927th Air Refueling Wing
Encyclopedia
The 927th Air Refueling Wing (927 ARW) is an Air Force Reserve Command
(AFRC) flying unit, operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command
(AMC), located at MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida
One of the wing's components, the 63d Air Refueling Squadron
(63 ARS), traces its lineage back to World War II
. During 1942, the 63d Troop Carrier Squadron was constituted and deployed with C-47 Skytrain
aircraft to the Pacific theater, becoming an active participant in the war by making major contributions delivering airborne troops, air re-supply of forces and subsequent aerial logistic support.
The 63 TCS was stationed at such places as Espirito Santo, Los Negros, Blak Island and Clark Field, Luzon, to support numerous World War II campaigns in the South and Southwest Pacific. Some of the 63d's decorations included the Distinguished Unit Citation
, Navy Unit Commendation
and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
. The 63d became a part of the 927 TCG in 1963.
The 927 TCG was re-designated the 927th Tactical Airlift Group in 1967 and flew the C-119 Flying Boxcar
aircraft until 1969. The 927 TAG was re-designated the 927th Tactical Air Support Group (927 TASG) on 18 June 1969, and flew U-3 Administrator ("Blue Canoe")
aircraft until 1971. The 927 TASG was re-designated the 927th Tactical Airlift Group (927 TAG) on 29 June 1971, and converted to the C-130 Hercules
aircraft. During 1992, the unit converted to KC-135 Stratotanker
aircraft and was re-designated the 927th Air Refueling Group (927 ARG) until 1 October 1994, when the unit was re-designated as the 927th Air Refueling Wing (927 ARW).
The 927 ARW's flying and non-flying units have demonstrated professionalism throughout many years of service. For example, during the Vietnam War, the flying squadron ferried aircraft and delivered equipment and supplies to South Vietnam. From a humanitarian perspective, unit personnel offered assistance when the need arose. They supported relief efforts such as the 1973 New York and Pennsylvania floods as well as hurricane disaster relief to Honduras in 1974 and for Hurricane Hugo
victims in 1989.
During 1990, the 927 TAG deployed more than 400 airmen, aircraft and supplies for six months to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
From 1995 through 2004, the 927 ARW participated in missions, operations and exercises around the world, including Operation Northern Watch
; Somalia Pullout; Atlantic Express; airlift to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras; AWACS support to Geilenkirchen, Germany;, Red Flag
at Nellis AFB, Nevada; Snowbird Support, airlift from Rhein-Main AB, Germany to Eglin AFB Aux Field #3/Duke Field
, Florida; airlift to Ramstein AB, Germany; Operation Decisive Endeavor; Operation Pitch Black; Pacific Express to Kadena AB, Japan; Phoenix Tusk to Bangor, Maine; and more recently deployed to Italy and France in support of Operation Deny Flight
, Operation Decisive Endeavor, and Deliberate Guard/Forge enforcing the "no fly zone" over the former Yugoslavia.
In 1997, the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) was disestablished as a Field Operating Agency (FOA) and reconstituted as a Major Command (MAJCOM), designated as Air Force Reserve Command
(AFRC). All AFRES relationships with the 927 ARW were automatically transferred to AFRC.
During 1999, the 927 ARW responded to Presidential Selected Recall (PSRC) authority, deploying members in support of Operation Noble Anvil and NATO Operation Allied Force
.
The 927 ARW responded within one hour after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon
on 11 September 2001. The wing quickly provided refueling services for USAF fighter aircraft patrolling the North Central United States and provided other concurrent support of Homeland Defense as part of Operation Noble Eagle
. The 927th Security Forces Squadron was initially activated for 12 months and extended for an additional 12 months in support of Operation Noble Eagle. The wing remains actively engaged in Operation Noble Eagle
(Homeland Defense) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Global War on Terrorism).
In its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC) recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. Under this recommendation, the 927 ARW at Selfridge ANGB would distribute its eight KC-135 aircraft to the 127th Wing
(127 WG) of the Michigan Air National Guard
, also based at Selfridge. The 927 ARW would then realign to an Active-Reserve "Associate" arrangement with the 6th Air Mobility Wing
(6 AMW) at MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida in order to capture reserve experience in the southeast United States and enhance the combined units' overall capability.
In another recommendation, DoD recommended realigning Grand Forks Air Force Base
, North Dakota, redistributing the 319th Air Refueling Wing
’s (319 ARW) KC-135R aircraft to the 6th AMW at MacDill AFB (four aircraft) and several other installations. The enlarged 6 AMW would then host a Reserve association arrangement with 927 ARW manpower realigned from Selfridge ANGB, with both units operating, maintaining and sharing the same KC-135R aircraft.
In 2007, the 927 ARW commenced relocation to MacDill AFB and formally established itself at MacDill AFB in April 2008.
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....
(AFRC) flying unit, operationally-gained by 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....
(AMC), located at MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
History
Lineage of the 927th Air Refueling Wing dates back to 15 January 1963, when it was activated as the 927th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and organized into the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) on 11 February 1963.One of the wing's components, the 63d Air Refueling Squadron
63d Air Refueling Squadron
The 63d Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 927th Air Refueling Group at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions as the reserve associate to the 6th Air Mobility Wing....
(63 ARS), traces its lineage back to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During 1942, the 63d Troop Carrier Squadron was constituted and deployed with C-47 Skytrain
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
aircraft to the Pacific theater, becoming an active participant in the war by making major contributions delivering airborne troops, air re-supply of forces and subsequent aerial logistic support.
The 63 TCS was stationed at such places as Espirito Santo, Los Negros, Blak Island and Clark Field, Luzon, to support numerous World War II campaigns in the South and Southwest Pacific. Some of the 63d's decorations included the Distinguished Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)
The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941...
, Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Unit Commendation
The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines)
The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is a decoration of the Republic of the Philippines which has been awarded to certain units of the United States military for actions both during and subsequent to the Second World War....
. The 63d became a part of the 927 TCG in 1963.
The 927 TCG was re-designated the 927th Tactical Airlift Group in 1967 and flew the C-119 Flying Boxcar
C-119 Flying Boxcar
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
aircraft until 1969. The 927 TAG was re-designated the 927th Tactical Air Support Group (927 TASG) on 18 June 1969, and flew U-3 Administrator ("Blue Canoe")
Cessna 310
The Cessna 310 is an American six-seat, low-wing, twin-engined monoplane that was produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. It was the first twin-engined aircraft that Cessna put into production after World War II.-Development:...
aircraft until 1971. The 927 TASG was re-designated the 927th Tactical Airlift Group (927 TAG) on 29 June 1971, and converted to 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...
aircraft. During 1992, the unit converted to KC-135 Stratotanker
KC-135 Stratotanker
The 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...
aircraft and was re-designated the 927th Air Refueling Group (927 ARG) until 1 October 1994, when the unit was re-designated as the 927th Air Refueling Wing (927 ARW).
The 927 ARW's flying and non-flying units have demonstrated professionalism throughout many years of service. For example, during the Vietnam War, the flying squadron ferried aircraft and delivered equipment and supplies to South Vietnam. From a humanitarian perspective, unit personnel offered assistance when the need arose. They supported relief efforts such as the 1973 New York and Pennsylvania floods as well as hurricane disaster relief to Honduras in 1974 and for Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
victims in 1989.
During 1990, the 927 TAG deployed more than 400 airmen, aircraft and supplies for six months to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
From 1995 through 2004, the 927 ARW participated in missions, operations and exercises around the world, including Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch, the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, was a US European Command Combined Task Force charged with enforcing its own no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq...
; Somalia Pullout; Atlantic Express; airlift to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras; AWACS support to Geilenkirchen, Germany;, Red Flag
Red flag
In politics, a red flag is a symbol of Socialism, or Communism, or sometimes left-wing politics in general. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution. Socialists adopted the symbol during the Revolutions of 1848 and it became a symbol of communism as a result of its...
at Nellis AFB, Nevada; Snowbird Support, airlift from Rhein-Main AB, Germany to Eglin AFB Aux Field #3/Duke Field
Duke Field
Duke Field , also known as Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #3, is a military airport located three miles south of the central business district of Crestview, in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States-Units:...
, Florida; airlift to Ramstein AB, Germany; Operation Decisive Endeavor; Operation Pitch Black; Pacific Express to Kadena AB, Japan; Phoenix Tusk to Bangor, Maine; and more recently deployed to Italy and France in support of Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation that began on April 12, 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, Operation Decisive Endeavor, and Deliberate Guard/Forge enforcing the "no fly zone" over the former Yugoslavia.
In 1997, the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) was disestablished as a Field Operating Agency (FOA) and reconstituted as a Major Command (MAJCOM), designated as 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....
(AFRC). All AFRES relationships with the 927 ARW were automatically transferred to AFRC.
During 1999, the 927 ARW responded to Presidential Selected Recall (PSRC) authority, deploying members in support of Operation Noble Anvil and NATO 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 927 ARW responded within one hour after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
and the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
on 11 September 2001. The wing quickly provided refueling services for USAF fighter aircraft patrolling the North Central United States and provided other concurrent support of Homeland Defense as part of Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
. The 927th Security Forces Squadron was initially activated for 12 months and extended for an additional 12 months in support of Operation Noble Eagle. The wing remains actively engaged in Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
(Homeland Defense) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Global War on Terrorism).
In its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
(BRAC) recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. Under this recommendation, the 927 ARW at Selfridge ANGB would distribute its eight KC-135 aircraft to the 127th Wing
127th Wing
The United States Air Force's 127th Wing is a fighter and air refueling unit located at Selfridge ANGB, Michigan. It is part of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command's First Air Force.-Mission:...
(127 WG) of the Michigan Air National Guard
Michigan Air National Guard
The Michigan Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is, along with the Michigan Army National Guard, an element of the Michigan National Guard...
, also based at Selfridge. The 927 ARW would then realign to an Active-Reserve "Associate" arrangement with the 6th Air Mobility Wing
6th Air Mobility Wing
The United States Air Force's 6th Air Mobility Wing is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force....
(6 AMW) at MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
, Florida in order to capture reserve experience in the southeast United States and enhance the combined units' overall capability.
In another recommendation, DoD recommended realigning Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located north of Emerado, North Dakota and approximately west of Grand Forks, North Dakota...
, North Dakota, redistributing the 319th Air Refueling Wing
319th Air Refueling Wing
The 319th Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's USAF Expeditionary Center. It is stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is also the host unit at Grand Forks....
’s (319 ARW) KC-135R aircraft to the 6th AMW at MacDill AFB (four aircraft) and several other installations. The enlarged 6 AMW would then host a Reserve association arrangement with 927 ARW manpower realigned from Selfridge ANGB, with both units operating, maintaining and sharing the same KC-135R aircraft.
In 2007, the 927 ARW commenced relocation to MacDill AFB and formally established itself at MacDill AFB in April 2008.