108th Operations Group
An operational group of the New Jersey Air National Guard responsible primarily for aerial refueling and associated intelligence, cyber, contingency-response, and operational-support missions.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 108th Operations Group is an operational unit of the 108th Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard. It is based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and carries out the wing’s principal air-refueling mission. When federalized, the group is assigned to Air Mobility Command. Its current tanker fleet is based on the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, which replaced the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker in the group’s transition that began in 2023. The group supports the United States Air Force’s global mobility objectives by extending the range and endurance of military aircraft. Its air-refueling activities can support Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied aircraft. The organization also has a role in aeromedical evacuation, using patient-support equipment to move litter and ambulatory patients when required. Beyond tanker operations, the group’s associated units provide operational coordination, intelligence education and production, cyber defense, and contingency-response capabilities. The group’s present identity is the result of a long lineage of reorganizations and mission changes. Its Second World War predecessor was the 348th Fighter Group, a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt formation that operated in the Southwest Pacific Theater. The 348th became one of the most successful P-47 groups in that theater, receiving credit for 396 aerial victories and producing more than twenty fighter aces. Its commander, Neel E. Kearby, received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack near Wewak, New Guinea, on 11 October 1943, during which he personally destroyed six Japanese aircraft. The wartime group received two Distinguished Unit Citations. After the war, the lineage was redesignated the 108th Fighter Group and allotted to the New Jersey National Guard in 1946. The organization continued in various forms through the Korean War mobilization, the Berlin Crisis, and subsequent transitions among fighter, fighter-bomber, interceptor, tactical-fighter, and air-refueling roles. The current 108th Operations Group designation was adopted in 1993 after the unit became associated with KC-135 air-refueling operations. The group is not a commercial brand. It is a military organization whose public identity is expressed through its lineage, mission, aircraft, subordinate squadrons, and service record. Its major current elements include the 108th Operations Support Squadron, the 141st and 170th Air Refueling Squadrons, the 140th Cyber Operations Squadron, the 150th Special Operations Squadron, and the 204th Intelligence Squadron. The exact composition and responsibilities of subordinate elements may change as Air National Guard missions are reorganized.
History
The lineage associated with the 108th Operations Group reaches back to the Second World War. The 348th Fighter Group was activated at Mitchel Field, New York, on 30 September 1942 and was among the early United States Army Air Forces formations equipped with the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. After training in the northeastern United States, its personnel departed from New Jersey in May 1943. Rather than going to Europe, the formation traveled through the Panama Canal to Australia and entered the Southwest Pacific campaign. The group began operations from Australia and New Guinea in 1943, flying patrols, reconnaissance missions, bomber escorts, and attacks against Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping. Its first significant air combat occurred over New Guinea in August 1943. Operations later concentrated on the Japanese stronghold at Wewak, where the group conducted fighter sweeps and supported the Allied advance. On 11 October 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Neel E. Kearby led a reconnaissance mission near Wewak and attacked a much larger Japanese formation despite having limited fuel. He personally destroyed six enemy aircraft and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor. For operations supporting Allied landings and ground forces on New Britain from 16 through 31 December 1943, the group received a Distinguished Unit Citation. In 1944, the group expanded its attacks across western New Guinea, Ceram, and Halmahera while supporting preparations for the liberation of the Philippines. Its pilots conducted fighter-bomber missions and claimed substantial success against Japanese aircraft and shipping. After moving toward the Philippines, elements of the group supported convoy protection, bomber escort, attacks on airfields, and close air support. The formation participated in operations connected with the Leyte and Mindoro campaigns and flew missions over the Philippines during the advance toward Manila. The group began converting from P-47 Thunderbolts to North American P-51 Mustangs during the Philippines campaign. From bases including San Marcelino and later Floridablanca, it carried out extensive ground-support missions against Japanese positions. These operations included bombing and strafing in coordination with advancing Allied troops. The group also operated over areas including Luzon, French Indochina, Hainan, China, and Formosa. In April 1945, it recorded a particularly large monthly bomb tonnage while supporting operations in the Philippines. It later moved to Ie Shima and continued attacks against Japanese positions in the Ryukyus until the end of the war. After World War II, the organization was redesignated the 108th Fighter Group and allotted to the New Jersey National Guard on 24 May 1946. The lineage continued through several changes in aircraft and mission. It was mobilized for the Korean War in 1951 and again during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. Across the postwar period, the unit evolved through fighter, fighter-bomber, interceptor, and tactical-fighter roles before moving into air refueling. The present 108th Operations Group designation was established in 1993, when the unit was equipped with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. Its mission became centered on providing aerial refueling and supporting the wider global-mobility responsibilities of the 108th Wing. The group later transitioned to Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers, with the new-generation aircraft entering its operational identity in 2023. In its current structure, the group combines air-refueling squadrons with operational support, cyber, intelligence, special-operations, and contingency-related elements. The 204th Intelligence Squadron provides intelligence instruction and training products for Air Mobility Command and is described as integrating active-duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve students. The 140th Cyber Operations Squadron contributes to the defense of military networks as an Air National Guard cyber protection organization. These functions extend the group beyond traditional tanker operations and reflect the broader range of capabilities maintained by modern Air National Guard formations.
- 2023
Transition to the KC-46A Pegasus
[1]The group transitioned from KC-135 Stratotankers to Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers.
- 1993
Adoption of the current designation
[1]The unit became the 108th Operations Group as it operated Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and centered its mission on aerial refueling.
- 1961
Berlin Crisis mobilization
[1]The unit was mobilized again during the Berlin Crisis.
- 1951
Korean War mobilization
[1]The group was mobilized during the Korean War.
- 1946
Redesignation as the 108th Fighter Group
[1]On 24 May, the wartime lineage was redesignated the 108th Fighter Group and allotted to the New Jersey National Guard.
- 1945
Conversion to P-51 Mustangs
[1]The group converted from P-47 Thunderbolts to North American P-51 Mustangs while conducting close air support and ground-attack missions in the Philippines.
- 1944
Expansion into the Philippines campaign
[1]The group attacked Japanese aircraft, airfields, installations, and shipping while supporting Allied operations in the Philippines.
- 1943
Deployment to the Southwest Pacific
[1]The group moved through Australia and into New Guinea, beginning combat operations against Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific.
- 1943
Neel Kearby receives the Medal of Honor
[1]On 11 October, group commander Neel E. Kearby destroyed six Japanese aircraft during an action near Wewak and was awarded the Medal of Honor.
- 1943
First Distinguished Unit Citation
[1]The wartime predecessor was recognized for operations supporting Allied landings and ground forces on New Britain during December.
Products and positioning
A New Jersey Air National Guard operational group positioned as a global mobility and mission-support organization, combining tanker refueling with intelligence, cyber, special-operations, contingency, and operational-support capabilities.
Military aviation capability
Air-refueling operations
The group’s core mission is aerial refueling. Its tanker units provide fuel to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied aircraft, extending their range and time on station. The capability supports global mobility, combat operations, training, and other missions requiring aircraft to remain airborne for longer periods.
Tanker aircraft operations · 2023
Boeing KC-46A Pegasus operations
The KC-46A Pegasus is the group’s current air-refueling platform. It provides tanker support while also offering capacity relevant to transport and aeromedical missions. The group’s transition to the Pegasus represents its latest major aircraft-generation change after decades of KC-135 Stratotanker operations.
Military intelligence support
Intelligence instruction and training
The 204th Intelligence Squadron supports Air Mobility Command with intelligence instruction and training products. Its model brings together active-duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve students, giving the group a specialized education and readiness role within the mobility enterprise.
Cyber defense
Cyber protection
The 140th Cyber Operations Squadron is described as one of the Air National Guard cyber protection teams responsible for defending networks and systems against cyber threats. This capability complements the group’s aviation mission with a digital-security function.
Military medical transport support
Aeromedical evacuation support
The wing and its operational elements can support aeromedical evacuation by carrying litter and ambulatory patients with patient-support pallets. This provides a humanitarian and medical-transport application alongside the group’s primary refueling role.
Brand decisions
2023
Transition from KC-135 to KC-46AGeneration changeBackground
The group required a newer tanker platform after operating KC-135 aircraft for many years.
Action taken
The group transitioned to Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers.
Aftermath
The KC-46A became the group’s current tanker platform and supports its continuing global air-refueling mission.
1993
Shift to air-refueling operationsStrategyBackground
After a long sequence of fighter, fighter-bomber, interceptor, and tactical-fighter missions, the organization was reorganized as the 108th Operations Group around a tanker mission.
Action taken
The group adopted its current designation and operated Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers in support of the 108th Wing and Air Mobility Command.
Aftermath
Air refueling became the group’s principal operational identity and remains its core mission.
Sources1 sources
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