127th Air Refueling Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Michigan Air National Guard air-refueling unit assigned to the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 127th Air Refueling Group is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard assigned to the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. The formation traces its lineage to the expansion of the Michigan Air National Guard's 171st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in 1962. Although the supplied identifier refers to the 191st Airlift Group, the authoritative Wikipedia subject is the 127th Air Refueling Group, the successor organization created through a redesignation in 2007. It is therefore treated here as a military unit rather than as a commercial brand. During its early years, the group operated reconnaissance aircraft for Tactical Air Command. It initially flew the RF-84F Thunderstreak and later transitioned to the RF-101C Voodoo. In the early 1970s, the organization moved into the air-defense mission and was redesignated the 191st Fighter-Interceptor Group. It operated F-106 Delta Dart interceptors over the Great Lakes and the Detroit area after becoming associated with Aerospace Defense Command. Following the 1978 consolidation of air-defense responsibilities within Tactical Air Command, the group continued its interceptor role with F-4 Phantom II aircraft. It later moved into the fighter mission, adopted the 191st Fighter Group designation in 1992, and upgraded to F-16A Fighting Falcons. The unit's operational role changed substantially in the 1990s. In 1993 it transferred to Air Mobility Command and became a tactical airlift organization equipped with C-130 Hercules aircraft. Its lineage was redesignated as the 191st Airlift Group in 1994. The group was inactivated in April 1996 as the 127th Fighter Wing and 191st Airlift Group were merged under the One-Base, One-Wing policy. It was reactivated in May 1999 under the 127th Wing to operate the wing's C-130 airlift element. A further transformation followed the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. In September 2007, the C-130 mission ended, the aircraft were transferred, and Selfridge moved toward an air-refueling role using KC-135 Stratotankers. The 191st Group was inactivated, while several of its operational, maintenance, and support components—including the 171st Air Refueling Squadron—were reassigned to the newly designated 127th Air Refueling Group. The present group consequently represents the continuation of the unit's lineage in an air-refueling configuration rather than a conventional consumer-facing brand. In January 2024, the planned transition from KC-135 aircraft to KC-46A Pegasus tankers was publicly announced. The proposal called for a fleet of 12 KC-46 aircraft, replacing the wing's eight KC-135s, with the transition potentially occurring around 2028. The group remains part of the Michigan Air National Guard and supports the federal air-refueling mission through its parent 127th Wing.
History
The unit was established on September 11, 1962, as the 191st Tactical Reconnaissance Group and was allotted to the Air National Guard. It activated on October 1 of that year after the Michigan Air National Guard's 171st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was expanded to group strength. The new group operated from Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport and served primarily as a training formation flying RF-84F Thunderstreak reconnaissance aircraft for Tactical Air Command. In 1971 it moved to the newer RF-101C Voodoo and relocated to Selfridge Air Force Base, now Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Around July 1972, the group was redesignated the 191st Fighter-Interceptor Group and entered the air-defense structure associated with Aerospace Defense Command. It received F-106 Delta Dart interceptors and was responsible for air defense over the Great Lakes and the Detroit region. When Aerospace Defense Command's functions were folded into Tactical Air Command in 1978, the unit continued its air-defense role under the Air Defense, Tactical Air Command component. It flew F-4C Phantom II aircraft from 1978 and F-4D Phantom II aircraft from 1986. In 1985, the organization became associated with First Air Force after the replacement of the Air Defense, Tactical Air Command structure. The group transitioned to F-16A Fighting Falcons in 1990. It was redesignated the 191st Fighter Group in March 1992 and transferred to Air Combat Command in June of that year. In October 1993 it moved to Air Mobility Command and began converting to a C-130 Hercules tactical-airlift unit. The redesignation to 191st Airlift Group followed in July 1994. The group was inactivated on April 1, 1996, when the 127th Fighter Wing and 191st Airlift Group were merged under the One-Base, One-Wing policy. The organization returned to active status on May 1, 1999, as a group under the 127th Wing. In this phase it operated the wing's C-130 airlift element. The next major change resulted from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. In September 2007 the C-130s were transferred and Selfridge's mission shifted toward air refueling with KC-135 Stratotankers. The 191st Group was inactivated and redesignated as the 127th Air Refueling Group. Several subordinate elements were reassigned into the new structure, including the 191st Operation Support Flight, 191st Maintenance Squadron, 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 191st Maintenance Operations Flight, and 171st Air Refueling Squadron. The group remains assigned to the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard. In January 2024, officials announced a planned future transition to KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. The proposal described a 12-aircraft fleet, compared with the eight KC-135s then associated with the wing, and identified approximately 2028 as a possible transition period. The group's institutional history consequently spans reconnaissance, interception, fighter operations, tactical airlift, and its current air-refueling mission.
- 2024
KC-46A transition announced
[1]A future conversion to KC-46A Pegasus aircraft was announced, potentially beginning around 2028.
- 2007
Redesignated 127th Air Refueling Group
[1]Following the BRAC-related transition from C-130s to KC-135s, the 191st Group was inactivated and its lineage was redesignated as the 127th Air Refueling Group.
- 1999
Reactivated under the 127th Wing
[1]The group was reactivated on May 1 to operate the 127th Wing's C-130 airlift element.
- 1996
Inactivated during wing consolidation
[1]The group was inactivated on April 1 during the merger of the 127th Fighter Wing and 191st Airlift Group under the One-Base, One-Wing policy.
- 1993
Moved into tactical airlift
[1]The group transferred to Air Mobility Command and began operating C-130 Hercules aircraft.
- 1972
Redesignated as fighter-interceptor group
[1]The unit entered the air-defense mission and adopted the 191st Fighter-Interceptor Group designation, operating F-106 Delta Dart interceptors.
- 1971
Transitioned to RF-101C Voodoo
[1]The reconnaissance group replaced its RF-84F aircraft with RF-101C Voodoo aircraft and moved to Selfridge.
- 1962
Established as 191st Tactical Reconnaissance Group
[1]The group was established on September 11 and activated on October 1 after the Michigan Air National Guard expanded the 171st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.
Products and positioning
A state and federal military aviation organization whose present mission is aerial refueling within the Michigan Air National Guard, with a lineage that includes reconnaissance, air defense, fighter, and tactical airlift roles.
Reconnaissance aircraft · 1962
RF-84F Thunderstreak
The group's initial reconnaissance platform after its 1962 activation. The RF-84F supported the unit's training and reconnaissance role under Tactical Air Command before being replaced by the RF-101C.
Reconnaissance aircraft · 1971
RF-101C Voodoo
A supersonic reconnaissance aircraft operated by the group during the early 1970s before the unit moved into the fighter-interceptor mission.
Interceptor aircraft · 1972
F-106 Delta Dart
The principal interceptor associated with the group's air-defense period after its 1972 redesignation. The aircraft supported defense of the Great Lakes and Detroit area.
Fighter aircraft · 1978
F-4 Phantom II
The group operated F-4C and later F-4D Phantom II aircraft after the 1978 air-defense reorganization, continuing its interceptor and fighter mission through the 1980s.
Fighter aircraft · 1990
F-16A Fighting Falcon
The group adopted F-16A aircraft in 1990 during its final fighter period before converting to tactical airlift and later air refueling.
Tactical airlift aircraft · 1993
C-130 Hercules
The C-130 became the group's central platform after its 1993 transfer to Air Mobility Command. The aircraft supported the unit's tactical-airlift role during its 1990s and early-2000s active periods.
Air-refueling tanker · 2007
KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 is the group's current air-refueling platform following the 2007 Selfridge mission realignment. It supports aerial refueling operations for the 127th Wing and the wider United States Air Force mission.
Air-refueling tanker
KC-46A Pegasus
The KC-46A is the planned successor platform announced in 2024. The proposed transition would introduce 12 aircraft, replacing the wing's eight KC-135s, potentially beginning around 2028.
Brand decisions
2024
Planned conversion to KC-46A PegasusGeneration changeBackground
The 127th Wing's KC-135 fleet was identified for replacement as part of a future modernization plan.
Action taken
The group was announced as a prospective operator of 12 KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, replacing eight KC-135s, with a possible transition around 2028.
Aftermath
The conversion remained a future plan in the referenced material; no completed delivery or operational date was provided.
2007
Shift from tactical airlift to air refuelingStrategyBackground
The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process led to a realignment at Selfridge, including the transfer of C-130 aircraft and a transition toward KC-135 air-refueling operations.
Action taken
The 191st Group was inactivated and redesignated as the 127th Air Refueling Group, while selected operations, maintenance, and air-refueling components were reassigned to the new structure.
Aftermath
The unit continued under the 127th Wing as an air-refueling organization.
Sources1 sources
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