171st Air Refueling Wing
The 171st Air Refueling Wing is a Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit that provides aerial refueling, air mobility support, and expeditionary operations with KC-135T Stratotankers.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The 171st Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard headquartered at Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. It is an operational military organization rather than a commercial brand. When activated for federal service, the wing is assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. Its central mission is aerial refueling: using Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers to extend the range and endurance of fighter aircraft, bombers, transport aircraft, and other air assets. The wing currently has 16 aircraft assigned and operates through two air-refueling squadrons, supported by operations, maintenance, mission-support, medical, and air-traffic-control organizations. The wing traces its federal recognition to 1 February 1961, when the Pennsylvania Air National Guard expanded the 147th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron into the 171st Air Transport Group. The flying unit was initially redesignated as the 147th Aeromedical Transport Squadron and operated C-119J Flying Boxcars. Its mission later broadened through conversion to C-121G Super Constellations, combining military airlift with aeromedical evacuation. In 1966 the organization became the 171st Military Airlift Group, and in 1968 it became the first Air National Guard group of its kind to be designated an aeromedical airlift group. That year it supported the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing from Scott Air Force Base and conducted evacuation missions connected with the Vietnam War, moving patients from South Vietnamese staging locations and military installations to treatment hospitals. A major strategic change came in 1972, when the unit was redesignated the 171st Air Refueling Wing and began transitioning from the C-121G to the KC-97L Stratotanker. The wing entered the Strategic Air Command in 1976 and moved to the KC-135A in 1977, a jet-powered tanker that significantly improved speed, range, and global reach. An interim engine modernization program produced the KC-135E configuration during the 1980s. The wing later became part of Air Combat Command after the inactivation of Strategic Air Command in 1992 and entered Air Mobility Command in 1993. The 171st has repeatedly supported overseas and domestic missions. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, more than 300 members deployed in several locations, while the wing conducted hundreds of combat sorties and refueled nearly 3,000 allied aircraft. In 1993, the 146th Air Refueling Squadron was consolidated into the wing's operations structure alongside the 147th, creating a 16-aircraft organization that became one of the Air National Guard's relatively small number of super-tanker wings. The wing subsequently supported Operation Allied Force in 1999, Operation Joint Forge in 2000, Operation Noble Eagle after the September 11 attacks, and later operations associated with Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The September 11, 2001 attacks created an immediate homeland-defense requirement. Although most aircraft were undergoing cockpit and navigation modernization, the wing placed its only flyable tanker into the air within minutes to support fighter combat air patrols over the eastern United States. Maintenance and aircrew personnel rapidly returned additional aircraft to service, enabling continuous support sorties with eight mission-capable KC-135s within a day. The wing has also supported humanitarian and contingency operations, including Hurricane Katrina relief, overseas deployments to Guam and the Middle East, and the 2011 Libya operation. In that operation, the 171st served as the lead unit for the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing, supporting the transition from Operation Odyssey Dawn to NATO's Operation Unified Protector. In 2018, members of its maintenance group deployed to Kandahar Airfield, representing the first deployment of the wing's tankers or associated personnel into a combat-zone tanker location since the Vietnam era. Its present identity is therefore defined by aerial refueling readiness, Air National Guard citizen-airman service, expeditionary support, and integration with broader United States Air Force mobility operations.
History
The 171st Air Refueling Wing was federally recognized in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard on 1 February 1961 as the 171st Air Transport Group. Its flying component, the 147th Aeromedical Transport Squadron, initially operated C-119J aircraft. After conversion to C-121G Super Constellations, the group performed military airlift with an aeromedical-evacuation role. It was redesignated the 171st Military Airlift Group in 1966 and the 171st Aeromedical Airlift Group in 1968. In 1968 the organization supported the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing from Scott Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. Using C-131 Samaritan aircraft, it transported patients from forward casualty-staging locations and military installations in South Vietnam to destination hospitals. The unit flew 510 sorties and moved 11,947 patients during that activation before returning to Pennsylvania control in December. The organization entered the aerial-refueling era on 1 November 1972, when it became the 171st Air Refueling Wing and began converting to KC-97L Stratotankers. It was assigned to Strategic Air Command in 1976 and transitioned to KC-135A jet tankers in 1977. A later engine program produced KC-135E aircraft. Following the end of the Cold War, Strategic Air Command was inactivated in 1992; the wing subsequently came under Air Combat Command and then Air Mobility Command in 1993. The wing's organizational structure expanded in 1993 when the 146th Air Refueling Squadron was transferred into the 171st Operations Group and reunited with the 147th Air Refueling Squadron. The resulting 16-aircraft wing became one of the Air National Guard's super-tanker wings. It supported operations in the Persian Gulf, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and the United States. Its Desert Shield and Desert Storm contribution included 556 combat missions and refueling support for nearly 3,000 allied aircraft. In 1999 it supported Operation Allied Force from European bases, and in 2000 it supported Operation Joint Forge from France. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the wing rapidly assumed a homeland-defense role. Its first available KC-135 launched to refuel fighters conducting eastern-U.S. combat air patrols, while ground personnel restored additional aircraft to operational status. The unit continued to support Operation Noble Eagle and subsequent overseas campaigns, as well as disaster-response and other expeditionary assignments. In 2011 it provided the lead organization for the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing during the Libya intervention. In 2018 its maintenance personnel deployed to Kandahar Airfield, reflecting the continuing expeditionary nature of the wing's mission.
- 2018
Maintenance deployment to Kandahar
[1]Personnel from the 171st Maintenance Group deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
- 2011
Led 313th Air Expeditionary Wing for Libya operations
[1]The wing served as the lead unit for a multinational tanker force supporting the Libya no-fly-zone mission.
- 2001
September 11 homeland-defense response
[1]The wing rapidly generated tanker support for combat air patrols over the eastern United States.
- 1999
Operation Allied Force deployment
[1]The wing deployed aircraft and personnel to Hungary and Germany for NATO operations in the Balkans.
- 1993
146th and 147th squadrons reunited
[1]The 146th Air Refueling Squadron joined the 171st Operations Group, while the 112th Air Refueling Group was inactivated.
- 1991
Gulf War activation concluded
[1]The wing returned from federal service after supporting Desert Shield and Desert Storm with hundreds of combat sorties.
- 1977
Transitioned to KC-135A aircraft
[1]The wing replaced its propeller-driven tankers with KC-135A jet aircraft, increasing range and refueling capacity.
- 1976
Assigned to Strategic Air Command
[1]The wing was reassigned to Strategic Air Command as the Air National Guard took on a larger role in national strategic-force requirements.
- 1972
Converted to air refueling
[1]The unit was redesignated the 171st Air Refueling Wing and began transitioning to KC-97L Stratotankers.
- 1968
Became an aeromedical airlift group
[1]The organization became the first Air National Guard group designated as an aeromedical airlift group and supported Vietnam-era patient movement.
Products and positioning
A Pennsylvania Air National Guard tanker wing positioned as a deployable, globally integrated aerial-refueling and expeditionary-support organization.
Military aviation service
KC-135T Stratotanker aerial refueling
The wing's principal current capability is aerial refueling with KC-135T Stratotankers. These aircraft transfer fuel in flight to fighters, bombers, transports, and other aircraft, allowing receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer, carry additional payload, or operate from distant bases. The wing assigns aircraft to the 146th and 147th Air Refueling Squadrons and supports both domestic defense and expeditionary operations.
Historical military aviation service · 1961
Aeromedical airlift
Before becoming an air-refueling wing, the organization conducted military airlift and aeromedical evacuation. Its C-119J, C-121G, and C-131 aircraft supported patient movement, including Vietnam-era missions that transported casualties from forward locations to treatment hospitals.
Military deployment capability
Expeditionary tanker support
The wing provides deployable aircrews, aircraft maintainers, mission-support personnel, and command elements for combat, coalition, homeland-defense, and humanitarian assignments. Its documented missions include Gulf War operations, Balkan air campaigns, post-9/11 air patrol support, Libya operations, Afghanistan deployments, and disaster relief.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation Unified Protector
Libya · Mediterranean region
The wing served as the lead unit for the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing during the international response to unrest in Libya and enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.
Outcome. The multinational force reported approximately 1,500 sorties, 11,000 flying hours, and 70 million pounds of fuel transferred before Operation Unified Protector ended on 31 October 2011.
- 2001Operation Noble Eagle
United States
Following the September 11 attacks, the wing provided urgent aerial-refueling support to fighter combat air patrols over the eastern United States, including the airspace around southwestern Pennsylvania.
Outcome. The wing moved from a modernization stand-down to continuous operational support, generating eight fully mission-capable KC-135 aircraft within 24 hours according to the reference material.
- 2000Operation Joint Forge
France · Bosnia and Herzegovina
The wing deployed 228 personnel and seven KC-135 aircraft to Istres Air Base in support of NATO stabilization operations in the Balkans.
Outcome. Crews flew 51 sorties and transferred approximately 1.4 million pounds of fuel.
- 1999Operation Allied Force
Hungary · Germany · Balkans
The wing activated more than 500 personnel and 14 aircraft to Budapest and Frankfurt in support of NATO efforts against ethnic aggression in Yugoslavia.
Outcome. The expeditionary group flew 411 sorties and refueled 2,157 receiver aircraft before personnel returned by early July.
- 1990Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm
Saudi Arabia · Persian Gulf region
More than 300 wing members deployed in support of the Gulf crisis and subsequent combat operations. The unit operated from locations including the King Abdul Aziz Air Base area and provided tanker support for coalition air forces.
Outcome. The wing reported 556 combat missions, nearly 3,000 refueled allied aircraft, approximately 4.6 million gallons of fuel offloaded, and a 100 percent mission-effectiveness rate during the cited period.
- 1968Vietnam War aeromedical airlift
Vietnam · United States
The 171st Aeromedical Airlift Group augmented the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing from Scott Air Force Base. It moved patients from combat-area staging bases and military installations in South Vietnam to treatment hospitals, flying 510 sorties and transporting 11,947 patients.
Outcome. The group completed the activation and returned to Pennsylvania control in December 1968.
Brand decisions
1993
Consolidated the 146th and 147th air-refueling squadronsStrategyBackground
The 171st Air Refueling Wing and the 112th Air Refueling Group were both located at Pittsburgh, creating an opportunity to consolidate tanker resources.
Action taken
The 146th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the 171st Operations Group, the 112th Air Refueling Group was inactivated, and the 146th and 147th squadrons were reunited.
Aftermath
The wing became a 16-aircraft organization with two air-refueling squadrons and was described as one of only three super-tanker wings in the Air National Guard.
1977
Transitioned from KC-97L to KC-135A tankersGeneration changeBackground
The propeller-driven KC-97L offered less speed and capacity than newer jet-powered tankers.
Action taken
The wing adopted the four-engine KC-135A Stratotanker.
Aftermath
The transition increased the wing's refueling capacity and expanded its ability to support worldwide operations.
1972
Adopted the aerial-refueling missionStrategyBackground
The Air National Guard was reorganizing to contribute more directly to total United States defense requirements, while the unit was moving beyond its earlier airlift and aeromedical roles.
Action taken
The organization was redesignated the 171st Air Refueling Wing and transitioned from C-121G aircraft to KC-97L Stratotankers.
Aftermath
The change established aerial refueling as the wing's enduring primary mission and led to later KC-135 conversions and global deployments.
Sources2 sources
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