101st Air Refueling Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 101st Air Refueling Wing is an Air National Guard
aerial refueling
unit located at Bangor International Airport
, Maine
.
The 101st Air Refueling Wing supports the United States Air Force
mission and trains its personnel for wartime operations. It provides air refueling and airlift capabilities under Air Mobility Command
. Since 1994, it has operated the Northeast Tanker Task Force together with the New Hampshire Air National Guard
.http://www.mebngr.ang.af.mil/101ARW/default.cfm
State
The 101st Air Refueling Wing supports the State of Maine by assisting in the protection of life and property, maintaining peace and order, and providing civil defense capabilities. This was evidenced during the 1998 Ice Storm, where the 101st maintained a shelter in its hangar in conjunction with the Red Cross
, and sent personnel out to help communities in clean-up operations so that electrical companies could access downed power lines.http://www.mebngr.ang.af.mil/101ARW/default.cfm
The 101st was originally formed as the 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group in December 1960. Prior to the formation of the group, the 132nd ARS was formed as the 132nd FS in February 1947. In 1969, the F-102A was flown for four months before conversion to the F-101B. The unit was redesignated an Air Refueling Wing in 1976, flying the KC-135A. The 101st upgraded to the KC-135E in 1984.
with Headquarters at Logan Airport, Boston, Massachusetts. The 101st Fighter Group was federally recognized on 4 February 1947 with station at Camp Keyes, Augusta
, Maine. Additional units of the 101FG were organized and federally recognized on 5 February 1947 and stationed at Dow Air Force Base
, Bangor
, Maine. These units were:
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 101st Air Refueling Wing is an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
aerial refueling
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
unit located at Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located west of the city of Bangor, in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Bangor and was formerly a military installation known as Dow Air Force Base. The airport possesses a single...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
Mission
FederalThe 101st Air Refueling Wing supports the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
mission and trains its personnel for wartime operations. It provides air refueling and airlift capabilities under Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
. Since 1994, it has operated the Northeast Tanker Task Force together with the New Hampshire Air National Guard
New Hampshire Air National Guard
The New Hampshire Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is, along with the New Hampshire Army National Guard, an element of the New Hampshire National Guard...
.http://www.mebngr.ang.af.mil/101ARW/default.cfm
State
The 101st Air Refueling Wing supports the State of Maine by assisting in the protection of life and property, maintaining peace and order, and providing civil defense capabilities. This was evidenced during the 1998 Ice Storm, where the 101st maintained a shelter in its hangar in conjunction with the Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, and sent personnel out to help communities in clean-up operations so that electrical companies could access downed power lines.http://www.mebngr.ang.af.mil/101ARW/default.cfm
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 311th Fighter Group311th Fighter GroupThe 311th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Army Service Forces, being inactivated on 6 January 1946 at Fort Lawton, Washington....
The 101st was originally formed as the 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group in December 1960. Prior to the formation of the group, the 132nd ARS was formed as the 132nd FS in February 1947. In 1969, the F-102A was flown for four months before conversion to the F-101B. The unit was redesignated an Air Refueling Wing in 1976, flying the KC-135A. The 101st upgraded to the KC-135E in 1984.
Chronology
The first Air National Guard Unit to be organized in Maine was the Headquarters, 101st Fighter Group, which was a component of the 67th Fighter Wing67th Fighter Wing
The 67th Fighter Wing was a unit of the United States Air Force for four years, between 1946 and 1950. It was located at Logan Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is unrelated to the modern 67th Network Warfare Wing.-Post war:...
with Headquarters at Logan Airport, Boston, Massachusetts. The 101st Fighter Group was federally recognized on 4 February 1947 with station at Camp Keyes, Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
, Maine. Additional units of the 101FG were organized and federally recognized on 5 February 1947 and stationed at Dow Air Force Base
Dow Air Force Base
-History:Dow Air Force Base began as "Godfrey Field" in 1927, on land owned by local attorney Edward Rawson Godfrey . Commercial flights began at the field in 1931 under Northeast Airlines...
, Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, Maine. These units were:
- 132nd Fighter Squadron
- 201st Air Service Group
- 201st Air Service Group, Det. A
- 132nd Weather Station
- December 1948 – Command transferred to Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
- October 1950 – Reorganization into a “Wing-Base” in order to standardize the Guard units with their active duty counterparts. This provided for additional supporting Medical, Service, Transportation and Base Operating elements.
- January 1951 – The newly organized support elements were eliminated from the 132nd Fighter Squadron and personnel were transferred into the following newly activated squadrons
- 101st Maintenance Squadron
- 101st Supply Squadron
- 101st Motor Vehicle Squadron
- 101st Communications Squadron
- 101st Air Police Squadron
- 101st Food Service Squadron
- 101st Installation Squadron
- February 1950 – Called to active service for a period of 21 months to serve in the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. - February 1952 – Unit was inactivated for the remainder of their 21 months.
- March 1952 – To facilitate returning Air National Guard Units each state created a Headquarters. Maine State Headquarters, Camp Keyes, Augusta was organized and federally recognized on 19 March 1952.
- November 1952 – 21 months after the 101st had been ordered to active duty the units were returned to state control.
- June 1956 – The first nurses were assigned to the Maine Air National Guard.
- July 1960 – Responsibility for training and inspection of the ANG was transferred from the Continental Air Command to the Air Defense Command.
- December 1960 – The 101st Fighter Group was released from its duty on 15 April 1956 in New Hampshire and reassigned and reactivated in the State of Maine.
- September 1964 – 101st Fighter Group reorganized into the Double Deputy system of Command and Management.
- April 1966 – Air Defense Command reorganized its Continental Air Defense forces to a numbered Air Force/Air Division Organization. The 101st Air Defense Wing was assigned to the 36th Air Division located at Topsham AF Station, Maine and to Headquarters, First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
located at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. - September 1967 – A reduction in aircraft from 25 to 18.
- April 1973 – The 101st USAF Dispensary became the 101st USAF Clinic.
- April 1976 – KC135s were assigned to the unit and the gaining command was changed from Air Defense Command (ADC) to Strategic Air Command (SAC). (Battermix publishing material says date was 1 July 1976.)
- October 1978 – The Wing along with all other Air Guard Units, underwent reorganization into the Tri-Deputy organizational structure.
- August 1979 - First ANG unit to host a Tanker Task Force.
- August 1990 - Selected Units mobilized in support of Desert Storm.
- 31 May 1992 - Gaining Command changed from SAC to Air Mobility Command, Fifteenth Air Force (AMCE).
- September 1994 - Northeast Tanker Task Force (NTTF) began operation.
Major command/gaining command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(1 June 1992–present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(1976–1992) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Defense Command (1960–1976) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
(???-1960)
Previous designations
- 101st Air Refueling Wing (1976–present)
- 101st Air Defense Wing (December 1960-1976)
- 101st Fighter-Interceptor Group (???-1960)
Aircraft operated
- KC-135R Stratotanker (2007–present)
- KC-135E Stratotanker (1984–2007)
- KC-135A Stratotanker (1976–1984)
- F-101B Voodoo (1969–1976)
- F-102A Delta Dagger (1969)
- F-89J Scorpion (1959–1969)
- F-89D Scorpion (1957–1959)
- F-94A Starfire
- P-51H Mustang
- P-51D Mustang (1950)
- P-80C Shooting Star (1948–1950)
- P-47D Thunderbolt (1947–1948)