155th Air Refueling Wing

March 2021 February 2026 February 2026 February 2026 155th Air Refueling Wing 60px|center KC-135R Nebraska ANG at New Orleans 2005.JPEG 300 A wing KC-135R Stratotanker unloading cargo in 2005 1960-present Nebraska 25px  Air National Guard Wing Aerial refueling Nebraska Air National Guard Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebraska "Hustlin "Huskers" Colonel Christopher L. Hesse 150px 155th Air Refueling Wing emblem White stripe with "Nebraska" in red lettering Tail stripe The 155th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Nebraska Air National Guard, stationed at Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Nebraska. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. Mission The 155th operates the KC-135R Stratotanker, which is responsible for conducting air refueling missions around the world. The unit runs like an active duty base on a smaller scale. Full-time Air Force 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 Active Guard Reserve (AGR) or civilian Technician personnel. History Established on 1 June 1960 as the 155th Fighter Group by the Nebraska Air National Guard as an expansion of the 173d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The 173rd FIS 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 was changed from air defense to tactical reconnaissance using the Republic 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 McDonnell 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. In April 1992 the unit was directed to convert to the KC-135R Stratotanker 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-135R tanker. On 1 October 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 tasked with supporting 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 its German air base. Assistance 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. Lineage Established as the 155th Fighter Group (Air Defense) and allotted to the Air National Guard on 24 June 1960AFOMO Ltr 440m, 24 June 1960 Subject: Constitution and Allottment to the National Guard Bureauof the Headquarters, 139th Fighter Group (Air Defense), and Certain Other Air National Guar Units Extended federal recognition and activated on 1 July 1960 Redesignated 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 1 May 1964 Redesignated 155th Reconnaissance Group on 16 March 1992 Redesignated 155th Air Refueling Group on 1 January 1994 Redesignated 155th Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1995 Assignments Nebraska Air National Guard, 1 June 1960 – present Gained by: Air Defense Command Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1 May 1964 Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 Gained by: Air Mobility Command, 1 January 1994 – present Components 155th Operations Group, c. 1 March 1994 – present 173d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (later 173d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 273d Reconnaissance Squadron, 173d Air Refueling Squadron), 1 June 1960 – c. 1 March 1994 Stations Lincoln Air Force Base (later Nebraska Air National Guard Base), 1 June 1960 – present Aircraft F-86L Sabre Interceptor, 1960-1964 RF-84F Thunderstreak, 1964-1972 RF-4C Phantom II, 1972-1993 KC-135R Stratotanker, 1993–present References Notes 30em Bibliography Cornett Lloyd H Johnson, Mildred W A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf 1980 Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center Peterson AFB, CO 22 October 2012 13 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160213173347/http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf dead Rogers Brian United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978 2005 Midland Publications Hinkley, UK 1-85780-197-0 155th Air Refueling Wing@globalsecurity.org History of the Nebraska Air National Guard External links 155th Air Refueling Wing – Nebraska Air National Guard Category:Wings of the United States Air National Guard Category:Military units and formations in Nebraska 0155