170th Group
The 170th Group is a Nebraska Air National Guard unit based at Offutt Air Force Base that integrates Guard personnel into training and operational support for the 55th Wing.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 170th Group is a unit of the Nebraska Air National Guard stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It is not a commercial brand but a military organization whose present role is to consolidate Nebraska Air National Guard personnel assigned to Offutt and provide integrated training and operational support alongside the United States Air Force's 55th Wing. If called into federal service, the group is associated with Air Combat Command. The unit has two distinct historical phases. It was first established as the 170th Air Transport Group in the New Jersey Air National Guard in 1964. Its original purpose was to provide a headquarters for the 150th Air Transport Squadron and related support elements. The group initially operated Lockheed C-121 Constellation transports, conducting long-distance passenger and logistical missions, including flights to Europe, the Caribbean and locations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War period. In 1966, following the replacement of the Military Air Transport Service by the Military Airlift Command, the organization was redesignated the 170th Military Airlift Group. The group's mission subsequently shifted toward medical and tactical airlift. Around 1969 it became the 170th Aeromedical Airlift Group, focusing on the movement of patients. In 1973, its Constellations were retired and replaced by de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou aircraft, which were suited to transporting relatively small payloads into forward areas and operating from unimproved airstrips. The group was then redesignated the 170th Tactical Airlift Group. In 1977, the unit transitioned to Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and became the 170th Air Refueling Group, Heavy. The New Jersey phase ended in 1993. As the Air National Guard adopted the Air Force's Objective Wing structure, the 170th Air Refueling Group was inactivated on 30 September 1993 and its 150th Air Refueling Squadron was transferred into the 108th Operations Group at McGuire Air Force Base. This change consolidated units at the base under a single wing structure rather than representing the end of the squadron's operational lineage. The organization was later re-established in Nebraska. Its modern form developed from Detachment 1 of Nebraska Air National Guard Headquarters, created in June 2002. The unit was reactivated at Offutt Air Force Base in July 2007 as part of the Future Total Force Initiative, which sought to integrate Guard and active-duty personnel and capabilities. The 170th Group brought Nebraska Air National Guard members at Offutt together administratively and operationally in support of the 55th Wing's command-and-control and intelligence missions. Today, the group supports instructor aircrew integration with the 338th Combat Training Squadron and related organizations. Guard instructors provide initial qualification, requalification and upgrade training for active-duty Air Force and Air National Guard aircrews operating RC-135 Rivet Joint, RC-135 Combat Sent, RC-135 Cobra Ball and E-4B Nightwatch aircraft. The 238th Combat Training Squadron has provided this training function and was redesignated the 238th Reconnaissance Squadron on 18 October 2024. The 170th Operations Support Squadron works with the 55th Operations Support Squadron in areas including intelligence, requirements, weapons and tactics, base operations, weather, aviation resource management and other functions supporting global missions. The group is authorized approximately 80 personnel, comprising full-time and traditional Guard members.
History
The 170th Group was established as the 170th Air Transport Group, Heavy, and allotted to the Air National Guard on 16 December 1963. It was activated at Newark Municipal Airport, New Jersey, on 18 January 1964, initially serving as the headquarters for the 150th Air Transport Squadron and its support units. The group operated Lockheed C-121 Constellation aircraft on long-distance transport missions, including passenger movement to Europe and flights supporting locations in the Caribbean and the Pacific. During the Vietnam War era, its routes included Japan, Thailand, South Vietnam, Australia and the Philippines. In July 1965, the unit moved to McGuire Air Force Base. On 1 January 1966, the organization became the 170th Military Airlift Group as the Military Air Transport Service was replaced by the Military Airlift Command. Around 1 December 1969, it was redesignated the 170th Aeromedical Airlift Group, reflecting a greater emphasis on patient airlift. The C-121s were retired in 1973 and replaced by de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou transports, which were designed for smaller loads and operations from forward or unimproved airstrips. The group became the 170th Tactical Airlift Group on 9 June 1973. The unit entered a new operational era on 1 April 1977, when it was redesignated the 170th Air Refueling Group, Heavy, and equipped with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. It was assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing and later associated with the 108th Air Refueling Wing. On 30 September 1993, the group was inactivated when New Jersey implemented the Air Force's Objective Wing organization. The 150th Air Refueling Squadron continued under the 108th Operations Group as the wing's second KC-135 squadron. The 170th lineage was transferred from New Jersey to Nebraska on 1 July 2007. The modern unit developed from Detachment 1 of Nebraska Air National Guard Headquarters, which had been established in June 2002. It was formally reactivated at Offutt Air Force Base in a July 2007 ceremony. This reactivation supported the Future Total Force Initiative and created an administrative structure for Nebraska Air National Guard members working alongside the active-duty 55th Wing. In its current form, the group does not operate as a conventional independent airlift or refueling group. Instead, it supports the training and operational functions of the Offutt-based reconnaissance, command-and-control and intelligence community. The 170th Operations Support Squadron works with the 55th Operations Support Squadron, while Guard instructors support qualification, requalification and upgrade training through the 338th Combat Training Squadron and related units. Supported aircraft include the RC-135 Rivet Joint, RC-135 Combat Sent, RC-135 Cobra Ball and E-4B Nightwatch. On 18 October 2024, the 238th Combat Training Squadron was redesignated the 238th Reconnaissance Squadron.
- 2024
Training squadron redesignated
[1]The 238th Combat Training Squadron was redesignated the 238th Reconnaissance Squadron on 18 October 2024.
- 2007
Reactivated in Nebraska
[1]The lineage was withdrawn from New Jersey, allotted to Nebraska and reactivated at Offutt Air Force Base in July 2007.
- 1993
Inactivated in New Jersey
[1]The group was inactivated on 30 September 1993 during implementation of the Objective Wing organization.
- 1977
Converted to air refueling
[1]The group received KC-135 Stratotankers and became the 170th Air Refueling Group, Heavy.
- 1973
Transitioned to tactical airlift
[1]The group replaced its C-121 aircraft with C-7 Caribous and was redesignated the 170th Tactical Airlift Group.
- 1966
Redesignated as a military airlift group
[1]The organization became the 170th Military Airlift Group on 1 January 1966.
- 1964
Activated in New Jersey
[1]The group received federal recognition and was activated at Newark Municipal Airport on 18 January 1964.
- 1963
Established for Air National Guard service
[1]The 170th Air Transport Group, Heavy, was established and allotted to the Air National Guard on 16 December 1963.
Products and positioning
A National Guard integration and support organization linking Nebraska Air National Guard personnel with the active-duty 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base.
Military training · 2007
Aircrew training support
The group's Guard instructors contribute to initial qualification, requalification and upgrade training for Air Force and Air National Guard aircrews. The supported aircraft community includes RC-135 Rivet Joint, RC-135 Combat Sent, RC-135 Cobra Ball and E-4B Nightwatch platforms. This function is delivered through integration with active-duty training organizations rather than through a commercial product model.
Military operations support · 2007
Operational support
Through the 170th Operations Support Squadron, the group provides Guard personnel for functions supporting the 55th Wing's global command-and-control and intelligence missions. Areas include intelligence, requirements, weapons and tactics, base operations, weather and aviation resource management.
Brand decisions
2007
Reactivation to integrate Guard support at OffuttStrategyBackground
Nebraska Air National Guard personnel stationed at Offutt needed a unified structure for integration with the active-duty 55th Wing.
Action taken
The 170th Group was reactivated in July 2007 as part of the Future Total Force Initiative.
Aftermath
The group became an active administrative and operational bridge between Nebraska Guard personnel and the 55th Wing's training, command-and-control and intelligence missions.
1993
Inactivation under the Objective Wing structureStrategyBackground
The Air National Guard reorganized units so that installations could place their operational elements under a single wing.
Action taken
The 170th Air Refueling Group was inactivated on 30 September 1993 and its principal flying squadron was assigned to the 108th Operations Group.
Aftermath
The group's organizational existence ended temporarily, but the squadron lineage and air-refueling capability continued in the 108th Air Refueling Wing.
1977
Conversion from tactical airlift to air refuelingStrategyBackground
After operating C-121 and C-7 transport aircraft, the New Jersey unit was assigned a tanker mission.
Action taken
The group received Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and was redesignated the 170th Air Refueling Group, Heavy.
Aftermath
The unit continued in the air-refueling structure until its 1993 inactivation, while the 150th Air Refueling Squadron continued under the 108th Operations Group.
Recent events
- 2024
238th Combat Training Squadron redesignated as 238th Reconnaissance Squadron[1]
Leadership change
The squadron associated with the 170th Group was redesignated the 238th Reconnaissance Squadron on 18 October 2024, reflecting its reconnaissance-related role.
- 2007
170th Group reactivated at Offutt Air Force Base[1]
Other
The 170th Group was reactivated in Nebraska in July 2007 to consolidate Air National Guard support for the 55th Wing under the Future Total Force Initiative.
Sources1 sources
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