing supports state authorities coordinated by the National Guard Bureau and Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief and civil support.
The wing comprises operational groups and squadrons aligned with special operations roles, including flying squadrons, maintenance, operations support, and intelligence detachments. It works closely with the Oklahoma National Guard headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command components, and joint task forces established under United States Northern Command or United States Indo-Pacific Command depending on assignment. Embedded units maintain liaison relationships with Air Force Special Operations Command wings, Combat Aviation Brigade (United States Army), and interagency partners such as the Department of Homeland Security.
Over time the wing operated a variety of airframes and specialized systems, transitioning from tactical transports to dedicated special operations platforms. Historical and contemporary aircraft associated by capability include modified variants similar to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, specialty-equipped types akin to the MQ-9 Reaper for ISR missions, and rotary-wing elements paralleling Bell UH-1 Iroquois and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk roles in joint operations. Mission equipment suites include precision navigation systems consistent with Global Positioning System integration, defensive avionics comparable to AN/ALQ-211 suites, and aerial delivery systems used in airdrop operations derived from Joint Precision Airdrop System innovations.
The wing supported operations across multiple theaters, contributing airlift and direct support in campaigns like Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). It has participated in humanitarian missions in the Western Hemisphere coordinated with United States Southern Command and multinational exercises under NATO and United States European Command frameworks. Domestic operations include disaster response during major storms and state emergency activations directed by the Governor of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Adjutant General.
The wing and its personnel have received unit citations and individual awards reflecting service in combat and peacetime missions, consistent with decorations authorized by Department of Defense and United States Air Force award criteria. Recognitions include campaign streamers from Southwest Asia operations, expeditionary service awards for deployments supporting Global War on Terrorism operations, and state-level commendations from the Governor of Oklahoma.
Category:Units and formations of the Air National Guard Category:Military units and formations established in 1962