137th Air Refueling Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 137th Air Refueling Wing is an Oklahoma
Air National Guard
wing located at Will Rogers Air National Guard base, Oklahoma
. The wing flies KC-135 Stratotankers.
The wing is associated with the Air Force Reserve Command
's (AFRC) 507th Air Refueling Wing
(507 ARW). Under this Reserve-Guard associate organization, the 507th ARW is the host wing with all 12 aircraft owned by AFRC. The Oklahoma Air National Guard maintains separate administrative and operational control, but is associated with the 507th ARW, working together to fly and maintain all aircraft. For deployable tasking, both the 507th ARW and 137th AW will function with six primary aircraft assigned.
, which was allocated to the Oklahoma Air National Guard and redesignated as the 137th Fighter Group on 24 May 1946. The unit was founded on 21 November 1946 at Norman, Oklahoma as the 137th Fighter Group, and received its Federal recognition on 18 December 1947.
The 137th Fighter Wing was originally equipped with the P-51 Mustang
. Afterwards, a variety of aircraft have been assigned to the Wing, including the F-80 Shooting Star, the F-86 Sabre
Jet, the C-97 Stratocruiser, the C-124 Globemaster, and the C-130 Hercules
which the wing flew between 1974 and 2007.
In 2007 the unit became the 137th Air Refueling Wing as a result of the 2005 BRAC Recommendations which realigned Will Rogers AGS and relocating the 137th Airlift Wing (ANG) to Tinker AFB and associated it with the 507th Air Refueling Wing.
The unit has been assigned to the Continental Air Command
, Air Defense Command, Air Combat Command
, and the Air Mobility Command
. The Wing owns one of the most outstanding flying safety records in the Air Force, having flown over 576,000 accident free flying hours.
137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
* Federalized active service during Korean War
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 137th Air Refueling Wing is an Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
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...
wing located at Will Rogers Air National Guard base, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. The wing flies KC-135 Stratotankers.
The wing is associated with the Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
's (AFRC) 507th Air Refueling Wing
507th Air Refueling Wing
The 507th Air Refueling Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It is one of two Air Force Reserve flying units in the state of Oklahoma....
(507 ARW). Under this Reserve-Guard associate organization, the 507th ARW is the host wing with all 12 aircraft owned by AFRC. The Oklahoma Air National Guard maintains separate administrative and operational control, but is associated with the 507th ARW, working together to fly and maintain all aircraft. For deployable tasking, both the 507th ARW and 137th AW will function with six primary aircraft assigned.
History
The wing traces its origins to the World War II 404th Fighter Group404th Fighter Group
The 404th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with III Fighter Command, stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 9 November 1945....
, which was allocated to the Oklahoma Air National Guard and redesignated as the 137th Fighter Group on 24 May 1946. The unit was founded on 21 November 1946 at Norman, Oklahoma as the 137th Fighter Group, and received its Federal recognition on 18 December 1947.
The 137th Fighter Wing was originally equipped with the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
. Afterwards, a variety of aircraft have been assigned to the Wing, including the F-80 Shooting Star, the F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
Jet, the C-97 Stratocruiser, the C-124 Globemaster, and the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
which the wing flew between 1974 and 2007.
In 2007 the unit became the 137th Air Refueling Wing as a result of the 2005 BRAC Recommendations which realigned Will Rogers AGS and relocating the 137th Airlift Wing (ANG) to Tinker AFB and associated it with the 507th Air Refueling Wing.
The unit has been assigned to the Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command
Continental 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:...
, Air Defense Command, Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
, and the 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....
. The Wing owns one of the most outstanding flying safety records in the Air Force, having flown over 576,000 accident free flying hours.
Major 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....
(since 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...
/Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(???–1992)
Previous designations
- 137th Air Refueling Wing (since 2008)
- 137th Airlift Wing (1992–2007)
- 137th Tactical Airlift Wing (1972–1992)
- 137th Air Transport Wing (1960–1972)
Squadrons assigned
- 185th Air Refueling Squadron185th Air Refueling SquadronThe 185th Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135 Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 137th Air Refueling Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command...
(since 2008) - 185th Airlift Squadron (???–2007)
- 125th Air Transport Squadron (1960–1972)
137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Bases stationed
- University of Oklahoma Westheimer AirportUniversity of Oklahoma Westheimer AirportUniversity of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport , also known as Max Westheimer Airport, is a public general aviation airport located three miles northwest of the city of Norman in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, USA. The airport is run by the University of Oklahoma...
, 1946–1949 - Will Rogers FieldWill Rogers World AirportWill Rogers World Airport , also known as Will Rogers Airport or simply Will Rogers, is located in southwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 6 miles from downtown and is the principal commercial airport of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area...
, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
1949 – October 1950 - Alexandria Mun Aprt, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 27 November 1950 – 4 May 1952* - Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France, 13 May – 10 July 1952*
- Will Rogers World AirportWill Rogers World AirportWill Rogers World Airport , also known as Will Rogers Airport or simply Will Rogers, is located in southwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 6 miles from downtown and is the principal commercial airport of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area...
, 1952–2007 - Tinker Air Force BaseTinker Air Force BaseTinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
, since 2008
* Federalized active service during Korean War
Korean War
The 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...
Aircraft operated
- KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
(since 2008) - C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
(1974–2007) - C-124 Globemaster (???–1974)
- C-97 Stratocruiser (???–???)
- C-97E Stratocruiser (1961–1963) Miss Oklahoma City used as an airborne command post to maintain constant secure communications between the nation's capital and President John F. Kennedy during his visits to foreign countries
- F-86 Sabrejet (???–???)
- F-80 Shooting Star (???–???)
- P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(???–???)