117th Air Refueling Wing
The 117th Air Refueling Wing is an Alabama Air National Guard unit based in Birmingham that operates KC-135R Stratotankers for worldwide air-refueling and airlift support.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 117th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Alabama Air National Guard headquartered at Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. It is not a commercial brand in the ordinary sense; its identity represents a military organization, operational capability, heritage, and public-service mission. The wing operates Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft and trains and equips aircrews and support personnel for worldwide air-refueling and airlift missions. Its personnel also provide engineering, medical, communications, intelligence, logistics, security, and other support packages that can be assigned outside Alabama when required. In its state mission, the wing can support Alabama authorities during emergencies or other contingencies when directed by the governor. If mobilized for federal service, it becomes available to the United States Air Force and is associated with Air Mobility Command. The wing's history reaches back through the 106th Air Refueling Squadron to the World War I-era 106th Aero Squadron, established in August 1917. That lineage was reactivated in 1922 and later served as one of the pre-World War II National Guard observation squadrons. The modern wing structure was established after World War II. The 117th Fighter Group received federal recognition in Birmingham in 1947, and the organization was federalized during the Korean War period. In 1950 it was reorganized as the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, initially flying reconnaissance aircraft in Europe. Its early postwar operations involved RB-26 and RF-80 aircraft, with missions ranging from night photography to daylight visual, photographic, and electronic reconnaissance. During the 1961 Berlin Crisis, the wing was again federalized. Its Alabama-based 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed RF-84F Thunderflash aircraft to Europe, initially to Dreux-Louvilliers Air Base in France. Difficulties at the base and restrictions imposed by French air-traffic authorities led the squadron to relocate its flying operations to Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, while the wing headquarters remained at Dreux for a time. The deployment demonstrated the practical challenges of rapidly restoring a dormant overseas base and supporting a large National Guard force in a crisis environment. The wing continued in the reconnaissance role through the Cold War. It became the first Air National Guard unit selected to receive the RF-4C Phantom II in 1971, replacing the aging RF-84F. During Operation Desert Shield, six RF-4Cs equipped with long-range oblique photography systems deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft produced imagery of Iraqi forces in occupied Kuwait and along the Saudi-Iraqi border, although the unit did not conduct combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. One aircraft was lost in an operational accident on 8 October 1990, killing Major Barry K. Henderson and Lieutenant Colonel Stephen G. Schraam. The retirement of the RF-4C led to a major strategic transition. The organization became the 117th Reconnaissance Wing in March 1992 and then the 117th Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1994. It began receiving KC-135 Stratotankers later that month, shifting from tactical reconnaissance to aerial mobility and tanker support. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the wing deployed to MacDill Air Force Base in Florida to refuel fighter aircraft conducting combat air patrols over major cities in the southeastern United States under Operation Noble Eagle. A 2005 Base Realignment and Closure recommendation proposed closing the wing and redistributing its aircraft, but that proposal was ultimately reversed. Today, the wing's principal identity rests on readiness, aerial refueling, mobility support, homeland response, and the preservation of a long Alabama Air National Guard aviation lineage.
History
The 117th Air Refueling Wing's institutional heritage is linked to the 106th Aero Squadron, a World War I organization established on 27 August 1917. The lineage was reactivated in 1922, and the 106th later became one of the National Guard observation squadrons established before World War II. The postwar organization received federal recognition as the 117th Fighter Group at Birmingham Municipal Airport on 1 October 1947. During the Korean War era, the group was called to federal active duty in 1950 and moved to Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia. It was reorganized as the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 30 November 1950, bringing operational and support elements under a single headquarters. The wing trained with RB-26C Invaders for night reconnaissance and RF-80A Shooting Stars for daylight missions. It deployed to Europe in January 1952, but the intended base at Toul-Rosières in France was not ready for safe jet operations. Flying squadrons were therefore dispersed to West German bases, while headquarters and support elements remained at Toul. The wing performed visual, photographic, and electronic reconnaissance during European exercises and in support of United States Army formations. On 10 July 1952, the organization was inactivated and its mission and resources were transferred to the newly activated 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. The lineage was subsequently allotted to the Air National Guard. Re-formed in Birmingham, the wing continued tactical reconnaissance with a succession of aircraft. In 1957 it received Republic RF-84F Thunderflash aircraft. The wing was federalized on 1 October 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. The 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed twenty RF-84Fs to Dreux-Louvilliers Air Base in France, while elements of associated squadrons rotated through the European deployment. Because Dreux had been inactive and lacked basic facilities, the deployed personnel had to restore the base's operating infrastructure. French air-traffic restrictions then prevented normal flying from Dreux, so the 106th moved its aircraft to Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base. The squadron returned to Alabama in July 1962, leaving its RF-84Fs in France. The organization remained a reconnaissance unit through the 1960s. In November 1971 it became the first Air National Guard unit selected to receive the RF-4C Phantom II, taking aircraft made available as United States forces reduced their presence in Southeast Asia. On 9 December 1974 the tactical reconnaissance group was inactivated and its support functions were reorganized under a combat support group; the 106th Squadron reported directly to the wing. During the 1990 Gulf crisis, six wing RF-4Cs fitted with HIAC-1 LOROP long-range oblique photography equipment deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on 24 August 1990. The aircraft supported prewar surveillance and mapping of Iraqi forces in Kuwait and near the Saudi-Iraqi border. The deployment included an exceptionally long ferry flight requiring multiple aerial refuelings. The unit was relieved on 18 December 1990 and did not fly combat missions during Desert Storm. The reconnaissance mission nevertheless ended soon afterward as the RF-4C fleet was retired. The wing was redesignated the 117th Reconnaissance Wing on 16 March 1992. Air Combat Command became its gaining command after Tactical Air Command was inactivated on 1 June 1992. In 1994 the RF-4Cs were sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for retirement and the wing converted to aerial refueling. It became the 117th Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1994, receiving its first KC-135 Stratotanker later that month. After the September 11 attacks, the wing supported Operation Noble Eagle from MacDill Air Force Base, refueling fighter aircraft assigned to combat air patrols over major southeastern United States cities. In 2005 the Department of Defense's BRAC recommendations called for the wing's closure and redistribution of its aircraft, but the recommendation was ultimately reversed. The current wing operates KC-135R aircraft through its operations, maintenance, mission-support, and medical organizations and retains the ability to perform both federal expeditionary missions and state-directed contingency support.
- 2005
BRAC closure recommendation reversed
[1]A federal base-realignment recommendation proposed closing the wing, but the decision was later reversed.
- 2001
Operation Noble Eagle support
[1]The wing deployed to MacDill Air Force Base to refuel combat air patrol fighters after the September 11 attacks.
- 1994
Conversion to air refueling
[1]The organization became the 117th Air Refueling Wing on 1 October and began receiving KC-135 aircraft.
- 1990
Operation Desert Shield reconnaissance deployment
[1]Six RF-4Cs deployed to Al Dhafra and provided long-range imagery of Iraqi forces and positions.
- 1971
First Air National Guard RF-4C unit
[1]The organization was selected as the first Air National Guard unit to receive the RF-4C Phantom II.
- 1961
Federalization during the Berlin Crisis
[1]The wing was federalized on 1 October and deployed RF-84F aircraft and personnel to Europe.
- 1952
European reconnaissance deployment
[1]The wing reached Europe in January and conducted reconnaissance operations from dispersed French and West German locations before being inactivated in July.
- 1950
117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing activated
[1]The wing structure was activated on 30 November at Lawson Air Force Base during the Korean War period.
- 1947
117th Fighter Group receives federal recognition
[1]The 117th Fighter Group was federally recognized at Birmingham Municipal Airport on 1 October.
- 1922
106th lineage reactivated
[1]The 106th organization was reactivated and later became part of the prewar National Guard observation structure.
Products and positioning
A combat-ready Alabama Air National Guard organization positioned around global tanker mobility, operational readiness, deployable support, and state emergency response.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 1994
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker
The KC-135R is the wing's principal aircraft and supports the transfer of fuel to military aircraft in flight. Its operation enables extended-range fighter, bomber, transport, and other aviation missions. The wing trains aircrews, maintainers, and support personnel to keep the tanker fleet ready for domestic and overseas tasking.
Reconnaissance equipment
HIAC-1 LOROP reconnaissance system
Before the wing's conversion to air refueling, selected RF-4C aircraft carried a long-range oblique photography system. The equipment enabled high-resolution imagery of distant targets and supported surveillance and mapping during the 1990 deployment to the Persian Gulf.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Operation Noble Eagle
Southeastern United States
The wing deployed to MacDill Air Force Base and supported combat air patrols by refueling F-15 and F-16 aircraft protecting major southeastern cities after the September 11 attacks.
Outcome. The deployment extended the wing's post-conversion tanker mission into homeland-defense operations.
- 1990Operation Desert Shield
United Arab Emirates · Saudi Arabia · Kuwait theater
RF-4C aircraft deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base to collect imagery of Iraqi forces in occupied Kuwait and along the Saudi-Iraqi border.
Outcome. The unit was relieved in December 1990 and did not conduct combat sorties during Operation Desert Storm.
- 1952Exercise June Primer
Western Europe
The wing participated in a major European reconnaissance exercise involving daylight and nighttime photography, bridge and airfield imagery, paratroop-zone surveys, and visual support for Army artillery operations.
Outcome. The exercise demonstrated the wing's ability to deliver varied tactical reconnaissance products across a broad European operating area.
Brand decisions
2005
Closure recommendation under BRACStrategyBackground
The Department of Defense reviewed the structure and basing of Air National Guard tanker units during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process.
Action taken
The department recommended closing the wing and reallocating its aircraft to other National Guard units.
Aftermath
The proposed closure was ultimately reversed, allowing the wing to remain active.
1994
Conversion from reconnaissance to air refuelingStrategyBackground
The RF-4C reconnaissance fleet was being retired as the United States reduced and modernized its tactical reconnaissance force after the Cold War.
Action taken
The wing was redesignated the 117th Air Refueling Wing on 1 October and began operating KC-135 Stratotankers.
Aftermath
The conversion gave the organization its current global tanker and mobility role.
Sources2 sources
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