22d Air Refueling Wing

22d Air Refueling Wing
Unit name	22d Air Refueling Wing
Dates	Established 1947–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air refueling and airlift support
Garrison	McConnell Air Force Base

22d Air Refueling Wing The 22d Air Refueling Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Mobility Command at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. The wing provides global aerial refueling, strategic airlift support, and contingency response in coordination with Air Mobility Command (United States), United States Strategic Command, United States Central Command, NORAD and allied partners such as NATO and Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Overview

The wing, designated as an air refueling element within Air Force Global Strike Command plaza-level support architectures, operates primarily with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus under taskings from Air Mobility Command and theater commanders including United States European Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command. Its mission aligns with strategic concepts in joint doctrine promulgated by Joint Chiefs of Staff publications and integrates capabilities for operations alongside assets such as Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Boeing E-3 Sentry, and Boeing KC-10 Extender.

History

Activated in the early Cold War era, the wing traces lineage through post-World War II organizational changes that involved transfers between Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command. During the Cold War, it supported deterrence missions paired with strategic bombers like the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and participated in nuclear alert postures coordinated with North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces. In the Vietnam era, units attached to the wing performed air refueling and airlift sorties in support of operations such as Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Linebacker II. Post-Vietnam restructuring placed the wing under Military Airlift Command and later under Air Mobility Command during the 1992 USAF reorganization. In the 1990s and 2000s it deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2021), and Operation Iraqi Freedom, frequently integrating with coalition partners including Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. Modernization efforts included transitioning airframes and basing adjustments aligned with programmatic initiatives from Defense Logistics Agency and acquisition programs overseen by Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Units and Organization

The wing comprises operations, maintenance, mission support, and medical groups typical of USAF wing structures. Primary subordinate formations include an operations group responsible for tanker squadrons and aircrew training, maintenance squadrons aligned with depot and field-level maintenance coordinated with Ogden Air Logistics Complex and Tinker Air Force Base rework schedules, and a mission support group managing base infrastructure in coordination with Kansas National Guard liaison elements. The wing's organizational relationships extend to expeditionary task forces and joint enablers such as Air Expeditionary Force rotations, theater airlift control elements, and combined air operations centers like Al Udeid Air Base command nodes.

Aircraft and Equipment

Historically equipped with piston and early jet transports and tankers, the wing transitioned to jet-age refueling platforms including the Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and later the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. Recent force modernization introduced the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus to expand offload capacity and multi-role refueling interoperability with receivers such as Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and Eurofighter Typhoon in coalition operations. Support equipment includes forward arming and refueling point kits, aerial refueling drogues and booms, and organic mission planning systems interoperable with Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System data links and Link 16 networks.

Operations and Deployments

The wing conducted sustained global operations supporting strategic deterrence, power projection, and humanitarian assistance. It provided tanker sorties for strategic bomber escorts during Cuban Missile Crisis-era readiness and executed transoceanic flights supporting Operation Allies Refuge evacuation and disaster relief alongside agencies such as United States Agency for International Development and International Committee of the Red Cross. Deployments have included rotations to Al Dhafra Air Base, Al Udeid Air Base, Incirlik Air Base, and contingency basing at Ramstein Air Base to support NATO operations and theater campaigns directed by United States European Command and United States Central Command.

Honors and Awards

Through its history the wing and its subordinate units received multiple unit citations, campaign streamers, and service awards, aligned with periods of combat and peacetime excellence recognized by Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. Decorations include Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for meritorious service during operations such as Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as campaign credits associated with Vietnam War, Southwest Asia operations, and contingency deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Notable Commanders and Personnel

Senior leaders and notable personnel who commanded or served in the wing later held high-level positions across the Department of Defense and joint organizations, advancing to roles in U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Transportation Command, and senior staff positions on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Alumni include aviators who became squadron commanders, wing commanders, and promotion to flag ranks with assignments at Pentagon and joint commands, and enlisted leaders who advanced to senior enlisted advisor roles within Air Mobility Command and combatant command staffs.

Category:United States Air Force wings Category:Air refueling wings