97th Air Mobility Wing

The 97th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force organization based at Altus Air Force Base in southwestern Oklahoma. It is assigned to Nineteenth Air Force within Air Education and Training Command and serves as the host wing for the installation. Its principal role is to provide formal undergraduate and advanced aircrew training for the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter, the KC-46A Pegasus aerial-refueling and transport aircraft, and the KC-135R Stratotanker. Training is organized into academic, simulator, and flying phases, combining classroom instruction, synthetic training, and aircraft operations. The wing’s training enterprise supports as many as 3,000 students annually, including United States and international personnel. Its 97th Operations Group oversees the formal-school mission and also sustains airland, airdrop, and aerial-refueling capability. The wing’s instructor force is expected to retain operational currency, allowing qualified aircrew to deploy in support of worldwide contingencies rather than functioning solely as instructors. Approximately 500 mobility personnel are described as ready for rapid deployment in support of national objectives. The organization is supported by operations, maintenance, mission-support, civil-engineering, communications, logistics, security, contracting, comptroller, and force-support units. Its major flying squadrons include the 54th Air Refueling Squadron, operating the KC-135R; the 56th Air Refueling Squadron, operating the KC-46A; and the 58th Airlift Squadron, operating the C-17A. The 97th Maintenance Group provides aircraft and equipment maintenance for the wing’s assigned fleet and for transient aircraft when required. The wing’s identity is rooted in a much older strategic-airpower history. Established in 1947 as the 97th Bombardment Wing, it initially operated in Alaska during the Air Force’s test of a wing-base organizational structure. It subsequently served at Smoky Hill Air Force Base in Kansas and Biggs Air Force Base in Texas before moving to Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas, later renamed Eaker Air Force Base. During the Cold War it operated B-29, B-50, B-47, and B-52 bombers, as well as tanker aircraft, contributing to Strategic Air Command’s nuclear deterrence and alert missions. Its crews supported aerial-refueling task forces, participated in Operation Chrome Dome, and maintained readiness for emergency war orders. The 97th also participated in major United States military operations and exercises. Its Vietnam-era activities included tanker support, B-52 operations from Guam, and bombing missions during Operation Linebacker II. It flew the final United States bombing mission over Cambodia in August 1973. After the Vietnam War, the wing resumed training and refueling activities, expanded into conventional bombing and other missions, and deployed personnel and aircraft for contingencies including the response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. In the post-Cold War period, the organization was transformed from a strategic bomber wing into an air-mobility training wing. Today its principal institutional value lies in preparing airlift and tanker crews and preserving an operationally credible instructor force for global mobility missions.

The 97th lineage began on 11 September 1947, when the United States Air Force established it as the 97th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy. It was organized on 1 December 1947 at Mile 26 Field in Alaska, later Eielson Air Force Base, as part of an Air Force experiment in which the wing headquarters exercised unusually broad authority over flying and base-support functions. The organization included the 97th Bombardment Group and support elements derived from the 519th Air Service Group. In Alaska, its B-29 Superfortress crews conducted training over the Arctic and tested personnel, aircraft, and maintenance practices in severe conditions. The wing returned to Smoky Hill Air Force Base, Kansas, in March 1948 and moved to Biggs Air Force Base, Texas, in May. In July 1948 the provisional test arrangement ended: the wing was discontinued and immediately reactivated as the 97th Bombardment Wing, Medium, giving it a permanent combat-wing structure. During the early 1950s it transitioned from B-29s to B-50 Superfortresses and developed an important aerial-refueling role. The 97th Air Refueling Squadron received KB-29P tankers in 1950 and helped test and standardize boom-refueling procedures. KC-97 Stratofreighters replaced the earlier tankers beginning in 1954. The wing’s bomber force evolved again during the mid-1950s. Some units conducted electronic-reconnaissance activity with RB-50 aircraft, while the primary bombardment squadrons moved to B-47E Stratojets. In 1959 the wing was redesignated the 97th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and transferred to Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. It received B-52G Stratofortresses beginning in 1960 and became combat-ready as a strategic bombardment organization. Its arsenal and support capabilities expanded to include Hound Dog air-launched missiles, Quail decoys, and KC-135 tanker operations. The wing participated in Strategic Air Command exercises, nuclear-alert activity, and global tanker rotations. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October and November 1962, the wing maintained B-52 aircraft on airborne alert while SAC operated at elevated defense conditions. Its Vietnam War involvement began with tanker support in 1965. Later, wing bomber crews operated from Guam and flew missions in Southeast Asia, including the intensive Operation Linebacker II campaign in December 1972. The wing lost crew members during the campaign, while others became prisoners of war. On 15 August 1973, one of its crews flew the final United States bombing mission over a target in Cambodia, marking the end of American bombing in Southeast Asia. After Vietnam, the 97th returned to bomber training and aerial-refueling activity while adding or supporting contingency missions. Its personnel and tankers contributed to operations connected with the rescue of American citizens in Grenada in 1983. The wing upgraded its B-52G aircraft for the AGM-86 air-launched cruise missile and later expanded its stated capabilities to include conventional bombing, maritime search and surveillance, and aerial mining. It also deployed elements for Operation Desert Shield after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, supporting the broader coalition response. The organization was subsequently reshaped as an air-mobility training wing and relocated to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. In its current form, the 97th provides formal and advanced training for C-17, KC-46, and KC-135 aircrews. Its mission combines instruction with operational readiness: instructors maintain combat currency, while deployable personnel can augment worldwide contingencies. The wing also acts as Altus Air Force Base’s host organization, providing installation infrastructure, security, logistics, communications, engineering, and quality-of-life support.

1. 1990Supported Operation Desert Shield

   Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, wing elements deployed within the United States and overseas in support of the operation.

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2. 1984Added air-launched cruise-missile capability

   The wing upgraded its B-52G force to carry AGM-86 air-launched cruise missiles.

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3. 1973Conducted the final United States bombing mission over Cambodia

   A 97th crew flew the last United States bombing mission against a target in Cambodia on 15 August.

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4. 1972Flew Linebacker II missions

   Wing bomber crews operating from Guam participated in the December 1972 bombing campaign over North Vietnam.

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5. 1962Supported the Cuban Missile Crisis alert

   The wing maintained B-52 aircraft on airborne alert during the elevated Strategic Air Command readiness posture.

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6. 1960Received B-52G aircraft

   The first B-52G arrived, beginning the wing’s principal era as a strategic heavy-bomber formation.

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7. 1959Moved to Blytheville and became a heavy bombardment wing

   The wing transferred to Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas and was redesignated as a heavy bombardment wing.

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8. 1950Entered the boom-refueling era

   The wing received KB-29P tankers and helped test and standardize boom aerial-refueling procedures.

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9. 1948Returned to the continental United States

   The wing moved from Alaska to Smoky Hill Air Force Base and then to Biggs Air Force Base, where it became a permanent combat wing.

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10. 1947Established as a bombardment wing

    The organization was established as the 97th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, and organized at Mile 26 Field in Alaska in December.

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11. Transitioned to air-mobility training

    The organization became an Air Force air-mobility training wing at Altus Air Force Base, focusing on C-17, KC-46, and KC-135 instruction.

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A specialized United States Air Force training and readiness organization combining formal aircrew instruction with global mobility capability and rapid-deployment support.

• C-17 Globemaster III trainingMilitary airlift training

  The 97th provides initial and advanced formal-school training for C-17 pilots and aircrew. The program combines academic instruction, simulator work, and flying activities, while also supporting airland and airdrop mobility operations and maintaining instructor currency.

• KC-46A Pegasus trainingAerial-refueling and transport training

  The wing trains KC-46A aircrews through classroom, simulator, and flight phases. The aircraft supports the Air Force’s modern tanker and mobility fleet, making the training mission central to the development of new-generation aerial-refueling personnel.

• KC-135R Stratotanker trainingAerial-refueling training

  KC-135R training prepares aircrew for aerial-refueling and associated mobility operations. The wing also maintains aircraft, engines, ground equipment, scheduling, weather, airfield, and operational-support functions needed to sustain the training enterprise.

• Installation and mission supportMilitary base support

  As host wing for Altus Air Force Base, the organization provides civil engineering, communications, logistics, security, contracting, force support, comptroller, and other infrastructure services for assigned personnel and tenant activities.

• 1990Operation Desert Shield

  United States · Middle East

  After Iraq invaded Kuwait, elements of the wing deployed to domestic and overseas locations to support the United States-led military buildup.

  Outcome. The organization supplied personnel and operational support to the broader response to the Gulf crisis.

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• 1983Grenada contingency support

  Caribbean · United States

  Wing tanker crews and aircraft supported operations related to the rescue of American citizens in Grenada during October and November.

  Outcome. The wing contributed aerial-refueling capacity to the contingency response.

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• 1973Final United States bombing mission over Cambodia

  Cambodia

  The wing’s crew E-21 conducted the final United States bombing mission against a target in Cambodia on 15 August 1973.

  Outcome. The mission marked the end of United States bombing in Southeast Asia.

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• 1972Operation Linebacker II

  Vietnam

  B-52 crews associated with the wing operated from Guam during the intensive December bombing campaign over North Vietnam.

  Outcome. The campaign concluded after eleven days; the wing sustained combat losses and later continued operations until the end of United States bombing in Southeast Asia.

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• 1962Cuban Missile Crisis

  United States · Strategic Air Command

  The wing maintained B-52 aircraft on airborne alert and increased readiness during the elevated Strategic Air Command posture created by the Soviet missile deployment in Cuba.

  Outcome. The crisis ended without the wing launching a combat mission, and normal operations resumed after the alert period.

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1. 97th Air Mobility Wing
2. 97th Air Mobility Wing fact sheet