931st Air Refueling Wing

The931st Air Refueling Wing (931 ARW)is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of theUnited States Air Force.It is assigned to theFourth Air Force,Air Force Reserve Command,stationed atMcConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

931st Air Refueling Wing
931st Air Refueling WingBoeing KC-135R Stratotanker
Active	1963–1975; 1978–1987; 1995–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Air Refueling
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	McConnell Air Force Base,Kansas
Decorations	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Website	https://www.931arw.afrc.af.mil/
Insignia
931st Air Refueling Wing emblem(approved 5 April 1979)
Tail stripe	White, "McConnell" in red
Aircraft flown
Tanker	KC-135 Stratotanker KC-46 Pegasus

The 931st ARW is anassociate unitwith the22d Air Refueling Wing,Air Mobility Command(AMC) and if mobilized the wing is gained by AMC.

Overview

The 931st ARW is an associate unit with the active-duty22d Air Refueling Wingand currently has about 485 personnel. The host unit and the 931st ARW share responsibilities for maintenance, with flying operations conducted by both units, using the inventory of 24KC-135R StratotankersandBoeing KC-46 Pegasus.

The group consists of the following units:

931st Operations Group

• 18th Air Refueling Squadron
• 905th Air Refueling Squadron
• 924th Air Refueling Squadron
• 931st Operations Support Squadron

931st Maintenance Group

• 931st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
• 931st Maintenance Squadron
• 931st Maintenance Operations Flight

931st Mission Support Group

• 931st Civil Engineer Squadron
• 931st Force Support Squadron
• 931st Security Forces Squadron

• 931st Aerospace Medicine Squadron

History

Need for reserve troop carrier groups

After May 1959, the reserve flying force consisted of 45 troop carrier squadrons assigned to 15 troop carrier wings.The squadrons were not all located with their parent wings, but were spread over thirty-five Air Force, Navy and civilian airfields under what was called the Detached Squadron Concept. The concept offered several advantages. Communities were more likely to accept the smallersquadronsthan the largewingsand the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate recruiting and manning.However, under this concept, all support organizations were located with the wing headquarters.Although this was not a problem when the entire wing was called to active service, mobilizing a single flying squadron and elements to support it proved difficult. This weakness was demonstrated in the partial mobilization of reserve units during theBerlin Crisis of 1961.To resolve this, at the start of 1962,Continental Air Command,(ConAC) determined to reorganize its reserve wings by establishing groups with support elements for each of its troop carrier squadrons. This reorganization would facilitate mobilization of elements of wings in various combinations when needed.

Activation of the 931st Troop Carrier Group

As a result, the931st Troop Carrier Groupwas activated atAtterbury Air Force Base,Indiana on 11 February 1963 as the headquarters for the72d Troop Carrier Squadron,which had been stationed there since February 1953.Along with group headquarters, a Combat Support Squadron, Materiel Squadron and a Tactical Infirmary were organized to support the 72d.

If mobilized, the group was gained byTactical Air Command(TAC), which was also responsible for its training. Its mission was to organize, recruit and train Air Force reservists withFairchild C-119 Flying Boxcarsin the tacticalairliftof airborne forces, their equipment and supplies and delivery of these forces and materials by airdrop, landing or cargo extraction systems.

The group was one of three C-119 groups assigned to the434th Troop Carrier Wingin 1963, the others being the930th Troop Carrier Group,also at Atterbury and the932d Troop Carrier GroupatScott Air Force Base,Illinois.

Tactical Air Support/Special Operations

The 931st performed routine reserve airlift operations until July 1969 when the Flying Boxcars were retired, and the unit was redesignated as a Tactical Air Support unit. The 72d became the 72d Tactical Air Support Squadron and was re-equipped withCessna U-3 Blue CanoeandCessna O-2 Skymasterobservation and close air support aircraft.

On 31 December 1969, in connection with the closing of Bakalar, the group and its squadron moved toGrissom Air Force Base,Indiana. First reassigned to the403d Composite Wingon 1 June 1970 and then on 15 January 1971 to the 434th Special Operations Wing, on 1 March 1971, group and squadron converted toCessna A-37B Dragonflycounter-insurgency aircraft being returned from South Vietnam. The A-37s were primarily an export aircraft used for foreign military sales and the unit trained personnel from other Air Force Reserve squadrons and Latin American Air Forces in the use of the aircraft.

The 72d was inactivated on 1 October 1973 and replaced by the46th Tactical Fighter Squadronin a reorganization. The 46th was assigned directly to the 434th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 931st was inactivated on 1 July 1975.

Air Refueling

In May 1977 the group became aStrategic Air Command(SAC)Boeing KC-135 Stratotankerair refueling unit, and activated at Grissom as part of the452d Air Refueling Wing.The 931st was the thirdAir Force Reserveunit formed to provide air refueling support for SAC.

On 1 October 1978, the "Flying Hoosiers" achieved operational status 72 days ahead of schedule. That was the shortest time period ever recorded for anair refuelingunit from activation to combat readiness. In the ensuing years, the 931st established more records of achievement including the Carl Spaatz Memorial Trophy, the Rousher Memorial Trophy for two consecutive years, the Golden Tanker Trophy and theAir Force Outstanding Unit Award.The unit flew the KC-135 from 1978 until its inactivation in 1987.

Reactivated in 1995 underAir Mobility CommandatMcConnell Air Force Base,Kansas. This activation brought with it the unique distinction of being the first associate tanker unit in the Air Force. The 931st began flying operations in May 1995, refueling theB-2 Spiritchristened "Spirit of Kansas". With the activation, the 18th Air Refueling Squadron provided air operations for the group.

The 18th was redesignated a "super squadron" on 1 October 1997, doubling its size to 32 flying crews. The 931st was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for meritorious service from 1 November 1995 to 31 October 1997. The 931st also won the Kansas Award for Excellence on 21 October 1997, becoming the first military unit to win this quality award. And, in recognition of meritorious service, the 931st received its third Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, for its performance between 1 November 1997, and 31 October 1999.

From April to July 1999, more than 70 members of the 931st were activated under a Presidential Selected Reserve Call-Up. In support ofOperation Allied Force,members deployed toMorón Air Base,Spain and Naval Air FacilitySouda Bay,Crete.In support ofOperation Northern Watch,members deployed toIncirlik Air Base,Turkey.

In March 2003, more than 100 members of the 931st were mobilized in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom.Most of the mobilized individuals were KC-135 aircrew members.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Unit's security forces deployed a team toKirkuk Air Base,Iraq (Forward Operating Base Warrior). This was the first "boots on the ground" combat mission since the unit's stand-up. The security forces team was integrated with various active-duty units, which formed the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. The squadron was tasked with providing base perimeter security, entry-control and exterior/interior mobile patrols.

Lineage

• Established as the931st Troop Carrier Group,Medium and activated on 15 January 1963 (not organized)

Organized in the reserve on 11 February 1963

Redesignated931st Tactical Airlift Groupon 1 July 1967

Redesignated931st Tactical Air Support Groupon 25 June 1969

Redesignated931st Special Operations Groupon 1 March 1971

Redesignated931st Tactical Fighter Groupon 1 October 1973

Inactivated on 1 July 1975

• Redesignated931st Air Refueling Group,Heavy on 18 May 1977

Activated in the Reserve on 1 July 1978

Inactivated on 1 July 1987

• Redesignated931st Air Refueling Groupon 9 September 1994

Activated in the Reserve on 1 January 1995

• Redesignated931st Air Refueling Wingon 1 May 2016

Assignments

• Continental Air Command, 15 January 1963 (not organized)
• 434th Troop Carrier Wing (later 434th Tactical Airlift Wing), 11 February 1963
• Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 31 December 1969
• 403d Composite Wing, 1 June 1970
• 434th Special Operations Wing (later 434th Tactical Fighter Wing), 15 January 1971 – 1 July 1975
• 452d Air Refueling Wing, 1 July 1978 – 1 July 1987
• Fourth Air Force,1 January 1995
• 507th Air Refueling Wing,1 March 1999
• Fourth Air Force, 1 October 2008 – present

Components

• 18th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 October 1995 – present
• 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 October 1973 – 1 July 1975
• 72d Troop Carrier Squadron (later 72d Tactical Airlift Squadron, 72d Tactical Air Support Squadron, 72d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 72d Air Refueling Squadron): 11 February 1963 – 1 October 1973, 1 July 1978 – 1 July 1987.

Stations

• Atterbury Air Force Base (later Bakalar Air Force Base), Indiana, 11 February 1963
• Grissom Air Force Base Indiana, 15 January 1970 – 1 July 1975
• Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, 1 July 1978 – 1 July 1987
• McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, 1 January 1995 – present

Aircraft

• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1963–1969
• Cessna U-3 Blue Canoe, 1969–1971
• Cessna O-2 Skymaster, 1969–1971
• Cessna A-37B Dragonfly, 1971–1975
• Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1978–1987; 1995–present
• Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, 2019-present

Exercises And Deployments

Members of the 931st have participated in a number of operations, to include:

Operation Desert Fox, Phoenix Scorpion II, Operation Southern Watch, JTF-6, Silver Flag, Iceland Tanker Task Force, Geilenkirchen Tanker Task Force, Trailblazer 97, Joint Forge, Phoenix Duke, Deny Flight, Deliberate Guard, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Allied Force, Operation Noble Eagle,Operation Enduring FreedomandOperation Iraqi Freedom.

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theAir Force Historical Research Agency

• Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997).Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946–1994.Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program.ISBN0-16049-269-6.Retrieved1 October2014.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969].Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF)(reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-405-12194-6.LCCN70605402.OCLC72556.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984).Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977.Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-12-9.

External links

• 931st Refueling Group Factsheet