{{Redirect|92d Bombardment Wing|the 92d Bombardment Wing of World War II|542nd Combat Sustainment Wing}} {{Multiple issues| {{update|date=February 2019}} {{more footnotes needed|date=February 2019}} {{lead too short|date=February 2026}} }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Use American English|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= 92d Air Refueling Wing [[File:Air Mobility Command.svg|center|60px]] |image=Fairchild airmen keep it cool 140129-F-BN304-003.jpg |image_size=300 |caption=Wing [[KC-135 Stratotanker]] after a snowfall at Fairchild AFB |dates={{Hlist|1947–1948| 1948–present}} |country={{USA}} |branch={{air force|USA}} |type= |role= [[Aerial refueling]] |size= |command_structure=[[Air Mobility Command]] |current_commander= |garrison= [[Fairchild Air Force Base]] |nickname= |motto={{langnf|la|Duplum Incolumitatis|Twofold Security}}<ref name=Endicott>Endicott, p. 213</ref><br>Higher, Stronger, Faster |battles= |notable_commanders= General [[Arthur Lichte]]<br/>General [[David Wade (Louisiana general)|David Wade]] |anniversaries= |decorations= [[Air Force Meritorious Unit Award]]<br/>[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award]]<ref name=92AREFWfacts>{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432714/92-air-refueling-wing-amc/ |last1=Kane|first1=Robert B.|title=Factsheet 92 Air Refueling Wing (AMC)|date=July 12, 2010|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref> |aircraft_tanker=[[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker]] <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol=[[Image:92d Air Refueling Wing.png|165px]] |identification_symbol_label=92d Air Refueling Wing emblem{{efn|Approved 7 July 1994.}}<ref name=92AREFWfacts/> |identification_symbol_2=[[File:92 Bombardment Wg emblem.png|165px]] |identification_symbol_2_label=92d Bombardment Wing emblem{{efn|Approved 21 November 1957.}}<ref name=Ravenstein92BW>Ravenstein, pp. 128-130</ref> |identification_symbol_3=[[File:Ar-92 bombardment gp.jpg|165px]] |identification_symbol_3_label=92d Bombardment Wing emblem{{efn|Approved 9 June 1952. This emblem was originally approved for the 92d Bombardment Group on 9 March 1943. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'' pp. 158-160}}<ref name=Endicott/> }}
The '''92nd Air Refueling Wing''' is a [[United States Air Force]] unit assigned to the [[Air Mobility Command]] [[Eighteenth Air Force]]. It is stationed at [[Fairchild Air Force Base]], Washington. The wing is also the host unit at Fairchild. The wing carries out air refueling, passenger and cargo airlift, and aero-medical evacuation missions.
From 1948 to 1992, the '''92d Bombardment Wing''' was a part of [[Strategic Air Command]]'s nuclear deterrent force during the [[Cold War]].
The 92d Air Refueling Wing is commanded by Colonel Chesley L. Dycus, its Vice Commander is Colonel Garret J. Bilbo and Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant William J. Arcuri.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biographies |url=https://www.fairchild.af.mil/Information/Biographies/ |access-date=7 June 2022 |website=www.Fairchild.af.mil |publisher=92nd Air Refueling Wing |language=en-US}}</ref>
==History== [[File:B-29s 92nd Bomb Group bombing Korea 1950.JPG|thumb|92nd B-29s bombing a target in Korea, September 1950.]] [[File:92d Bombardment Wing Consolidated B-36B-15-CF Peacemaker 44-92065.jpg|thumb|92d Bombardment Wing B-36B Peacemaker{{efn|Aircraft is Consolidated B-36B Peacemaker, serial 44-92065, shown in 1952 after conversion to B-36D with the addition of four [[General Electric J47|General Electric J47-GE-19]] turbojets. Shows 326th Bombardment Squadron emblem, red/yellow tail flashes.}}]] {{for|related history|92nd Operations Group}} On 17 November 1947, the '''92d Bombardment Wing''', Very Heavy was organized at [[Spokane Army Air Field]], Washington <ref name=Ravenstein92BW/> as part of the [[United States Air Force]]'s [[Hobson Plan|wing base reorganization]], in which combat groups and all supporting units on a base were assigned to a single [[wing (military aviation unit)|wing]].<ref>Ravenstein, p. xxi</ref> The [[92d Bombardment Group]], flying [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]es became its operational component.<ref name=Ravenstein92BW/> It served as a double-sized B-29 wing until April 1950, and again from May 1950 to April 1951, although one bomb group was generally deployed overseas for training or combat in Korea. It also supervised the [[454th Bombardment Group]],<ref name=Ravenstein92BW/> a Reserve corollary bomb group from June 1949 until February 1951, when the 454th was called to active duty for the [[Korean War]].<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 329</ref>
Upon return to the United States, the wing reequipped with the [[Convair B-36 Peacemaker]]. In August and September 1953, the wing completed the first mass flight of B-36s to the Far East in Operation Big Stick. The 92d visited bases in Japan, [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] and Guam. Big Stick followed close on the heels of the end of hostilities in Korea and was intended to show American determination to keep the peace in the Far East. On 15 and 16 October 1954 the wing deployed to [[Andersen Air Force Base]], Guam for 90 days. This was the first deployment of an entire wing of Peacemakers to an overseas base.<ref>Knaack, p. 36</ref> The wing deployed to Andersen again from 26 April until 6 July 1956.
The wing added air refueling operations to bombardment mission in September 1957. From March to June 1959, the wing participated in Operation Head Start III, a precursor to [[Operation Chrome Dome]]. The 92d kept five of its Stratofortresses airborne at all times, with crews flying 24 hour missions with the support of ten KC-135 tankers. In January 1961, SAC disclosed it was maintaining an airborne force for "airborne alert training."<ref>Narducci, pp. 5-6</ref>
From July 1961 to August 1965, controlled an [[SM-65E Atlas]] missile squadron. Supported SAC activities in Southeast Asia from early 1965 to December 1975 through deployment of bomber and tanker aircraft and crews and Air Weather 9thWS Det3. In 1969, supplied aircraft for [[Operation Giant Lance]] over Alaska, a secret mission designed to intimidate the Soviet Union into backing away from supporting the North Vietnamese.
From March–September 1968, March–September 1969, and June 1972-October 1973, all wing [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]]es and many [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker]]s, plus aircrews and support personnel, were involved in Southeast Asia operations. After 1975, performed joint USAF/US Navy sea reconnaissance and surveillance missions. In 1983, the Wing's B-52Gs were modified to carry AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM). In 1985, upgraded to B-52H with improved strategic weapons carriage and offensive electronics capabilities. Earned the Fairchild Trophy in 1953, 1986, and again in 1992 when it won SAC's last competition and retired the trophy. Also won the Saunders Trophy for best air refueling unit in SAC for 1992. Provided KC-135 aircraft to tanker task forces in the US, Europe, and the Pacific through 1992.
===Post Cold War era=== {{More citations needed section|date=June 2016}} Ended B-52 alert duties in September 1992, and ended bombardment mission in 1994, with transfer from [[Air Combat Command]] to [[Air Mobility Command]] upon departure of last B-52H. On 24 June 1994, a B-52H practicing for an airshow [[1994 Fairchild Air Force Base B-52 crash|crashed on the airfield]] while making an unauthorized, low altitude, steep turn. The aircraft exceeded 90 degrees of bank, entered a stall and impacted the ground killing all on board, including the squadron commander and chief of standardization-evaluation. The pilot, [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|Lt Col]] Arthur "Bud" Holland, maneuvered the bomber beyond its operational limits and lost control. The aircraft [[Stall (flight)|stalled]], fell to the ground and exploded, killing Holland and the other three USAF [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] aboard. The crash was captured on video and was shown repeatedly on news broadcasts throughout the world.<ref name="Big4">Diehl, ''Silent Knights'', p. 125, Thompson, ''Way, Way Off in the Wild Blue Yonder'', USAF, ''AFR 110-14'', pp. 2–3, and Kern, ''Darker Shades of Blue''.</ref>
As a purely air refueling unit, the group's squadrons routinely augmented AMC's overseas tanker task forces in Panama, Europe, Turkey, and Southwest Asia, providing aerial refueling to attack and transport aircraft.
The wing deployed personnel and aircraft to expeditionary bases in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Spain as part of the [[Kosovo War]] (NATO [[Operation Allied Force]]) in 1999. That year, the Wing became the 92d Air Expeditionary Wing at [[Morón Air Base]] in Spain, tasked with providing fuel to NATO aircraft involved in the war. In addition to serving as the HQ 92 AEW (serving units in France, Crete, Sicily and Spain), Morón hosted 37 tankers (KC-135 and KC-10) and 800 personnel. The 92 AEW became the largest tanker wing since the [[Vietnam War]] and held the distinction of being the largest tanker base during the [[Kosovo War]].
In the mid-2010s, wing staff officially stated that the wing 'operate[d] 34 KC-135 R/T Stratotanker refueling aircraft valued at $1.6 billion and 58 aircrews to support worldwide military missions. Serving as Fairchild Air Force Base host unit, the wing control[led] {{convert|4223|acre|km2}} and 1,248 buildings. The wing employ[ed] over 2,200 active-duty military, as well as over 700 civilian employees.'
===Structure in the early 2020s=== The 92d Air Refueling Wing is structured under four groups: Operations, maintenance, mission support and medical, as well as 12 staff agencies organized under the Director of Staff.<ref name="Units">{{cite web |url=https://www.fairchild.af.mil/About/Units/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321001447/https://www.fairchild.af.mil/About/Units/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 March 2019 |title = Units}}</ref>
* [[File:92doperationsgroup-emblem.jpg|25px]] [[92d Operations Group]] : Primarily responsible for the wing's four flying squadrons - the 92d, 93d, 97th and 384th Air Refueling Squadrons, which fly the KC-135R Stratotanker. The 92d Operations Support Squadron manages functions such as intelligence, weather, tactics, aircrew training, life support supervision, airfield management, air traffic control, combat crew communications and current operations.<ref name="Units"/> The 92d OSS is also responsible for managing the airfield, weather station, control tower and flight simulators for the wing. ** [[File:92d Air Refueling Squadron.jpg|20px]] [[92d Air Refueling Squadron]] ** [[File:93d Air Refueling Squadron.jpg|20px]] [[93d Air Refueling Squadron]] ** [[File:97th Air Refueling Squadron.jpg|20px]] [[97th Air Refueling Squadron]] ** [[File:384ARSQ.jpg|20px]] [[384th Air Refueling Squadron]] ** [[File:92d Operations Support Squadron.png|20px]] 92d Operations Support Squadron * [[File:92 Maintenance Gp emblem.png|25px]] 92d Maintenance Group : Provides field-level maintenance support for 34 KC-135 R/T aircraft and 240 pieces of aerospace ground equipment supporting peace and wartime worldwide aerial refueling and airlift operations.<ref name="Units"/> The group also provides services for transient contract and military aircraft. Furthermore, the 92d Maintenance Group maintains a high state of combat readiness for over 650 personnel and equipment supporting worldwide contingency and nuclear deterrence operations, while also maintaining base munitions.
* [[File:92 Mission Support Gp emblem.png|25px]] 92d Mission Support Group : Provides professional civil engineer, communications, contracting, logistics, mission support, security forces, and combat, community, and family support services.<ref name="Units"/> Additionally, through the wing's Air Expeditionary Force Cell, the 92d MSG integrates all wing readiness functions to train, deploy and reintegrate up to 1,300 personnel annually who deploy worldwide.
* [[File:92 Medical Group.jpg|25px]] 92d Medical Group : Serves more than 12,640 military beneficiaries, with a staff of 308 and an annual budget of $12.3 million. The medical clinic receives over 53,688 outpatient visits and 12,975 dental visits annually.<ref name="Units"/> The group currently manages the 92d Aeromedical Dental Squadron, 92d Medical Operations Squadron and the 92d Medical Support Squadron.
Wing staff agencies consist of a variety of functions. These functions include legal, plans and programs, safety, command and control, chapel, public affairs, military equal opportunity, sexual assault prevention program, protocol, history and the inspector general.
==Lineage== * Designated as the '''92d Bombardment Wing''', Very Heavy and organized on 17 November 1947 : Discontinued on 12 July 1948{{efn|The 1947 organization was a table of distribution unit organized as part of the Air Force's experimental [[Hobson Plan|wing base organization]] reorganization. It was replaced by a table of organization unit in July 1948. Ravenstein, pp. xxi, 128. The two wings were later formally consolidated. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 539q, 31 January 1984, Subject: Consolidation of Units.}} : Redesignated '''92d Bombardment Wing''', Medium and activated on 12 July 1948 : Redesignated '''92d Bombardment Wing''', Heavy on 16 June 1951 : Redesignated '''92d Strategic Aerospace Wing''' on 15 February 1962 : Redesignated '''92d Bombardment Wing''', Heavy on 31 March 1972 : Redesignated '''92d Wing''' on 1 September 1991 : Redesignated '''92d Bomb Wing''' on 1 June 1992 : Redesignated '''92d Air Refueling Wing''' on 1 July 1994<ref name=92AREFWfacts/>
==Assignments== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break|width=50%}} * [[Fifteenth Air Force]], 17 November 1947 * [[57th Air Division]], 16 April 1951 (attached to [[3rd Air Division]], 16 October 1954 – 12 January 1955 and 26 April-6 July 1956) * Fifteenth Air Force, 4 September 1956 * [[18th Air Division|18th Air (later, 18th Strategic Aerospace) Division]], 1 July 1959 (attached to [[14th Strategic Aerospace Division]] after 15 June 1968) * 14th Strategic Aerospace Division, 2 July 1968 {{Col-break|width=50%}} * [[4th Strategic Aerospace Division]], 31 March 1970 * [[47th Air Division]], 30 June 1971 * 57th Air Division, 23 January 1987 * Fifteenth Air Force, 15 June 1988 * [[Twelfth Air Force]], 1 June 1992 * Fifteenth Air Force, 1 July 1994 * [[Eighteenth Air Force]], 1 October 2003 – present<ref name=92AREFWfacts/> {{Col-end}}
==Components== ; Wings * [[90th Bombardment Wing]]: attached 2 January 1951 – 31 January 1951 * [[98th Bombardment Wing]]: attached 17 November 1947 - 15 April 1950 and 16 May 1950 - 31 March 1951<ref name=92AREFWfacts/>
; Groups * 92d Bombardment Group (later 92d Operations Group): 17 November 1947 – 16 June 1952 (detached 7 February-19 May 1949 and 9 July-30 October 1950); 1 September 1991–present * [[98th Bombardment Group]]: attached 17 November 1947 – 21 August 1948, 10 December 1948 – 16 May 1949 and 18 August 1949 – 15 April 1950; rear echelon (no aircraft or crews) attached 2 August 1950 – 16 April 1951 * 454th Bombardment Group: attached 27 June 1949 – 16 June 1951<ref name=92AREFWfacts/>
; Squadrons * [[22d Air Refueling Squadron]]: 15 June 1960 – 1 July 1962 * [[43d Air Refueling Squadron]]: 2 April 1966 – 1 September 1991 (detached c. 22 March-8 July 1968 and 9 June-14 September 1969) * [[92d Air Refueling Squadron]]: 1 July 1957 – 1 September 1991 (detached until 13 September 1957) * [[325th Bombardment Squadron]]: attached 16 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 1 September 1991 * [[326th Bombardment Squadron]]: attached 16 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 1 April 1961 (detached after 1 March 1961) * [[327th Bombardment Squadron]]: attached 16 February 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 1 June 1960 * [[567th Strategic Missile Squadron]]: 1 April 1960 – 25 June 1965<ref name=92AREFWfacts/>
==Stations== * Spokane Army Air Field (later Spokane Air Force Base, Fairchild Air Force Base), Washington, 17 November 1947 – present<ref name=92AREFWfacts/>
==Aircraft and missiles== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1947–1950, 1950–1952 * Boeing KB-29 Superfortress, 1948–1950, 1950–1952 * Convair B-36 Peacemaker, 1951–1957 * Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1957–1968, 1968–1969, 1969–1972, 1973–1994 * Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1958–present * SM-65E Atlas, 1961–1965 * [[Cessna T-37 Tweet]], 1991–1994 * [[Bell UH-1 Huey]], 1993–present<ref name=92AREFWfacts/> {{div col end}}
==See also== * [[List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force]]
==References== ===Notes=== : Explanatory notes {{Notelist}}
; Citations {{Reflist|30em}}
===Bibliography=== {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}} * {{cite book|last=Endicott|first=Judy G.|title=Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995|url= http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4908883/FID1533/wings_cd.pdf |access-date=July 2, 2014|year=1998 |series= Air Force History and Museums Program|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location= Washington, DC |asin= B000113MB2}} * {{cite book|last=Knaack|first=Marcelle Size|title=Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems|volume=2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973|year= 1988 |publisher= Office of Air Force History|location= Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-59-5 }} * {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}} * {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}} * {{cite book|last1=Narducci|first1=Henry M.|title=Strategic Air Command and the Alert Program: A Brief History|url= https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31210023608670;view=1up;seq=3|access-date=February 18, 2018|year=1988|publisher=Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command|location=Offutt AFB, NE}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170218011918/http://www.fairchild.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets Fact Sheets at Fairchild Air Force Base web site]
{{US Air Force navbox}} {{USAF Air Mobility Command}} {{Navboxes |list = {{USAF Air Combat Command}} {{Strategic Air Command}} {{USAF air refueling units}} }}
[[Category:Air refueling wings of the United States Air Force|0092]] [[Category:Military units and formations in Washington (state)]]