134th Air Refueling Wing
Encyclopedia
The 134th Air Refueling Wing is a unit located at McGhee Tyson ANGB
, Tennessee
. It is part of the Tennessee Air National Guard
.
aircraft. In January, 1961, the 134th assumed an ADC twenty four hour per day alert commitment until the unit was activated during the Berlin Crisis in November 1961.
During the Berlin Call-up, while stationed at Ramstein Air Base Germany, the unit set a U.S. Air Force, Europe, jet fighter monthly flying record of 836 hours with its seventeen F-104 aircraft. The 134th returned to state status in August, 1962.
In March, 1963, the unit's F-104s were reassigned to the active duty Air Force and the 134th converted to the F-102 Delta Dagger
aircraft. The 134th achieved combat ready status and passed an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) in the F-102 six months after starting the transition.
Another aircraft conversion occurred in April 1964, the fifth in less than seven years, when the 134th received the KC-97 Stratotanker
and changed operational claimancy from ADC to Tactical Air Command
(TAC). Having no previously qualified KC-97 aircrew or maintenance personnel assigned, the 134th became the first KC-97G unit to achieve C-2 status in only eight months after receipt of the aircraft. The previous conversion time was two years.
After conversion to the KC-97, the unit participated in numerous CONUS, Southeast Asia South American and European deployments. A major commitment was Operation Creek Party, a year round commitment in Germany for two weeks every three months.
Effective 1 July 1976, the unit converted from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to the Strategic Air Command
(SAC) and the KC-135A Stratotanker aircraft.
The 134th has received eight United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and was selected as the winner of the Air Force Outstanding Flying Unit award by the Air Force Association in 1982.
The unit flew 177 sorties and off-loaded 4.5 million pounds of fuel in Operation Desert Shield.
During Operation Desert Storm, one hundred and nine members of the unit were activated and deployed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There the unit was part of the 1713th Air Refueling Wing, Provisional, commanded by Colonel Frederick H. Forster of the 134th ARW. During Operation Desert Storm, the 1713th ARW(P) flew 568 sorties and off loaded millions of pounds of fuel to combat and support aircraft.
With the inactivation of Strategic Air Command in 1992, the 134th became operationally-gained by the newly-established Air Mobility Command
(AMC).
60 personnel and three planes from the Air National Guard's 134th Air Refueling Wing based in Knoxville were sent overseas to support the NATO's Operation "Allied Force" in Kosovo in April 1999.
The 134th ARW transitioned to the KC-135E Stratotanker and following the recommendation of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC) action, transitioned to and currently operates the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft in world wide support of the U. S. Air Force. The unit provides aerial refueling to all types of U.S. Air Force bomber, fighter, airlift and support aircraft, plus many NATO aircraft, as well as other air mobility support as directed by AMC.
McGhee Tyson Airport
-Top Destinations:-Accidents and incidents:* On 06 August, 1962, an American Airlines Lockheed L-188 Electra veered off the runway on landing, striking the raised edge of an under-construction taxiway with the landing gear, causing it to collapse...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. It is part of the Tennessee Air National Guard
Tennessee Air National Guard
The Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
.
History
The 134th Fighter Interceptor Group received recognition in 7 December 1957, as an Air Defense Command (ADC) unit equipped with F-86 aircraft, and performed an ADC daylight alert commitment until July, 1960, when it converted to the F-104 StarfighterF-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
aircraft. In January, 1961, the 134th assumed an ADC twenty four hour per day alert commitment until the unit was activated during the Berlin Crisis in November 1961.
During the Berlin Call-up, while stationed at Ramstein Air Base Germany, the unit set a U.S. Air Force, Europe, jet fighter monthly flying record of 836 hours with its seventeen F-104 aircraft. The 134th returned to state status in August, 1962.
In March, 1963, the unit's F-104s were reassigned to the active duty Air Force and the 134th converted to the F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
aircraft. The 134th achieved combat ready status and passed an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) in the F-102 six months after starting the transition.
Another aircraft conversion occurred in April 1964, the fifth in less than seven years, when the 134th received the KC-97 Stratotanker
KC-97 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
and changed operational claimancy from ADC to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical 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...
(TAC). Having no previously qualified KC-97 aircrew or maintenance personnel assigned, the 134th became the first KC-97G unit to achieve C-2 status in only eight months after receipt of the aircraft. The previous conversion time was two years.
After conversion to the KC-97, the unit participated in numerous CONUS, Southeast Asia South American and European deployments. A major commitment was Operation Creek Party, a year round commitment in Germany for two weeks every three months.
Effective 1 July 1976, the unit converted from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to the 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) and the KC-135A Stratotanker aircraft.
The 134th has received eight United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and was selected as the winner of the Air Force Outstanding Flying Unit award by the Air Force Association in 1982.
The unit flew 177 sorties and off-loaded 4.5 million pounds of fuel in Operation Desert Shield.
During Operation Desert Storm, one hundred and nine members of the unit were activated and deployed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There the unit was part of the 1713th Air Refueling Wing, Provisional, commanded by Colonel Frederick H. Forster of the 134th ARW. During Operation Desert Storm, the 1713th ARW(P) flew 568 sorties and off loaded millions of pounds of fuel to combat and support aircraft.
With the inactivation of Strategic Air Command in 1992, the 134th became operationally-gained by the newly-established 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).
60 personnel and three planes from the Air National Guard's 134th Air Refueling Wing based in Knoxville were sent overseas to support the NATO's Operation "Allied Force" in Kosovo in April 1999.
The 134th ARW transitioned to the KC-135E Stratotanker and following the recommendation of the 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) action, transitioned to and currently operates the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft in world wide support of the U. S. Air Force. The unit provides aerial refueling to all types of U.S. Air Force bomber, fighter, airlift and support aircraft, plus many NATO aircraft, as well as other air mobility support as directed by AMC.
Major command
- Tennessee Air National GuardTennessee Air National GuardThe Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
/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) - Tennessee Air National GuardTennessee Air National GuardThe Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
/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) - Tennessee Air National GuardTennessee Air National GuardThe Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
/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...
(1964–1976) - Tennessee Air National GuardTennessee Air National GuardThe Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
/Air Defense Command(1957–1964)
Previous designations
- 134th Air Refueling Wing (since 1995)
- 134th Air Refueling Group (1964–1995)
- 134th Fighter Interceptor Group (1957–1964)
Squadrons assigned
- 151st Air Refueling Squadron151st Air Refueling SquadronThe 151st Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 134th Air Refueling Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command...
(since 1957) - 134th Security Forces Squadron
- 134th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 134th Medical Squadron
- 134th Communications Squadron
Aircraft and missiles 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 1976) - KC-97L Stratotanker (1964–1976)
- F-102 Delta DaggerF-102 Delta DaggerThe Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
(1963–1964) - F-104 StarfighterF-104 StarfighterThe Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
(1960–1963) - F-86 SabreF-86 SabreThe 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...
(1957–1960)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 2004–2006