160th Air Refueling Group
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 160th Air Refueling Group was an aerial refueling
unit located at Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
. It was inactivated in 1993, after the post-Cold War
drawdown.
Origins
The Ohio Air National Guard’s 160th Air Refueling Group has its origin with the establishment of the 145th Air Transport Squadron at Akron-Canton Airport, Ohio, 17 March, 1956. Its mission was aeromedical evacuation and C-46D’s were assigned as interim aircraft until 1958 when they were replaced by the C-119J Fairchild Packet (Flying Boxcar).
Clinton County AFB and the Air Refueling Mission
In 1961, the 145th was transferred to Clinton County AFB near Wilmington, Ohio. Its mission was changed to air refueling and the 160th Air Refueling Group was established on 8 July, 1961 as a headquarters and support organization with Tactical Air Command (TAC) becoming its gaining major air command. The 160th received KC-97F and G model aircraft and in 1964, it participated in Operation “Ready Go”, the first all Air National Guard (ANG) non-stop deployment of fighter aircraft to Europe. In 1965, the KC-97G’s were upgraded to KC-97L’s with addition of jet engine pods mounted to the outboard wings. 1967 saw the beginning of Operation Creek Party, a continuous rotational mission flying from Rhein-Main AB, Germany, providing air refueling to U. S Air Forces, Europe (USAFE). The success of this operation, which would continue until 1975, demonstrated the ability of the Air Guard to perform significant day-to-day missions without being mobilized. The 160th was one of the mission’s “Charter” units and when its Creek Party participation ended it had safely flown 426 transatlantic crossings. The unit received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period of 5 June 1967 to 10 May 1968.
The Group Commander at the time, Colonel Frank Catran, considered aircraft tail number 52-2630 to be "his" bird and often flew it in preference to any of the others. This aircraft became involved in a "Sister City" ceremony with Zeplinheim, Germany - a small town near Rhein-Main AB - near the end of the Creek Party operation. Upon the Unit's conversion from KC-97's to KC-135's this aircraft was transferred to the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio, where it can be seen today with its Ohio Air National Guard and Zeplinheim markings.
Lockbourne – Rickenbacker AFB and the Strategic Air Command
In 1971, Clinton County AFB closed and the 160th moved to Lockbourne AFB near Columbus, Ohio. A second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award was received for the period of 11 May, 1968 to 30 June 1975. In 1975, the 160th became the first Air Guard unit to convert to the KC-135A all jet tanker aircraft with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as the gaining command. It was the first ANG unit to perform the SAC Alert mission and pass a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection in July, 1976. The 160th also participated in SAC overseas Tanker Task Forces and other priority missions worldwide. In 1984, the KC-135A’s were reengined and redesignated as KC-135E’s. The upgrade to turbofan engines provided a significant increase in performance, safety and reliability.
Gulf War
In August, 1990, the 160th was one of the first Air Guard units to deploy aircraft after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Aircraft and volunteer aircrews were heavily involved in “Air Bridge” refueling missions supporting deployment of combat forces to Southwest Asia. Aircraft, aircrews and support personnel began volunteer rotational “DESERT SHIELD” deployments to a provisional Tanker Task Force at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 160th was called to active duty on 20 December, 1990. Deployment began on 28 December and the 160th became part of three Provisional Air Refueling Wings at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah. Additional personnel augmented a regional support base at Moron AB, Spain while others deployed to various bases to “backfill” for deployed active duty personnel. Combat flying missions for “DESERT STORM” commenced on 17 January, 1991. The 160th compiled a remarkable record of mission accomplishment during combat operations. When hostilities ended, the 160th returned home in March, 1991 to a tremendous welcome by families and friends.
Air Mobility Command and Deactivation
September 1991 brought the stand down of the SAC Alert mission which the 160th had maintained continuously for more than 15 years. 160th began the conversion to KC-135R aircraft in October, 1991, and in June, 1992, the Strategic Air Command was deactivated with 160th becoming part of the new Air Mobility Command. In September 1993, the 160th was deactivated. All unit members, aircraft, equipment and the 145th Air Refueling Squadron became part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, June 5, 1967 - May 10 1968; DAF S.O. GB-157, 1 March, 1969.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, First Oak Leaf Cluster, May 11 1968 - June 30 1975; DAF S.O. GB-558, July 15, 1977.
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 160th Air Refueling Group was an 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 Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It was inactivated in 1993, after the post-Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
drawdown.
Mission
The primary mission of the 160th Air Refueling Group was aerial refueling, initially under the operational direction of the Tactical Air Command, followed by the Strategic Air Command and finally the Air Mobility Command. The 160th refueled USAF aircraft of all major commands, aircraft of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and occasionally aircraft of allied nations. Secondary missions involved cargo and passenger movement.Origins
The Ohio Air National Guard’s 160th Air Refueling Group has its origin with the establishment of the 145th Air Transport Squadron at Akron-Canton Airport, Ohio, 17 March, 1956. Its mission was aeromedical evacuation and C-46D’s were assigned as interim aircraft until 1958 when they were replaced by the C-119J Fairchild Packet (Flying Boxcar).
Clinton County AFB and the Air Refueling Mission
In 1961, the 145th was transferred to Clinton County AFB near Wilmington, Ohio. Its mission was changed to air refueling and the 160th Air Refueling Group was established on 8 July, 1961 as a headquarters and support organization with Tactical Air Command (TAC) becoming its gaining major air command. The 160th received KC-97F and G model aircraft and in 1964, it participated in Operation “Ready Go”, the first all Air National Guard (ANG) non-stop deployment of fighter aircraft to Europe. In 1965, the KC-97G’s were upgraded to KC-97L’s with addition of jet engine pods mounted to the outboard wings. 1967 saw the beginning of Operation Creek Party, a continuous rotational mission flying from Rhein-Main AB, Germany, providing air refueling to U. S Air Forces, Europe (USAFE). The success of this operation, which would continue until 1975, demonstrated the ability of the Air Guard to perform significant day-to-day missions without being mobilized. The 160th was one of the mission’s “Charter” units and when its Creek Party participation ended it had safely flown 426 transatlantic crossings. The unit received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period of 5 June 1967 to 10 May 1968.
The Group Commander at the time, Colonel Frank Catran, considered aircraft tail number 52-2630 to be "his" bird and often flew it in preference to any of the others. This aircraft became involved in a "Sister City" ceremony with Zeplinheim, Germany - a small town near Rhein-Main AB - near the end of the Creek Party operation. Upon the Unit's conversion from KC-97's to KC-135's this aircraft was transferred to the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio, where it can be seen today with its Ohio Air National Guard and Zeplinheim markings.
Lockbourne – Rickenbacker AFB and the Strategic Air Command
In 1971, Clinton County AFB closed and the 160th moved to Lockbourne AFB near Columbus, Ohio. A second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award was received for the period of 11 May, 1968 to 30 June 1975. In 1975, the 160th became the first Air Guard unit to convert to the KC-135A all jet tanker aircraft with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as the gaining command. It was the first ANG unit to perform the SAC Alert mission and pass a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection in July, 1976. The 160th also participated in SAC overseas Tanker Task Forces and other priority missions worldwide. In 1984, the KC-135A’s were reengined and redesignated as KC-135E’s. The upgrade to turbofan engines provided a significant increase in performance, safety and reliability.
Gulf War
In August, 1990, the 160th was one of the first Air Guard units to deploy aircraft after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Aircraft and volunteer aircrews were heavily involved in “Air Bridge” refueling missions supporting deployment of combat forces to Southwest Asia. Aircraft, aircrews and support personnel began volunteer rotational “DESERT SHIELD” deployments to a provisional Tanker Task Force at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 160th was called to active duty on 20 December, 1990. Deployment began on 28 December and the 160th became part of three Provisional Air Refueling Wings at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah. Additional personnel augmented a regional support base at Moron AB, Spain while others deployed to various bases to “backfill” for deployed active duty personnel. Combat flying missions for “DESERT STORM” commenced on 17 January, 1991. The 160th compiled a remarkable record of mission accomplishment during combat operations. When hostilities ended, the 160th returned home in March, 1991 to a tremendous welcome by families and friends.
Air Mobility Command and Deactivation
September 1991 brought the stand down of the SAC Alert mission which the 160th had maintained continuously for more than 15 years. 160th began the conversion to KC-135R aircraft in October, 1991, and in June, 1992, the Strategic Air Command was deactivated with 160th becoming part of the new Air Mobility Command. In September 1993, the 160th was deactivated. All unit members, aircraft, equipment and the 145th Air Refueling Squadron became part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing.
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....
(1992–1993) - 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...
(1975–1992) - 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...
(1961-1975)
Previous designations
- 160th Air Refueling Group (1961–1993)
- 145th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (1958–1961)
- 145th Air Transport Squadron Medium AE (1956–1958)
Squadrons assigned
- 145th Air Refueling Squadron145th Air Refueling SquadronThe 145th Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard. Originally part of the 160th Air Refueling Group, today its parent unit is the 121st Air Refueling Wing...
(1961-1993); 160th Civil Engineering Squadron (1986-1993); 160th Combat Support Squadron (1962-1993); 160th Communications Flight (1966-1993); 160th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (1966-1993); 160th Supply Squadron (1966-1993); 160th Security Police Flight (1975-1993); 160th USAF Clinic (1979-1993).
Bases stationed
- Lockbourne AFB/Rickenbacker ANGB (1971–1993)
- Clinton County AFB (1961–1971)
- Akron-Canton Municipal Airport (1956–1961)
Aircraft & 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...
(1975–1993) - KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe 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:...
(1961–1975) - C-119J Flying Boxcar (1958–1961)
- C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
(1956–1958)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, June 5, 1967 - May 10 1968; DAF S.O. GB-157, 1 March, 1969.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, First Oak Leaf Cluster, May 11 1968 - June 30 1975; DAF S.O. GB-558, July 15, 1977.