134th Air Refueling Wing
A Tennessee Air National Guard wing providing global aerial refueling, airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and related support.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The 134th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard based at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, Tennessee. When activated for federal service, it is operationally gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. Its principal mission is to operate Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft in support of aerial refueling and airlift requirements directed by the Secretary of Defense and the Air Force chain of command. The wing supports a broad range of U.S. military aviation. Its tankers refuel Air Force fighters, bombers, airlift aircraft, and support aircraft, as well as aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, NATO, and other allied countries. The KC-135 can also transport personnel and cargo and can be configured with patient-support equipment for aeromedical evacuation missions. The wing’s radio callsign is “Soda.” The organization was federally recognized on 15 December 1957 as the 134th Fighter Group (Air Defense), replacing the active-duty 355th Fighter Group at McGhee Tyson. Its initial mission was to defend the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Alcoa aluminum production facilities in the Knoxville area. The group’s 151st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron first operated F-86D Sabre interceptors and later received supersonic F-104A Starfighters. The squadron was federalized during the 1961 Berlin Crisis and deployed to Ramstein Air Base in West Germany, where it supported the U.S. air defense posture and set a notable monthly flying-time record in 1962. In 1964 the organization moved from air defense into aerial refueling. Its interceptors were transferred to active-duty units, and the group received KC-97G Stratotankers under Tactical Air Command. Despite having no previously qualified tanker aircrews or maintenance personnel, the unit reached operational status in eight months. From 1966 through 1976, it supported the Air Force in Europe through rotational deployments to Ramstein under Operation Creek Party. The unit later moved to Strategic Air Command and received KC-135A jet tankers in 1976, followed by KC-135E aircraft and eventually KC-135R aircraft. The wing has supported major U.S. and allied operations, including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, NATO’s Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the war in Afghanistan. During Desert Shield, it flew 177 sorties and transferred approximately 4.5 million pounds of fuel. During Desert Storm, members deployed to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as part of the provisional 1713th Air Refueling Wing. In 1999, personnel and aircraft supported NATO operations connected with the Kosovo conflict. More recent deployments have included Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Egypt, Germany, South Korea, and Curaçao. The present-day wing includes the 134th Operations Group, the 151st Air Refueling Squadron, the 134th Maintenance Group, the 134th Mission Support Group, the 134th Medical Group, and the 228th Cyber Operations Group. Its institutional identity is that of a deployable Air National Guard aviation unit rather than a commercial brand, with a continuing dual state and federal role.
History
The 134th Air Refueling Wing traces its lineage to the 134th Fighter Group (Air Defense), which was authorized for the Tennessee Air National Guard in 1957. Federal recognition was extended on 15 December 1957 at McGhee Tyson Air Force Base in Knoxville, where the new organization replaced the active-duty 355th Fighter Group. Initially assigned to the Air Defense Command’s Montgomery Air Defense Sector, the unit protected strategically important installations in eastern Tennessee, especially Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Alcoa aluminum manufacturing complex. The 151st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, the wing’s principal flying component, began with F-86D Sabre interceptors. It assumed a daytime alert role in 1958 and transitioned to F-104A Starfighters in 1960. During the Berlin Crisis, the squadron was federalized in November 1961 and deployed to Ramstein Air Base, West Germany, under the 86th Air Division. While deployed, it recorded an Air Force jet-fighter flying-time record in May 1962. The squadron returned to Knoxville in August 1962 after tensions eased. A major transformation occurred in April 1964, when the F-104s were transferred to active-duty fighter-interceptor squadrons and the organization was redesignated as the 134th Air Refueling Group, Medium. It moved to Tactical Air Command and received KC-97G Stratotankers. The group achieved operational status in eight months, substantially faster than the conversion period then considered normal. Beginning in 1966, its 151st squadron made recurring deployments to Ramstein in support of Operation Creek Party, providing tanker capacity to U.S. Air Forces in Europe until 1976. In July 1976, the group transferred to Strategic Air Command and replaced the KC-97s with KC-135A Stratotankers. It was redesignated the 134th Air Refueling Group, Heavy, in November of that year. The aircraft later moved through KC-135E and KC-135R configurations, with the R-model fleet becoming the wing’s current tanker platform. The organization’s lineage designation changed again to 134th Air Refueling Group in 1992 and to 134th Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1995. The wing’s operational role expanded during and after the Gulf War. It flew 177 sorties and off-loaded about 4.5 million pounds of fuel during Operation Desert Shield. During Desert Storm, 109 members deployed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as part of the provisional 1713th Air Refueling Wing, which flew hundreds of sorties supporting combat and support aircraft. Following the 1992 inactivation of Strategic Air Command, the unit became associated first with Air Combat Command and then, from 1993, with Air Mobility Command. In April 1999, the wing contributed personnel and aircraft to NATO’s Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo conflict. It later supported U.S. operations in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, while maintaining a wider overseas presence through deployments to locations including Egypt, Germany, South Korea, and Curaçao. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process preceded the wing’s transition to its current KC-135R fleet. Today, the wing combines flying operations with maintenance, mission support, medical, and cyber capabilities and remains a Tennessee Air National Guard unit available for state missions and federal activation.
- 2006
Transition to KC-135R aircraft
[1]The wing completed its transition to the KC-135R Stratotanker configuration.
- 1999
Support for Operation Allied Force
[1]Personnel and aircraft deployed in support of NATO operations connected with the Kosovo conflict.
- 1995
Redesignation as an air-refueling wing
[1]The 134th Air Refueling Group was redesignated the 134th Air Refueling Wing.
- 1992
Strategic Air Command lineage transition
[1]The organization was redesignated the 134th Air Refueling Group and became associated with the post-SAC command structure.
- 1976
Adoption of KC-135 jet tankers
[1]The group moved to Strategic Air Command and began operating KC-135A Stratotankers.
- 1966
Beginning of Creek Party rotations
[1]The 151st began recurring Ramstein deployments supporting U.S. air-refueling operations in Europe.
- 1964
Conversion to aerial refueling
[1]The organization became an air-refueling group and received KC-97G Stratotankers.
- 1961
Berlin Crisis federalization
[1]The 151st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was federalized and deployed to Ramstein Air Base in West Germany.
- 1960
Transition to F-104A Starfighters
[1]The unit replaced its F-86D interceptors with supersonic F-104A aircraft.
- 1957
Federal recognition as an air-defense group
[1]The 134th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was federally recognized on 15 December 1957 and assigned to the Tennessee Air National Guard at McGhee Tyson.
Products and positioning
A deployable Tennessee Air National Guard air-refueling organization that extends the range and endurance of U.S. and allied aviation forces worldwide.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 2006
KC-135R Stratotanker
The wing’s current tanker aircraft provides in-flight refueling for U.S. and allied fighters, bombers, airlift aircraft, and support platforms. The KC-135R can also carry cargo and passengers and can be configured to support aeromedical evacuation missions using patient-support pallets.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 1964
KC-97G Stratotanker
The KC-97G was the first tanker aircraft operated by the organization after its conversion from fighter-interceptor duties in 1964. The aircraft supported the wing’s early air-refueling mission and European deployment rotations before retirement in 1976.
Aerial refueling aircraft · 1976
KC-135A and KC-135E Stratotankers
These earlier jet-tanker variants carried the wing through its Strategic Air Command period and later operations. The KC-135A entered service with the unit in 1976, while the fleet was subsequently upgraded to KC-135E aircraft before the transition to KC-135R models.
Marketing campaigns
- 1999Operation Allied Force
Kosovo · Europe
The wing sent personnel and three aircraft overseas in support of NATO operations during the Kosovo conflict.
Outcome. The deployment added Air National Guard tanker support to the NATO campaign.
- 1991Operation Desert Storm
Saudi Arabia · United Arab Emirates
Members deployed to Jeddah and Dubai as part of the provisional 1713th Air Refueling Wing supporting combat and support aircraft.
Outcome. The provisional wing flew 568 sorties and delivered millions of pounds of fuel.
- 1990Operation Desert Shield
Middle East
The wing flew 177 sorties and transferred approximately 4.5 million pounds of fuel during the coalition buildup for the Gulf War.
Outcome. The unit contributed tanker capacity to the coalition air campaign preparations.
- 1966Operation Creek Party
West Germany · Europe
Recurring deployments to Ramstein provided the U.S. Air Forces in Europe with an air-refueling capability.
Outcome. The rotations continued until 1976, with the unit reporting extensive fuel offload and flying activity without accidents.
- Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom
Iraq · Kuwait · Afghanistan
The wing deployed personnel and aircraft in support of U.S. military operations in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
Outcome. The deployments sustained expeditionary air operations in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Brand decisions
2005
Transition to KC-135R aircraftGeneration changeBackground
A Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendation preceded the modernization of the wing’s tanker fleet.
Action taken
The wing transitioned from KC-135E aircraft to KC-135R Stratotankers.
Aftermath
The KC-135R became the wing’s current aircraft for worldwide Air Mobility Command support.
1976
Transition from KC-97 to KC-135Generation changeBackground
The piston-powered KC-97 fleet was retired as the wing moved into Strategic Air Command.
Action taken
The unit received jet-powered KC-135A Stratotankers.
Aftermath
The change expanded the wing’s speed, range, and compatibility with modern jet combat and mobility aircraft.
1964
Conversion from air defense to air refuelingStrategyBackground
The organization’s interceptor aircraft were transferred to active-duty units as the Air National Guard group was reassigned to a tanker mission.
Action taken
The unit accepted KC-97G aircraft and established an aerial-refueling capability under Tactical Air Command.
Aftermath
It reached operational status in eight months and began recurring overseas tanker deployments.
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