926th Wing

The 926th Wing is an Air Reserve Component organization of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force within Air Force Reserve Command and is headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Rather than being a commercial brand, it is a military formation whose identity has changed several times as its missions, aircraft, command relationships, and geographic responsibilities evolved. The organization began as the 926th Troop Carrier Group. It was organized in the Air Force Reserve at Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana, on 17 January 1963, following a broader Reserve reorganization intended to give individual flying squadrons their own support structures. Its initial role was tactical airlift: training reservists to move airborne forces, equipment, and supplies by airland, airdrop, and cargo-extraction methods. The group initially operated Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars and later transitioned to Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft. In 1967, its designation became the 926th Tactical Airlift Group, reflecting the wider global mobility role. The unit entered the fighter mission in the late 1970s. It converted to the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly and became the 926th Tactical Fighter Group, then transitioned to the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. During the 1990–1991 Gulf crisis, personnel and aircraft supported Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Approximately 450 members were recalled to active duty in December 1990, making the organization the first Air Force Reserve combat unit recalled for that conflict. The group later converted to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1992, becoming the 926th Fighter Group, and was redesignated the 926th Fighter Wing in 1994. It subsequently returned to the A/OA-10 platform, completing that conversion and reaching combat readiness in 1997. During the 1990s, the unit supported air operations associated with the no-fly zones over Iraq, including Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch, and participated in deployments connected with Operations Deny Flight and Aerospace Expeditionary Force One. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, its personnel were mobilized and deployed to multiple locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. The organization underwent a major relocation and mission transformation in the mid-2000s. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process identified the 926th Fighter Wing for inactivation, while Hurricane Katrina damage at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans accelerated the movement of aircraft and personnel. A-10 aircraft were transferred to other Air Force Reserve organizations, and logistics support moved to Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado. The headquarters moved to Nellis Air Force Base in October 2007, where the organization became the 926th Group. On 5 December 2014, the 926th Group was redesignated the 926th Wing. At the same time, the 726th Operations Group and 926th Operations Group were activated to command associated Reserve squadrons. The current wing operates as an associate organization supporting the United States Air Force Warfare Center. Its reservists contribute sustained expertise at operational and tactical levels, including combat operations, operational test and evaluation, tactics development, advanced training, space-range activities, aggressor instruction, aircraft maintenance, security, engineering, medical support, and force support. The 726th Operations Group, based at Creech Air Force Base, supports the 432nd Wing, the Air Force's first dedicated unmanned aircraft wing. Its associated units support training and combat missions involving MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper systems, including the preparation of pilots, sensor operators, and other remotely piloted aircraft personnel. The 926th Operations Group at Nellis oversees a geographically distributed collection of test, evaluation, aggressor, and space-related squadrons, with elements at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The wing therefore represents the Air Force Reserve's continuing integration with advanced airpower, remotely piloted aircraft, operational testing, and warfare-center activities.

The lineage of the 926th Wing reflects the changing requirements of the United States Air Force Reserve. The organization was established as the 926th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, in December 1962, although it was not organized at that time. It was organized in the Reserve on 17 January 1963 at Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana, as the headquarters for the 706th Troop Carrier Squadron. The creation of the group followed a Reserve-wide effort to correct weaknesses in the Detached Squadron Concept, under which flying squadrons were distributed among numerous military and civilian airfields while support units remained concentrated at a parent wing headquarters. The group's initial mission involved tactical airlift of airborne troops, equipment, and supplies. It used Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars and was assigned through a series of Reserve wings to the gaining command responsible for its training and mobilization. In 1967, the designation changed to the 926th Tactical Airlift Group. The organization began operating Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft in 1969. In October 1972, two of its C-130s were flown into South Vietnam as part of a United States Air Force program intended to increase South Vietnamese cargo capability near the end of the Vietnam War. Following the transfer of tactical C-130 aircraft from Tactical Air Command in 1975, the group's gaining-command relationship changed to Military Airlift Command. A major mission shift occurred in 1977, when the Air Force selected the organization for conversion to the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly. The change brought a combat-aircraft mission and the designation 926th Tactical Fighter Group. The unit operated the A-37 until it completed conversion to the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II in 1982. In 1990, after Iraq invaded Kuwait, the organization began deploying personnel and A-10 aircraft in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In December of that year, roughly 450 members were recalled to active duty, making the unit the first Air Force Reserve combat unit recalled for the Gulf War. In February 1992, the organization became the 926th Fighter Group, a change associated with the end of Tactical Air Command and the creation of Air Combat Command. It converted from the A-10 to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, completing the transition in October 1992. On 1 October 1994, it became the 926th Fighter Wing. The wing later returned to A/OA-10 aircraft, reaching combat readiness after the conversion in September 1997. During the late 1990s, it supported deployments connected with Operation Deny Flight, the Northern and Southern Watch no-fly-zone operations over Iraq, and Aerospace Expeditionary Force One in Kuwait. Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, personnel were mobilized and deployed to locations worldwide in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. The next major transformation came through the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. The 926th Fighter Wing was identified for inactivation, with aircraft and personnel redistributed among other installations. Damage to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina accelerated the relocation. By spring 2006, the wing's A-10 aircraft had moved to other Air Force Reserve organizations, while logistics-readiness support moved to Buckley Air Force Base. The headquarters relocated to Nellis Air Force Base in October 2007, and the organization was redesignated the 926th Group on 17 August 2007. As Air Force Reserve support to the United States Air Force Warfare Center expanded, the group was redesignated the 926th Wing on 5 December 2014. Two operations groups were activated at the same time: the 726th Operations Group at Creech Air Force Base and the 926th Operations Group at Nellis Air Force Base. The current wing is an associate unit of the United States Air Force Warfare Center. It provides reservists who work alongside active-duty forces in combat operations, operational test and evaluation, tactics development, advanced training, remotely piloted aircraft operations, aggressor activities, and space-related testing and range missions. Its geographically separated elements at Creech, Eglin, and Schriever Air Force Bases support the wing's distributed mission structure.

• 2014

  Reactivation as a wing

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 926th Group was redesignated the 926th Wing, with the 726th and 926th Operations Groups activated.

• 2007

  Relocation to Nellis and group redesignation

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The headquarters moved to Nellis Air Force Base and the organization became the 926th Group.

• 1997

  Return to A-10 combat readiness

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The conversion back to A/OA-10 aircraft was completed and the unit became combat-ready.

• 1994

  Wing designation restored

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization officially became the 926th Fighter Wing.

• 1992

  F-16 conversion and fighter-group redesignation

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The unit became the 926th Fighter Group and converted from the A-10 to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.

• 1990

  Gulf War mobilization

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  Personnel and A-10 aircraft deployed for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; approximately 450 members were recalled to active duty.

• 1982

  A-10 Thunderbolt II conversion completed

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization completed its transition from the A-37 to the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.

• 1978

  Conversion to tactical fighters

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The unit became the 926th Tactical Fighter Group after beginning conversion to the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly.

• 1972

  South Vietnam airlift support

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  Members flew two C-130 aircraft into South Vietnam as part of a program to strengthen South Vietnamese cargo capability.

• 1969

  C-130 Hercules conversion

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The group began transitioning to Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical airlifters.

• 1967

  Tactical airlift designation adopted

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated the 926th Tactical Airlift Group as its mission expanded beyond its original troop-carrier identity.

• 1963

  Reserve group organized

  [1]926th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 926th Troop Carrier Group was organized at Naval Air Station New Orleans as a support headquarters for the 706th Troop Carrier Squadron.

A Reserve associate wing positioned as a source of sustained operational and tactical expertise for the United States Air Force Warfare Center and related combat, training, testing, and tactics-development missions.

• Tactical airlift aircraft · 1963

  Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

  The C-119 was the organization's principal early transport aircraft after its Reserve activation. It supported the original troop-carrier mission of moving personnel, equipment, and supplies by airland and airdrop methods.

• Tactical airlift aircraft · 1969

  Lockheed C-130 Hercules

  The C-130 Hercules expanded the group's tactical airlift capacity and supported cargo and personnel missions, including the 1972 deployment of two aircraft to South Vietnam.

• Light attack aircraft · 1978

  Cessna A-37 Dragonfly

  The A-37 marked the organization's transition from tactical airlift to combat aviation. Its introduction brought a fighter mission and the redesignation as the 926th Tactical Fighter Group.

• Close air support aircraft · 1981

  Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

  The A-10 became the unit's principal combat aircraft during the Gulf War era and supported deployments related to Iraq's no-fly zones and later post-2001 operations. The organization operated A-10 and OA-10 variants during separate periods.

• Multirole fighter aircraft · 1992

  General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

  The F-16 was introduced during the unit's early-1990s modernization. The conversion was completed by October 1992, before the organization later returned to the A-10 platform.

• Unmanned aircraft systems support

  MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper mission support

  Through the 726th Operations Group, the wing supports the 432nd Wing's remotely piloted aircraft mission, including training pilots, sensor operators, and other crews and contributing to worldwide surveillance and attack operations.

• 2001Operation Enduring Freedom

  Worldwide

  After the September 11 attacks, members were mobilized and deployed to support the United States' global counterterrorism campaign.

  Outcome. Personnel supported operations at multiple locations worldwide.

  Source
• 2001Operation Noble Eagle

  United States

  The wing's personnel also supported domestic defense and air-security activities under Operation Noble Eagle.

  Outcome. The organization contributed Reserve manpower to homeland-defense requirements.

  Source
• 1999Aerospace Expeditionary Force One

  Kuwait

  The organization returned to Kuwait in 1999 for an Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment.

  Outcome. The deployment extended the unit's regional expeditionary role after the Gulf War.

  Source
• 1990Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

  Kuwait · Persian Gulf region

  The organization deployed personnel and A-10 aircraft after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Approximately 450 members were recalled to active duty in December 1990.

  Outcome. The unit contributed Reserve combat personnel and aircraft to the coalition campaign.

  Source
• 1990Operation Southern Watch

  Southern Iraq · Kuwait

  The unit participated in later deployments supporting enforcement of the southern Iraqi no-fly zone.

  Outcome. The organization continued contributing combat-aircraft and Reserve personnel to regional air operations.

  Source
• 1990Operation Northern Watch

  Northern Iraq · Turkey

  The organization supported deployments associated with enforcement of the northern Iraqi no-fly zone during the late 1990s.

  Outcome. The unit provided personnel and operational support within the no-fly-zone mission.

  Source
• 1990Operation Deny Flight

  Balkans

  The organization participated in deployments connected with the NATO-led no-fly-zone and air-support operation over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  Outcome. The unit contributed to multinational air operations in the Balkans.

  Source

• 2014

  Reorganize as a warfare-center associate wingStrategy

  Background

  Air Force Reserve support to the United States Air Force Warfare Center was expanding and required a formal wing structure with subordinate operations groups.

  Action taken

  The 926th Group was redesignated the 926th Wing, and the 726th and 926th Operations Groups were activated.

  Aftermath

  The wing gained a distributed mission spanning remotely piloted aircraft support, operational testing, tactics development, aggressor activities, and space-related operations.

  Source

• 2005

  Implement BRAC relocation and mission redistributionStrategy

  Background

  The Base Realignment and Closure process identified the fighter wing for inactivation, while Hurricane Katrina damaged its New Orleans-area base.

  Action taken

  Aircraft, personnel, and logistics functions were redistributed among several Air Force installations, and the headquarters moved to Nellis Air Force Base.

  Aftermath

  The organization transitioned from a conventional fighter wing to a Reserve associate structure supporting the Air Force Warfare Center.

  Source

• 1995

  Return to A/OA-10 aircraftGeneration change

  Background

  The organization shifted back toward the close-air-support platform used during its Gulf War-era operations.

  Action taken

  The unit began converting from the F-16 to A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The conversion was completed and the unit was combat-ready in September 1997.

  Source

• 1992

  Convert from A-10 to F-16Generation change

  Background

  Following the end of Tactical Air Command and the creation of Air Combat Command, the fighter group entered a modernization cycle.

  Action taken

  The organization converted to General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and was redesignated the 926th Fighter Group.

  Aftermath

  The F-16 conversion was completed by October 1992, although the organization later returned to the A-10.

  Source

• 1977

  Convert to a combat-aircraft missionStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force directed the organization to move from tactical airlift into fighter operations.

  Action taken

  The group converted to Cessna A-37 aircraft and became the 926th Tactical Fighter Group.

  Aftermath

  The conversion established the combat-aircraft role that later centered on the A-10 and F-16.

  Source

• 1967

  Expand from troop carriage to tactical airliftStrategy

  Background

  The organization adopted a designation reflecting broader airlift responsibilities and worldwide deployment support.

  Action taken

  It was redesignated the 926th Tactical Airlift Group.

  Aftermath

  The new identity aligned the group with a wider tactical mobility mission.

  Source

1. 1926th Wingen.wikipedia.org