155th Air Refueling Wing
Encyclopedia
The 155th Air Refueling Wing (155 ARW) is the largest Air National Guard
unit in the state of Nebraska
. It currently operates the Boeing
KC-135R Stratotanker which has been tasked for numerous missions around the globe.
Full time Security Forces
personnel patrol the base and provide security for the aircraft 24 hours a day while firefighter personnel are always on station and on call. The other units on the base usually operate during the day and are also staffed by AGR
or civilian Technician personnel.
is the second oldest Air National Guard
unit in the nation. It began with the activation of the 401st Fighter Squadron at Westover Field, Massachusetts, on 1 July 1943.
The 401st was assigned to the National Guard and was re-designated the 173rd Fighter Squadron, Nebraska Air National Guard, and was equipped with P-51 Mustangs on 26 July 1946.
The unit has been operational since that date and has been an Air Force gained unit since the U.S. Air Force became a separate branch of service in 1947.
In 1948, Nebraska was one of the first five states to receive the F-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft. Also that year, the Nebraska Air National Guard held its first annual training in Lincoln.
In 1950 the unit was the first Air National Guard organization to win the Winston P. Wilson Trophy as the outstanding jet fighter unit. It was the first of five Wilson trophies to be awarded to the Nebraska organization.
The unit was mobilized on 1 April 1951, and put into active service for the Korean War
.
The unit was released from active duty on 31 Dec. 1952, after 21 months of meritorious service. The unit flew P-51s throughout its tour of active duty. The F-80s had been given to the Air Defense Command during the Korean War and would not return to the unit until the fall of 1953.
In 1953, Major General Guy N. Henninger, already the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, switched from the Army Guard to the Air Guard. The transfer made General Henninger the first Air Guard adjutant general in the nation.
F-80 Shooting Star was assigned to the unit in 1953. That same year the squadron was re-designated the 173rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron and assigned to the Air Defense Command.
With the 1955 reactivation of Lincoln AFB, a Strategic Air Command
(SAC) base, the Nebraska Air National Guard was authorized new facilities. A new site was located south of the commercial air terminal adjoining the Air Force base and the unit moved to its new facilities in the fall of 1956.
Two years later, the unit moved into the vacated Naval Air Reserve hangar and turned its "old" hangar over to the Army National Guard
. Since that time, additional facilities were built on the 166 acre (0.67177876 km²) of the Lincoln Air National Guard Base. Army aviation and other Army units remain tenants today.
In January 1957 the F-80s gave way to the F-86D all-weather interceptors. In late 1959, the unit changed to the F-86L all-weather fighter
On 1 July 1960, the National Guard Bureau reorganized the 173rd as part of the 155th Fighter Group and increased staffing to about 900 people.
In those final "fighter" years, the unit had won the coveted Spaatz Trophy, as the Guard's finest flying unit in 1963, following second and third place finishes in 1961 and 1962 respectively. In 1962, 1963 and 1964 the unit won its second, third and fourth Winston P. Wilson Trophies.
In May 1964 the mission of the Nebraska Air Guard changed from air defense to tactical reconnaissance using the RF-84 Thunderflash aircraft. The 173rd became the 173rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and the 155th Fighter Group became the 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group.
The first RF-4C Phantom II came to Lincoln in November 1971. In 1972 the unit began its conversion to the RF-4C from the RF-84F to the most modem reconnaissance aircraft available.
In April 1992 the unit was directed to convert to the KC-135R Stratotanker mission when the U.S. Air Force decided to begin retiring the last of the F-4 Phantom II
aircraft. The conversion to the aerial refueling mission began in September 1993 with the arrival of the first KC-135E tanker aircraft. On 1 Oct. 1995, the unit was re-designated as the 155th Air Refueling Wing after achieving initial operational capability in the refueling mission three months early.
In April 1999, the unit flew its first combat missions. It was the first Air Guard tanker unit to be asked to support Operation Allied Force
, the NATO bombing campaign of Serbia
and Kosovo
. The unit successfully deployed two aircraft and more than 80 personnel to Germany in less than three days and soon became the lead unit for all American tanker operations from the German air base.
Along with its federal mission, the Nebraska unit is tasked with supporting the state government as well. Since its organization in 1946, it has answered the governor's call on numerous occasions including Operation Snowbound in early 1949 and a special call in May 1975 when 435 Air Guard members were activated to assist in securing a tornado ravaged area in Omaha
. In November 1997, Air Guard members were once again called to state active duty to assist in helping Lincoln and neighboring communities recover from an early snowstorm that cut power to nearly one million Nebraskans as a part of Operation Bush Hog.
Nebraska Air National Guard
The Nebraska Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is based at Lincoln Air National Guard Base. The Adjutant General for the Nebraska Military Department is Brigadier General Judd H. Lyons...
unit in the state of Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. It currently operates the Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
KC-135R Stratotanker which has been tasked for numerous missions around the globe.
Mission
The 155th operates the KC-135R Stratotanker, which is responsible for conducting air refueling missions around the world. The 155th currently has eight aircraft, with six of them operational. There is almost always one aircraft undergoing a routine inspection in the hangar and currently one was transferred off base to be refitted. The unit runs like an active duty base on a smaller scale.Full time Security Forces
Air Force Security Forces
United States Air Force Security Forces are the Military Police, Base Security and Air Base Ground Defense forces of the United States Air Force...
personnel patrol the base and provide security for the aircraft 24 hours a day while firefighter personnel are always on station and on call. The other units on the base usually operate during the day and are also staffed by AGR
Active Guard Reserve
Active Guard Reserve , also known as "Active Guard and Reserve," refers to a United States Army and United States Air Force federal military program which places Army National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers and Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve airmen on federal active duty status under...
or civilian Technician personnel.
History
The Nebraska Air National GuardNebraska Air National Guard
The Nebraska Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is based at Lincoln Air National Guard Base. The Adjutant General for the Nebraska Military Department is Brigadier General Judd H. Lyons...
is the second oldest 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...
unit in the nation. It began with the activation of the 401st Fighter Squadron at Westover Field, Massachusetts, on 1 July 1943.
The 401st was assigned to the National Guard and was re-designated the 173rd Fighter Squadron, Nebraska Air National Guard, and was equipped with P-51 Mustangs on 26 July 1946.
The unit has been operational since that date and has been an Air Force gained unit since the U.S. Air Force became a separate branch of service in 1947.
In 1948, Nebraska was one of the first five states to receive the F-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft. Also that year, the Nebraska Air National Guard held its first annual training in Lincoln.
In 1950 the unit was the first Air National Guard organization to win the Winston P. Wilson Trophy as the outstanding jet fighter unit. It was the first of five Wilson trophies to be awarded to the Nebraska organization.
The unit was mobilized on 1 April 1951, and put into active service for the 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...
.
The unit was released from active duty on 31 Dec. 1952, after 21 months of meritorious service. The unit flew P-51s throughout its tour of active duty. The F-80s had been given to the Air Defense Command during the Korean War and would not return to the unit until the fall of 1953.
In 1953, Major General Guy N. Henninger, already the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, switched from the Army Guard to the Air Guard. The transfer made General Henninger the first Air Guard adjutant general in the nation.
F-80 Shooting Star was assigned to the unit in 1953. That same year the squadron was re-designated the 173rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron and assigned to the Air Defense Command.
With the 1955 reactivation of Lincoln AFB, a Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The 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...
(SAC) base, the Nebraska Air National Guard was authorized new facilities. A new site was located south of the commercial air terminal adjoining the Air Force base and the unit moved to its new facilities in the fall of 1956.
Two years later, the unit moved into the vacated Naval Air Reserve hangar and turned its "old" hangar over to the Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
. Since that time, additional facilities were built on the 166 acre (0.67177876 km²) of the Lincoln Air National Guard Base. Army aviation and other Army units remain tenants today.
In January 1957 the F-80s gave way to the F-86D all-weather interceptors. In late 1959, the unit changed to the F-86L all-weather fighter
On 1 July 1960, the National Guard Bureau reorganized the 173rd as part of the 155th Fighter Group and increased staffing to about 900 people.
In those final "fighter" years, the unit had won the coveted Spaatz Trophy, as the Guard's finest flying unit in 1963, following second and third place finishes in 1961 and 1962 respectively. In 1962, 1963 and 1964 the unit won its second, third and fourth Winston P. Wilson Trophies.
In May 1964 the mission of the Nebraska Air Guard changed from air defense to tactical reconnaissance using the RF-84 Thunderflash aircraft. The 173rd became the 173rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and the 155th Fighter Group became the 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group.
The first RF-4C Phantom II came to Lincoln in November 1971. In 1972 the unit began its conversion to the RF-4C from the RF-84F to the most modem reconnaissance aircraft available.
In April 1992 the unit was directed to convert to the KC-135R Stratotanker mission when the U.S. Air Force decided to begin retiring the last of the F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
aircraft. The conversion to the aerial refueling mission began in September 1993 with the arrival of the first KC-135E tanker aircraft. On 1 Oct. 1995, the unit was re-designated as the 155th Air Refueling Wing after achieving initial operational capability in the refueling mission three months early.
In April 1999, the unit flew its first combat missions. It was the first Air Guard tanker unit to be asked to support Operation Allied Force
Operation Allied Force
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
, the NATO bombing campaign of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. The unit successfully deployed two aircraft and more than 80 personnel to Germany in less than three days and soon became the lead unit for all American tanker operations from the German air base.
Along with its federal mission, the Nebraska unit is tasked with supporting the state government as well. Since its organization in 1946, it has answered the governor's call on numerous occasions including Operation Snowbound in early 1949 and a special call in May 1975 when 435 Air Guard members were activated to assist in securing a tornado ravaged area in Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. In November 1997, Air Guard members were once again called to state active duty to assist in helping Lincoln and neighboring communities recover from an early snowstorm that cut power to nearly one million Nebraskans as a part of Operation Bush Hog.
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 1995) - 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 Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir 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 ....
(1992–1995) - 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...
(1964–1992) - 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...
/Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
(1960–1964)
Previous designations
- 155th Air Refueling Wing (since 1996)
- 155th Air Refueling Group (1995–1996)
- 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1964–1995)
- 155th Fighter Group (1960–1964)
Squadrons assigned
- 173rd Air Refueling Squadron173rd Air Refueling SquadronThe 173rd Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Nebraska Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 155th Air Refueling Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command...
(since 1995) - 173rd Reconnaissance Squadron (1992–1995)
- 173rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (1964–1992)
- 173rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (1953–1964)
- 173rd Fighter Squadron (1946–1955)
Bases stationed
- Lincoln Air National Guard Base (since 1966)
- Lincoln Air Force BaseLincoln Air Force BaseLincoln Air National Guard Base, previously Lincoln Air Force Base, is a Nebraska Air National Guard installation located approximately northwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. The facility is a joint use civil airport/military base with the Lincoln Airport which provides airline, charter and general...
(1960–1966)
Aircraft operated
- KC-135R Stratotanker (since 1995)
- RF-4C Phantom II (1972–1995)
- RF-84 Thunderflash (1964–1972)
- F-86L Sabre (1960–1964)