100th Air Refueling Wing, US Air Force: Difference between revisions

History: Established as 100 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942.  Activated on 1 June 1942.  Redesignated as 100 Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 20 August 1943.  Inactivated on 21 December 1945.  Redesignated as 100 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 13 May 1947.  Activated in the Reserve on 29 May 1947.  Inactivated on 27 June 1949.  Consolidated (31 January 1984) with the 100 Bombardment Wing, Medium, which was established on 23 March 1953.  Activated on 1 January 1956.  Redesignated as: 100 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 25 June 1966; 100 Air Refueling Wing, Heavy, on 30 September 1976.  Inactivated on 15 March 1983.  Redesignated as 100 Air Division on 15 June 1990.  Activated on 1 July 1990.  Inactivated on 26 July 1991.  Redesignated as 100 Air Refueling Wing, and activated, on 1 February 1992. Trained with B-17s until it moved to England, May-June 1943, as a strategic bombardment organization.  It flew its first combat mission for Eighth Air Force on 25 June 1943. From then to January 1944, the group concentrated efforts against airfields in France and naval facilities and industries in France and Germany, receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for seriously disrupting German fighter aircraft production with an attack on an aircraft factory at Regensburg on 17 Auguast 1943.  The 100th bombed airfields, industries, marshalling yards and missile sites in western Europe, January-May 1944 and participated in the Allied campaign against enemy aircraft factories during Big Week, 20-25 February 1944.  It completed a series of attacks against Berlin in March 1944 and received a second DUC for these missions.  Beginning in the summer of 1944, oil installations became the group’s major targets.  In addition to strategic operations, the 100th  engaged in support and interdictory missions, hitting bridges and gun positions in support of the Normandy invasion in June 1944; bombing enemy positions at St Lo in Jul and at Brest in August and September; striking transportation and ground defenses in the drive against the Siegfried Line, October-December 1944; attacking marshalling yards, defending villages and communications targets in the Ardennes sector during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945; and covering the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945.  It received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for attacking heavily defended installations in Germany and for dropping supplies to French Forces of the Interior, June-December 1944.  Its last combat mission on World War II was on 20 April 1945.  In May, it dropped food to the people of Holland and in June transported French Allied former prisoners of war from Austria to France.  From April 1956-February 1966, it performed global strategic bombardment training, and later global air refueling from August 1956-December 1965.  It deployed to Brize Norton RAF Station, England, December 1957-April 1958.  The wing moved without personnel or equipment to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, in June 1966 and absorbed resources of the 4080th Strategic Wing.  During the next ten years, it performed global strategic reconnaissance with U-2 and drone aircraft, June 1966-1976, using one overseas-based squadron (99th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron), and deployed operating locations as needed, 1972-1976, earning the P.T. Cullen Award as the reconnaissance unit that contributed most to the photo and signal intelligence efforts of Strategic Air Command (SAC), 1972.  The wing transferred drone operations and associated DC-130 launchers and CH-3 recovery helicopters to Tactical Air Command (TAC) in mid-1976, and transferred U-2 resources to 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9 SRW) at Beale AFB, CA, July-September 1976.  Not operational, 11 August-29 September 1976, while phasing down at Davis-Monthan AFB, it moved without personnel or equipment to Beale AFB on 30 September 1976 and absorbed resources of the 17th Bombardment Wing, Heavy.  At Beale AFB, the wing provided KC-135Q refueling support to USAF strategic and tactical forces, worldwide, September 1976-March 1983, but transferred its resources to the 9th SRW and inactivated on 15 March 1983.  Redesignated as an Air Division at Whiteman AFB, MO, on 15 June 1990, it assumed host unit responsibilities and supported the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, which was responsible for Minuteman II missile operations, and the 509th Bombardment Wing (not operational).  On 1 February 1992, the 100th became host unit at RAF Mildenhall where it deployed aircraft and managed the European Tanker Task Force, a rotational force that provided air refueling to US and NATO aircraft in the European Theater until it ended in 1998.  From 1998, with an increase in primary aircraft assigned, it continued to provide air refueling for forces engaged in contingency operations in Europe, such as DENY FLIGHT and ALLIED FORCE over the former Yugoslavia; aircraft movements; and local and NATO exercises.  The wing supported three Geographically Separated Units (GSUs), at bases in the UK (RAF Croughton, RAF Molesworth, and RAF Fairford), and one in Stavanger, Norway at NATO’s Joint Headquarters North.  Supported deployed aircraft for contingency operations in Africa, such as RESTORE HOPE; and Southwest Asia; including Operations PROVIDE COMFORT, NORTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM.