126th Air Refueling Wing
An Illinois Air National Guard wing that provides air refueling, airlift support, and related military capabilities.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The 126th Air Refueling Wing is an active unit of the Illinois Air National Guard based at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, Illinois. Its principal role is aerial refueling: using Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers to extend the range and endurance of United States aircraft, other American military forces, and allied air forces. The wing can also support airlift missions and is assigned responsibilities connected with national strategic and nuclear deterrence planning. In peacetime, it operates through the Illinois military chain of command, including the governor, the adjutant general of Illinois, and the National Guard Bureau. If federalized, it becomes an Air Mobility Command-gained organization and is associated with the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force structure. The wing traces its postwar institutional lineage to the 126th Composite Wing, which was organized and federally recognized in the Illinois Air National Guard on 1 November 1950. Its early Cold War identity changed several times. It became the 126th Bombardment Wing in February 1951 and was federalized during the Korean War in April of that year. Assigned first to Tactical Air Command and subsequently to Ninth and Twelfth Air Force, it deployed to France, initially operating from Bordeaux-Mérignac and later from Laon-Couvron. The wing flew Douglas B-26 Invaders for training and operational exercises before being released from federal service and inactivated on 1 January 1953. The organization was simultaneously reactivated in Illinois as the 126th Fighter-Bomber Wing. During the 1950s it operated fighter aircraft and underwent further redesignations, becoming a fighter-interceptor wing in 1955 and an air defense wing in 1958. Its aircraft during this period included the F-86 Sabre and other jet fighters. On 1 July 1961, the wing adopted its enduring air-refueling mission and became the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Tactical. It initially operated Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters, including the KC-97L, and later transitioned to the Boeing KC-135 family. The KC-135 fleet made the unit part of the broader United States strategic and tactical mobility network during the later Cold War. The wing's command relationships changed as national defense organizations were reorganized. It was associated with Tactical Air Command after its 1961 mission conversion, transferred to Strategic Air Command in 1976, and moved through Air Combat Command and then Air Mobility Command after the 1992 reorganization of the United States Air Force. Its designation was simplified over time from tactical, medium, and heavy air-refueling forms to the current 126th Air Refueling Wing designation. For most of its history, the wing was based in the Chicago area, first at Chicago Municipal Airport and later at O'Hare International Airport. In 1999, following the Base Realignment and Closure process and the closure of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard facilities at O'Hare, it moved to Scott Air Force Base. The relocation placed the wing at a major Air Mobility Command installation and strengthened its connection with the wider air-mobility enterprise. In 2000, its KC-135E aircraft received Pacer CRAG avionics upgrades, adding improved compass, radar, and GPS-related capabilities. By 2008, the wing had completed its conversion from the KC-135E to the KC-135R, the current-generation tanker variant identified with the unit in available historical references. The wing includes the 126th Operations Group, 126th Maintenance Group, 126th Mission Support Group, 126th Medical Group, and 126th Comptroller Flight. The 108th Air Refueling Squadron is its principal flying squadron and descends from the World War I-era 108th Aero Squadron, established on 27 August 1917. That organization was re-formed as the 108th Observation Squadron in 1927 and is recognized as one of the original pre-World War II National Guard observation squadrons. The 126th also hosts an Active Associate relationship with the 906th Air Refueling Squadron and a Classic Associate relationship with the 126th Supply Chain Management Squadron. Together, these arrangements support a Total Force model combining Air National Guard, active-duty, and associated logistics capabilities.
History
The 126th Air Refueling Wing's institutional history begins with its organization in the Illinois Air National Guard as the 126th Composite Wing in November 1950, during the early Cold War. It was redesignated the 126th Bombardment Wing in February 1951 and federalized on 1 April 1951 during the Korean War. After assignments within Tactical Air Command and the numbered air forces, the wing deployed to France. Its first elements arrived at Bordeaux-Mérignac in November 1951, and the organization later moved to Laon-Couvron in May 1952. Equipped with B-26 aircraft for training and maneuvers, it remained in France until the end of 1952. Federal service ended on 1 January 1953, when the wing was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the newly activated 38th Bombardment Wing. On the same date, the Illinois Air National Guard reactivated the organization as the 126th Fighter-Bomber Wing. It operated fighter aircraft during the 1950s and was redesignated the 126th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in 1955 and the 126th Air Defense Wing in 1958. These changes reflected the changing priorities of the United States air-defense system and the Air National Guard's role in providing interceptor forces. The wing's aircraft lineage during this era included the F-51D Mustang, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, and North American F-86 Sabre. A fundamental transformation occurred on 1 July 1961, when the wing became an air-refueling organization. Under the designation 126th Air Refueling Wing, Tactical, it began operating Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters, including KC-97Ls. The unit subsequently moved to the KC-135 Stratotanker family, establishing the tanker capability that defines the wing today. The wing's official designation was later modified to reflect medium and heavy air-refueling categories before being shortened to 126th Air Refueling Wing in the early 1990s. During the later Cold War, the wing operated within several major-command structures. It was associated with Tactical Air Command after its conversion to air refueling, transferred to Strategic Air Command in 1976, and became associated with Air Combat Command and then Air Mobility Command during the post-Cold War reorganization. Its KC-97 aircraft were retired from the wing's operational era in the 1970s, while KC-135 aircraft became the central platform. In 1983, the wing began receiving KC-135E aircraft to replace earlier KC-135A models. The unit's base history was also significant. It operated from the Chicago area, including Chicago Municipal Airport and O'Hare International Airport, until 1999. A Base Realignment and Closure decision connected with the closure of military facilities at O'Hare led to its relocation to Scott Air Force Base on 31 July 1999. At Scott, the wing became part of a major Air Mobility Command environment. Its KC-135E fleet received Pacer CRAG avionics modernization in 2000, and the wing completed its transition to KC-135R aircraft in 2008. Today, the wing's mission is centered on air refueling support for major Air Force commands, other United States military services, and allied nations. It can also contribute to airlift and expeditionary mobility operations and retains responsibilities associated with strategic deterrence planning. Its structure includes operations, maintenance, mission support, medical, and financial-management elements. The 108th Air Refueling Squadron is the flying unit and carries a lineage reaching back to the 108th Aero Squadron of World War I and the 108th Observation Squadron formed in 1927. Associate relationships with the active-duty 906th Air Refueling Squadron and the Classic Associate 126th Supply Chain Management Squadron extend the wing's Total Force and regional logistics role.
- 2008
Transition to KC-135R aircraft completed
[1]The wing completed its conversion from KC-135E aircraft to KC-135R Stratotankers.
- 2000
Pacer CRAG avionics upgrade
[1]The KC-135E fleet received Pacer CRAG avionics modernization involving compass, radar, and GPS-related systems.
- 1999
Relocation to Scott Air Force Base
[1]The wing moved from O'Hare International Airport to Scott Air Force Base on 31 July in connection with Base Realignment and Closure actions.
- 1992
Post-Cold War command realignment
[1]Following major-command restructuring, the wing moved through Air Combat Command and subsequently became associated with Air Mobility Command.
- 1983
KC-135E modernization begins
[1]The wing began receiving KC-135E aircraft to replace earlier KC-135A models.
- 1976
Strategic Air Command gaining command
[1]The wing's gaining command changed to Strategic Air Command during the later Cold War.
- 1961
Conversion to air refueling
[1]The wing adopted its air-refueling mission on 1 July and began flying Boeing KC-97 aircraft.
- 1953
Return to Illinois Air National Guard
[1]The federally activated wing was inactivated on 1 January, while the Illinois Air National Guard activated the 126th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
- 1951
Federalization and deployment to France
[1]Redesignated as the 126th Bombardment Wing, the unit was federalized on 1 April during the Korean War and deployed to France later that year.
- 1950
126th Composite Wing organized
[1]The wing was allotted to the Air National Guard on 31 October and received federal recognition in Illinois on 1 November.
Products and positioning
A state-based National Guard air-mobility organization that provides strategically important tanker capacity, operational support, and deployable expertise to United States and allied forces.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 2008
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker
The KC-135R is the wing's principal operational aircraft. It provides airborne refueling to compatible United States and allied aircraft, allowing receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer, carry additional payload, or operate farther from their bases. The platform also supports the wider air-mobility mission and is operated, maintained, and sustained through the wing's operations, maintenance, and mission-support groups.
Aerial refueling aircraft family · 1976
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 family has been the defining aircraft line of the wing since its conversion to air refueling. The wing operated KC-135A and KC-135E variants before moving to the KC-135R. Earlier models supported the unit's Cold War tanker role and were progressively replaced as propulsion and avionics capabilities developed.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 1961
Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter
The KC-97 was the wing's first principal tanker platform after its 1961 conversion to air refueling. KC-97 and KC-97L aircraft supported training and refueling duties before the wing transitioned to the KC-135. The aircraft therefore represents the beginning of the wing's modern tanker lineage rather than a current offering.
Brand decisions
2008
Transition from KC-135E to KC-135RGeneration changeBackground
The KC-135E fleet was being retired as the Air Force modernized its tanker inventory.
Action taken
The wing completed its conversion to KC-135R Stratotankers.
Aftermath
The wing continued its air-refueling mission with the newer KC-135 variant.
1999
Relocation from O'Hare to Scott Air Force BaseStrategyBackground
Base Realignment and Closure actions recommended closure of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard facilities at O'Hare International Airport.
Action taken
The wing moved to Scott Air Force Base on 31 July 1999.
Aftermath
The relocation placed the wing within a major Air Mobility Command installation and became its continuing home station.
1961
Conversion from air defense to air refuelingStrategyBackground
The wing's mission changed as the United States Air Force and Air National Guard adjusted force structure during the Cold War.
Action taken
On 1 July 1961, the organization was redesignated the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Tactical, and began operating KC-97 aircraft.
Aftermath
Air refueling became the wing's enduring core mission and led to later KC-135 operations.
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