112th Air Refueling Group
The 112th Air Refueling Group was an inactive Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit that operated KC-135 tankers from Pittsburgh before being inactivated in 1993.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 112th Air Refueling Group was a Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit based at Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station in Pennsylvania. Although its final designation referred to aerial refueling, the organization had a much longer lineage that began during World War II as the 350th Fighter Group. It was ultimately inactivated on 1 October 1993 after its remaining tanker functions were consolidated with the 171st Air Refueling Wing at Pittsburgh. The wartime lineage began in England in October 1942, when the group's air echelon was organized under Eighth Air Force and equipped initially with P-39 Airacobra fighters. The unit moved to North Africa during the buildup for Operation Torch and subsequently operated with Twelfth Air Force. Its wartime duties included patrol and interception, convoy protection, bomber and aircraft escort, reconnaissance, interdiction, and close support for ground forces. It used P-39s during the North African campaign and later operated P-47 Thunderbolts in fighter-bomber missions in the Mediterranean theater. After the European war ended, the group was briefly directed toward the Pacific, but Japan's surrender changed those plans. The wartime organization was inactivated at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, in November 1945. In 1946, the wartime 350th Fighter Group was redesignated the 112th Fighter Group and allotted to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Federal recognition followed in April 1949. The Pennsylvania organization inherited the earlier group's lineage, honors, and colors and operated from the Greater Pittsburgh Airport, with associated squadrons also serving at Reading. Its postwar responsibilities evolved repeatedly as the Air National Guard adjusted to changing aircraft, command structures, and national defense priorities. The group first flew F-47N Thunderbolts and F-51 Mustangs, then transitioned through F-84F Thunderstreaks and F-86 Sabre interceptor variants. The unit was redesignated the 112th Fighter-Bomber Group in 1952 and the 112th Fighter-Interceptor Group in 1955. During the Cold War air-defense era, its Pittsburgh-based squadrons maintained an around-the-clock alert posture. Beginning in 1960, the group operated F-102A Delta Daggers, armed interceptors intended to respond rapidly to unidentified aircraft approaching the United States. A separate 171st Air Transport Group formed at Pittsburgh in 1961, and one of the 112th's squadrons was reassigned to that organization as air-defense and air-transport responsibilities were redistributed. In 1975, the 112th left the air-defense role and became the 112th Tactical Fighter Group, receiving A-7D Corsair II aircraft and moving under Tactical Air Command. In 1991, after the A-7D's retirement, it was redesignated the 112th Air Refueling Group and received KC-135 Stratotankers. The group operated the tankers in conjunction with Pittsburgh's 171st Air Refueling Wing. Following the inactivation of Strategic Air Command in 1992, the 112th came under Air Mobility Command. Its final organizational change occurred in October 1993, when the group and the 171st Air Refueling Wing were consolidated. The 146th Air Refueling Squadron joined the 171st Operations Group, reuniting it organizationally with the 147th, and the 112th Air Refueling Group ceased to exist as an independent unit.
History
The organization's lineage reaches back to the 350th Fighter Group, activated in England in October 1942 for World War II service. Its air echelon included American pilots transferring from Royal Air Force service and operated P-39 Airacobras initially intended for France. The group moved to French Morocco between January and February 1943 and served with Twelfth Air Force in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Its missions included air defense, patrol, interception, escort, reconnaissance, interdiction, convoy protection, and close support. The group used P-39s in Tunisia and later P-47 Thunderbolts for fighter-bomber operations. After the end of the European war, it began movement toward the Pacific, but Japan's surrender resulted in its return and inactivation at Seymour Johnson Field on 7 November 1945. The wartime unit was redesignated the 112th Fighter Group and allotted to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard on 24 May 1946. It was organized at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport and received federal recognition on 22 April 1949. The new organization inherited the 350th Fighter Group's history, honors, and colors. Its Pennsylvania structure included the 146th and 147th Fighter Squadrons at Pittsburgh and the 148th Fighter Squadron at Reading. These squadrons initially supported air-defense responsibilities covering western and eastern Pennsylvania, using F-47N Thunderbolts and F-51 Mustangs. The group became the 112th Fighter-Bomber Group in November 1952 and the 112th Fighter-Interceptor Group in July 1955. Aircraft modernization included F-51H Mustangs, F-84F Thunderstreaks, F-86D and F-86L Sabre interceptors, and eventually the supersonic F-102A Delta Dagger. The 148th Squadron's jet transition was complicated by runway limitations and disagreements over tactical jet operations at Reading Municipal Airport. It was inactivated in 1956 and its lineage was transferred to a newly organized aeromedical transport squadron, while the eastern Pennsylvania air-defense mission shifted to another unit. During the early 1960s, the 112th maintained a continuous alert mission at Pittsburgh. Its F-102 aircraft were kept ready to intercept unidentified aircraft approaching from the north or east. At the same time, Pennsylvania's air-defense and transport structures were reorganized. The 147th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron moved into the newly formed 171st Air Transport Group in 1961 and was redesignated as an air-transport squadron. The 112th retained the 146th as its principal fighter-interceptor component. In 1975, the group ended its air-defense mission and transitioned to the A-7D Corsair II as the 112th Tactical Fighter Group under Tactical Air Command. The next major transformation came in 1991, when the retirement of the A-7D led to redesignation as the 112th Air Refueling Group under Strategic Air Command. The group received KC-135 Stratotankers and operated them alongside Pittsburgh's 171st Air Refueling Wing. Strategic Air Command's 1992 inactivation transferred the group to Air Mobility Command. On 1 October 1993, the 112th Air Refueling Group was inactivated as part of a consolidation with the 171st Air Refueling Wing. The 146th Air Refueling Squadron moved into the 171st Operations Group, where it was again aligned with the 147th, ending the 112th's independent existence.
- 1993
Final inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated on 1 October during consolidation with the 171st Air Refueling Wing.
- 1991
Air-refueling conversion
[1]The unit was redesignated the 112th Air Refueling Group on 16 October and began operating KC-135 Stratotankers with the 171st.
- 1975
Tactical fighter conversion
[1]The organization ended its air-defense role, received A-7D Corsair II aircraft, and became the 112th Tactical Fighter Group.
- 1960
Supersonic interceptor transition
[1]The group began upgrading to F-102A Delta Dagger interceptors and maintained continuous alert operations at Pittsburgh.
- 1955
Fighter-interceptor redesignation
[1]The group became the 112th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 July, reflecting its Cold War air-defense mission.
- 1952
Fighter-bomber redesignation
[1]The group was redesignated the 112th Fighter-Bomber Group on 1 November.
- 1949
Federal recognition
[1]The Pennsylvania organization received federal recognition on 22 April at Greater Pittsburgh Airport.
- 1946
Allotted to Pennsylvania Air National Guard
[1]The wartime lineage was redesignated as the 112th Fighter Group and allotted to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard on 24 May.
- 1945
World War II organization inactivated
[1]The 350th Fighter Group was inactivated at Seymour Johnson Field on 7 November after the end of World War II.
- 1943
Deployment to North Africa
[1]The group's air and ground elements joined in French Morocco and began operations with Twelfth Air Force in the North African and Mediterranean theaters.
Products and positioning
A military aviation organization rather than a commercial brand. Its identity was defined by successive national-defense missions, evolving from World War II fighter operations to Cold War interception, tactical aviation, and finally aerial refueling.
Fighter aircraft · 1942
P-39 Airacobra
The group's initial World War II fighter. It was used for patrol, interception, escort, and ground-support duties, particularly during the North African campaign.
Fighter-bomber aircraft
P-47 Thunderbolt
A rugged American fighter-bomber used by the wartime predecessor for Mediterranean operations, including interdiction and close support of ground forces.
Interceptor aircraft · 1960
F-102A Delta Dagger
A supersonic interceptor used during the group's Cold War alert period. Aircraft were maintained for rapid response against unidentified approaches to the United States.
Tactical attack aircraft · 1975
A-7D Corsair II
The aircraft associated with the group's shift away from air defense in 1975. Its adoption accompanied redesignation as a tactical fighter group under Tactical Air Command.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 1991
KC-135 Stratotanker
The group's final aircraft type. KC-135 operations supported the aerial-refueling mission performed jointly with Pittsburgh's 171st Air Refueling Wing until the group's 1993 inactivation.
Marketing campaigns
- 1943North African and Mediterranean operations
French Morocco · Tunisia · Italy
The wartime predecessor deployed from England to North Africa and supported Twelfth Air Force operations through the Tunisia campaign and subsequent Mediterranean fighting.
Outcome. The group continued combat operations until the end of the European war.
Brand decisions
1993
Consolidation with the 171st Air Refueling WingStrategyBackground
Two tanker organizations operated at Pittsburgh, creating an opportunity to combine their remaining functions.
Action taken
The 112th Air Refueling Group was inactivated, while the 146th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the 171st Operations Group.
Aftermath
The 146th and 147th were again aligned within the same operational structure, and the 112th no longer existed as an independent group.
1991
Conversion to KC-135 aerial refuelingGeneration changeBackground
The retirement of the A-7D required the Pennsylvania Air National Guard group to adopt a new mission.
Action taken
The group was redesignated the 112th Air Refueling Group and received KC-135 Stratotankers under Strategic Air Command.
Aftermath
After Strategic Air Command was inactivated, the group moved under Air Mobility Command and later ceased independent operation through consolidation with the 171st Air Refueling Wing.
1975
Transition from air defense to tactical aviationStrategyBackground
Changing defense priorities reduced the relative importance of the group's standing interceptor mission.
Action taken
The organization received A-7D Corsair II aircraft, joined Tactical Air Command, and became the 112th Tactical Fighter Group.
Aftermath
The unit remained in the tactical fighter role until the A-7D was retired and the group converted to aerial refueling.
Recent events
- 1993
112th Air Refueling Group inactivated at Pittsburgh[1]
Other
The 112th Air Refueling Group was inactivated after its tanker functions were consolidated with the 171st Air Refueling Wing and the 146th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the 171st Operations Group.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/112th-air-refueling-group · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled