128th Air Refueling Wing
The 128th Air Refueling Wing is a Wisconsin Air National Guard unit based in Milwaukee that provides aerial refueling, airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and expeditionary support.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The 128th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard headquartered at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its principal operational role is aerial refueling: extending the range and endurance of United States and allied aircraft and supporting the Air Force's broader objectives of global reach and global power. The wing can refuel Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied aircraft, and it also has an airlift and aeromedical capability that allows it to transport cargo, litter patients, and ambulatory patients using specialized support pallets. The organization traces its lineage to the 362nd Fighter Group, established in 1943 during the Second World War. Equipped initially with P-47 Thunderbolts, the group deployed to England and joined the Eighth Air Force before transferring to the Ninth Air Force in 1944. Its wartime operations included bomber escort, attacks on communications and transportation infrastructure, airborne-support missions during the Normandy invasion, close air support during the Allied advance, and attacks during the Battle of the Bulge. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for demanding operations at Brest and in the Moselle-Rhine region. After Germany's defeat, the group returned to the United States, but postwar force reductions led to its inactivation in 1946. The wartime lineage was reconstituted in the Wisconsin Air National Guard as the 128th Fighter Group. It received federal recognition in 1948 and initially performed air-defense duties in the lower Great Lakes region. During the Korean War it was federalized and moved to Truax Field in Madison, where its flying units conducted air-defense training before the group was inactivated and returned to state control in 1952. The organization later operated F-86 Sabres and F-89 Scorpions as its mission evolved within the Air Defense Command. A major transformation began in 1961, when the unit transferred to Strategic Air Command and adopted the aerial-refueling mission. It became one of the first fully operational Air National Guard tanker organizations. Its KC-97 Stratofreighters supported domestic and overseas requirements, including the long-running Creek Party rotation at Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany. The unit transitioned to KC-135 aircraft during the 1970s and subsequently operated KC-135E and KC-135R models. These aircraft enabled long-range exercises, fighter deployments, strategic alert duties, cargo transport, and support to combat and humanitarian operations. The unit's post-Cold War record includes participation in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm-related activities, Restore Hope, Allied Force, Decisive Endeavor, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Its tankers have deployed to Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, and other locations to support coalition air operations and contingency missions. The wing also assisted civil authorities during the 1997 Wisconsin floods. In 1995, the 128th Air Refueling Group was redesignated as a wing, with Air Mobility Command becoming its gaining command. Today, the 128th Air Refueling Wing is organized around an operations group, the 126th Air Refueling Squadron, a mission support group, a maintenance group, and a medical group. Its identity is based on military readiness, sustained tanker operations, interoperability with joint and allied forces, and the ability to deploy personnel and aircraft under both state and federal missions.
History
The 128th Air Refueling Wing's lineage begins with the 362nd Fighter Group, formed in 1943 and trained on P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. After moving to England in late 1943, the group flew its first combat mission in February 1944, escorting B-24 bombers against German V-weapon sites. It later conducted escort, interdiction, strafing, dive-bombing, and close-support missions across France, Belgium, and Germany. The group supported the Normandy airborne landings on 6 and 7 June 1944 and helped Allied ground forces during the breakout from Saint-Lô, the advance toward the Rhine, and the Battle of the Bulge. Its actions at Brest and in the Moselle-Rhine area earned two Distinguished Unit Citations. The group continued operations until the end of the European war and then performed occupation duties. After returning to the United States in 1945, the group was briefly prepared for a possible deployment to Okinawa in support of the planned invasion of Japan. The end of the Pacific War canceled that plan. The group was equipped with P-51 Mustangs but was inactivated in August 1946 as postwar reductions took effect. Its wartime designation was subsequently reconstituted as the 128th Fighter Group and allotted to the Wisconsin Air National Guard. The new organization was formed at General Mitchell Field and received federal recognition in June 1948. It inherited the history, honors, and colors of the 362nd Fighter Group. The Wisconsin organization initially included the 126th and 176th flying squadrons and was assigned an air-defense mission covering the lower Great Lakes. It became the 128th Fighter-Interceptor Group in 1950. During the Korean War it was federalized, moved to Truax Field in Madison, and performed air-defense training under the Air Defense Command. It returned to Wisconsin control in 1952. The unit operated F-86F Sabres during the late 1950s and adopted F-89 Scorpion interceptors in the early 1960s. In August 1961, the organization transferred to Strategic Air Command and changed from fighter interception to aerial refueling. It received KC-97 Stratofreighters and achieved combat-ready status in December 1963, becoming the first Air National Guard tanker unit to reach full operational readiness. Beginning in 1967, the unit participated in Creek Party, a sustained deployment of Wisconsin tanker personnel and aircraft to Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany. The operation continued for approximately a decade without a conventional unit call-up. The unit transitioned to the jet-powered KC-135 in the 1970s. The first mission with the new aircraft was completed in October 1976, and the first permanently assigned aircraft arrived in December 1977. A 24-hour Strategic Air Command alert commitment began in January 1979 and continued until the SAC alert force ended in 1991. During the 1980s, the unit participated in Pacific tanker activities, long-range fighter ferry exercises, Wake Island operations, and a pioneering KC-135 flight to West Berlin carrying civilian visitors. It later converted to KC-135E aircraft and then to KC-135R aircraft, receiving its first permanently assigned R-model tanker in 1991. The wing's post-Cold War deployments demonstrated the flexibility of the tanker mission. During Desert Shield, aircraft and personnel went to Egypt. In 1992, the unit supported Restore Hope from Spain, and in 1993 it conducted an exercise deployment to Japan. A serious ground-maintenance accident at Milwaukee in December 1993 killed six maintenance personnel. In 1995, the 128th Air Refueling Group became the 128th Air Refueling Wing, aligned with Air Mobility Command. The wing subsequently added a KC-135 simulator, participated in NATO operations in Italy, assisted Wisconsin flood-recovery efforts, and deployed in support of the Kosovo crisis in 1999. After the September 11 attacks, the wing supported Operation Noble Eagle air-defense patrols over the United States and Operation Enduring Freedom overseas. It continued to provide tanker support during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later contingency operations. The modern wing consists of operations, maintenance, mission-support, and medical organizations centered on the 126th Air Refueling Squadron. Its federal mission is operationally gained by Air Mobility Command, while its state mission remains under the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
- 2001
Post-September 11 operations
[1]The wing began supporting Operation Noble Eagle and continued overseas tanker support for Operation Enduring Freedom.
- 1995
Group redesignated as a wing
[1]The 128th Air Refueling Group was redesignated as the 128th Air Refueling Wing under an Air National Guard realignment program.
- 1991
First permanent KC-135R assignment
[1]The wing received its first permanently assigned KC-135R, becoming the first Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve unit to receive the model.
- 1976
Transition to KC-135 aircraft
[1]The unit began replacing KC-97 aircraft with the faster KC-135 jet tanker.
- 1967
Creek Party begins
[1]Wisconsin tanker personnel began a long-term rotation at Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany.
- 1963
Combat-ready tanker status achieved
[1]The unit became fully operational as an Air National Guard aerial-refueling organization.
- 1961
Conversion to aerial refueling
[1]The organization transferred to Strategic Air Command and adopted the KC-97 tanker mission.
- 1948
Wisconsin Air National Guard federal recognition
[1]The reconstituted 128th Fighter Group received federal recognition at General Mitchell Field in Milwaukee.
- 1946
Wartime group inactivated
[1]Postwar force reductions led to the inactivation of the 362nd Fighter Group.
- 1944
Combat operations in Europe
[1]The group began combat operations from England, supported the Normandy invasion, and conducted interdiction and close-support missions across Western Europe.
Products and positioning
A combat-ready Air National Guard tanker wing combining strategic aerial refueling, expeditionary mobility, airlift, aeromedical support, and domestic emergency response.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 1976
KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 is the wing's principal operational platform. It provides aerial refueling for joint United States forces and allied aircraft and can support long-range deployments, combat air patrols, exercises, and expeditionary tanker task forces. The wing operated earlier KC-135E aircraft before converting to the KC-135R model in the early 1990s.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 1961
KC-97 Stratofreighter
The KC-97 was the first tanker aircraft used after the unit converted from fighter-interceptor operations. It enabled the wing to establish an aerial-refueling capability and achieve combat-ready status in 1963, before being replaced by jet-powered KC-135 aircraft.
Medical and mobility capability
Aeromedical evacuation support
The wing can configure aircraft to carry litter and ambulatory patients with patient-support pallets. This capability complements its tanker mission and allows the organization to contribute to medical evacuation and broader mobility operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq · Middle East
The wing deployed personnel and aircraft to multiple operational theaters, including austere forward bases, while continuing other contingency commitments.
Outcome. The unit supplied aerial-refueling and support capacity to coalition combat operations.
- 2001Operation Noble Eagle
United States
The wing provided aerial-refueling support to fighter combat air patrols established over major American cities after the September 11 attacks.
Outcome. The wing flew repeated domestic air-defense support sorties while also contributing personnel and aircraft to overseas operations.
- 2001Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan · Spain · Southwest Asia
The wing deployed aircraft, aircrews, and support personnel to provide tanker and security support for the post-September 11 campaign.
Outcome. Personnel operated from overseas and domestic locations throughout the early phases of the operation.
- 1999Operation Allied Force
Europe · Kosovo
The wing deployed alongside the 117th Air Refueling Wing during the Kosovo crisis under a Presidential Reserve Call-up.
Outcome. The unit contributed tanker support to NATO's air campaign and related European operations.
- 1996Operation Decisive Endeavor
Italy · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Europe
More than 400 wing members deployed to Pisa Air Base, Italy, as part of the air component associated with NATO's implementation force.
Outcome. The deployment integrated the wing with tanker units from other American states and the Italian Air Force.
- 1992Operation Restore Hope
Somalia · Spain · Africa
The wing deployed tankers and volunteers to Spain for a tanker task force supporting the international humanitarian operation in Somalia.
Outcome. The unit's aircraft unloaded more than 16 million pounds of fuel in support of the mission.
- 1990Operation Desert Shield
Egypt · Middle East
Aircraft, aircrews, and support personnel deployed to Cairo West Airport after a partial activation connected with the defense of Saudi Arabia and preparation for coalition operations.
Outcome. The deployed personnel formed the basis of the provisional 1706th Air Refueling Wing.
- 1967Operation Creek Party
West Germany · Europe
The unit participated in a sustained overseas tanker rotation at Rhein-Main Air Base, providing a continuing Air National Guard presence and aerial-refueling support in Europe.
Outcome. The rotation continued for approximately ten years and demonstrated the unit's ability to sustain overseas operations without a conventional full-unit call-up.
Brand decisions
1995
Redesignation as an air-refueling wingStrategyBackground
An Air National Guard realignment program changed the organizational structure of the tanker force.
Action taken
The 128th Air Refueling Group was redesignated as the 128th Air Refueling Wing, with Air Mobility Command as its gaining command.
Aftermath
The redesignation formalized the wing-level structure that remains in use.
1991
Conversion to KC-135R aircraftGeneration changeBackground
The wing required a more capable tanker model after years of operating KC-135E aircraft.
Action taken
It began transferring E-model aircraft and received its first permanently assigned KC-135R in August 1991.
Aftermath
The wing became the first Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve unit in the United States to receive the R-model tanker.
1976
Transition from KC-97 to KC-135Generation changeBackground
The propeller-driven KC-97 no longer provided the speed and range desired for modern tanker operations.
Action taken
The unit began converting to KC-135 jet tankers, completing its first mission with the new aircraft in October 1976.
Aftermath
The transition improved the wing's ability to support long-range fighter, bomber, and mobility operations.
1961
Adoption of the aerial-refueling missionStrategyBackground
The organization moved from fighter-interceptor operations into the strategic tanker force during the Cold War.
Action taken
It transferred to Strategic Air Command and began operating KC-97 Stratofreighters.
Aftermath
The change established the operational identity that ultimately became the 128th Air Refueling Wing.
Sources2 sources
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