Lineage

Established as 19th Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 10 Aug 1948. Activated on 17 Aug 1948. Redesignated: 19th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 1 Jul 1961; 19th Air Refueling Wing, Heavy, on 1 Oct 1983; 19th Air Refueling Wing on 1 Sep 1991.

Assignments

Twentieth Air Force, 17 Aug 1948; Far East Air Forces, 16 May 1949; Twentieth Air Force, 17 Oct 1949 (attached to Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, Provisional, 1 Jun 1953?c. 28 May 1954); Second Air Force, 11 Jun 1954 (attached to Air Division Provisional, 813th, 11 Jun?14 Jul 1954); 813th Air Division, 15 Jul 1954 (attached to 5th Air Division, 7 Jan? 11 Apr 1956); 823d Air Division, 1 Jun 1956 (attached to 5th Air Division, 8 May?7 Jul 1957); 57th Air Division, 25 Jul 1968; 823d Air Division, 2 Jul 1969; 42d Air Division, 30 Jun 1971; Eighth Air Force, 16 Jun 1988; Fifteenth Air Force, 1 Sep 1991; Twenty-First Air Force, 1 Jul 1993?.

Components

Groups. 19th Bombardment (later, 19th Operations): 17 Aug 1948?1 Jun 1953 (detached 28 Jun 1950?1 Jun 1953); 1 Sep 1991?. 457th Operations: 1 Jul 1993?1 Oct 1994.

Squadrons. 19th Air Refueling: 1 Feb 1956?1 Apr 1960 (detached 1 Feb? 1 Jun 1956). 21st Troop Carrier: attached 12 Jan?1 Feb 1950. 28th: 1 Jun 1953?1 Oct 1983. 30th: 1 Jun 1953?1 Jan 1962. 93d: 1 Jun 1953?1 Aug 1961. 99th: 1 Oct 1983?1 Sep 1991. 100th Air Refueling: attached 2 Feb 1955?16 Aug 1956. 303d Air Refueling: 1 Nov 1959?1 Apr 1961. 407th Air Refueling: 1 Apr 1962?2 Jul 1968. 525th: 9 Jan?15 Mar 1961. 526th: 9 Jan? 1 Jun 1961. 659th: 1 Nov 1958?1 Jul 1961. 912th Air Refueling: 25 Jul 1968?1 Sep 1991.

Stations

North Guam (later, Andersen) AFB, Guam, 17 Aug 1948; Kadena AB, Okinawa, 1 Jun 1953?28 May 1954; Pinecastle AFB, FL, 11 Jun 1954; Homestead AFB, FL, 1 Jun 1956; Robins AFB, GA, 25 Jul 1968?.

Commanders

Lt Col Clarence G. Poff, 17 Aug 1948; Col Robert V. DeShazo, 24 Sep 1948; Maj Gen Alvan C. Kincaid, 16 May 1949; Brig Gen Alfred R. Maxwell, 1 Jun 1949; Col Frederick E. Calhoun, 26 Nov 1949; Brig Gen Adlai H. Gilkeson, 29 Nov 1949; Brig Gen Robert W.C. Wamsatt, 27 May 1951; Col Harvey C. Dorney, 1 Jun 1953; Col Lloyd H. Dalton, Jr., 31 Aug 1953; Col John W. Livingston, 24 Apr 1954; Col Virgil M. Cloyd, Jr., 26 Jul 1954; Col John W. Livingston, 9 Feb 1958; Col James H. Thompson, 14 Apr 1958; Col Roland W. Bergamyer, 1 Aug 1960; Col Richard R. Stewart, 5 Jul 1961; Col Mason A. Dula, 24 Oct 1963; Col Edward D. Edwards, 14 Dec 1963; Col Gordon F. Goyt, 4 Jun 1966; Col Clifford W. Hargrove, 1 Aug 1967; Col James S. Howard, 1 Jul 1968; Col Wesley L. Pendergraft, 25 Jul 1968; Col Gerhard R. Abendhoff, 1 Apr 1969; Col William R. Thorstenson, 13 Feb 1970; Col Dudley G. Kavanaugh, 3 Sep 1971; Col Stanley C. Beck, 9 Aug 1972; Col Nathaniel A. Gallagher, 1 Dec 1972; Col John F. Wylam, 9 Apr 1973; Col William E. Masterson, 9 Jul 1973; Col Nathaniel A. Gallagher, 29 Oct 1973; Col Frank H. McArdle, 15 Feb 1974; Col Edwin L. Smith, 11 Jul 1975; Col Charles W. Reeves, Jr., 28 Jun 1977; Col Donald O. Pflugrath, 26 Jun 1978; Col Ellie G. Shuler, Jr., 16 Jan 1980; Col Donald L. Marks, 10 Jul 1980; Col Richard L. Purdum, 18 Aug 1981; Col Norman R. Butler, 6 Oct 1983; Col Thomas M. Mooney, 28 Sep 1984; Col James M. Hembree, 25 Jul 1986; Col John D. Lunt, 13 Aug 1987; Col Dennis M. Lane, 4 Apr 1989; Col Robert A. Plebanek, 22 Jun 1990; Col Terrance J. Phelps, 19 Dec 1991; Col Tome H. Walters, Jr., 9 Feb 1993?.

Aircraft

B?29, 1948?1950, 1953?1954; B?47, 1954?1961; KC?97, 1955?1961; B?52, 1962?1968, 1968?1972, 1973?1983; KC?135, 1962?1968, 1968? 1972, 1973?; EC?135, 1984?; EC?137, 1991?; T?37, 1993?.

Operations

Formed in Aug 1948 from resources of the former North Guam Air Force Base Command (Provisional). Operated North Guam (later, Andersen) AFB, Guam, and maintained proficiency in B?29s. In May 1949, the wing assumed responsibility for administering three bases plus an assortment of support facilities and units. When the Korean War began, the 19th Bombardment Group was immediately detached for operations from Kadena AB, Okinawa. The wing remained at Andersen AFB in an administrative and logistical capacity. On 1 Jun 1953, wing headquarters moved without personnel or equipment to Kadena and absorbed personnel and equipment of the inactivated 19th Bombardment Group. Through 27 Jul 1953 the wing flew 281 combat sorties (23 missions) in Korea. Moved to Florida in May?Jun 1954, turning in its B?29s at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, enroute, and began receiving B?47s. Gained a KC?97 air refueling unit early in 1955. Deployed to Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco, Jan?Apr 1956, and to Ben Guerir AB, Morocco, May?Jul 1957. From Jul 1957 to Apr 1961, the wing maintained a portion of its tactical resources on overseas alert. Converted to B?52 and KC?135 aircraft in 1961?1962. Won the Fairchild Trophy in the SAC bombing and navigation competition for 1966. Moved without personnel or equipment to Robins AFB, GA, on 25 Jul 1968 and absorbed resources of the 465th Bombardment Wing. Furnished B?52 and KC?135 aircraft and crews to other SAC organizations involved in combat operations in Southeast Asia, and late in 1972 the wing headquarters reduced to a small housekeeping unit because of personnel deployments. Regained KC?135 and B?52 aircraft and crews and resumed normal operations in Nov 1973. Won the Omaha Trophy as the "outstanding wing in SAC" for 1981. Redesignated an air refueling wing on 1 Oct 1983, began worldwide aerial refueling missions for various operations and exercises, and supported the European Tanker Task Force. Flew aerial refueling missions supporting the rescue efforts in Grenada, 23?24 Oct 1983. Beginning in 1984, provided two EC?135 aircraft and crews to support the United States Central Command?s mission in Southwest Asia. With conversion to KC?135R aircraft, gained the additional missions of supporting the Pacific and Alaska Tanker Task Forces in Mar 1988, and the Caribbean Tanker Task Force in Mar 1990. Wing aircraft and crews set sixteen world aviation records in the "Time to Climb Event" on 19 Nov 1988. Flew aerial refueling missions for the invasion of Panama, 18?21 Dec 1989. Deployed KC/EC?135 aircraft and personnel to Southwest Asia, Aug 1990?Mar 1991, to provide aerial refueling and transport of cargo, and command, control and communications aircraft. Starting 1 Jan 1992, provided an EC?137 and crews to support the United States Special Operations Command. Began supporting the Saudi Tanker Task Force in Aug 1992.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. Korea: Korea, Summer, 1953. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada, 1983.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1964?30 Jun 1965; 1 Jul 1967? 30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1982?30 Jun 1984; 1 Jul 1984?30 Jun 1986. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [1 Jun 1953]?27 Jul 1953.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display the honors earned by the 19th Operations Group prior to 17 Aug 1948.

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Philippine Islands; East Indies; Papua; Guadalcanal; Western Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 1 Dec 1941? 10 May 1942; Philippines Islands, 8?22 Dec 1941; Philippine Islands and Netherlands Indies, 1 Jan?1 Mar 1942; Philippine Islands, 6 Jan?8 Mar 1942; Papua, 23 Jul?[Oct] 1942; New Britain, 7?12 Aug 1942; Japan, 9?19 Mar 1945; Kobe, Japan, 5 Jun 1945. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Emblem

Azure, within a pattern of four mullets Or a winged stylized sword point to base of the like detailed Azure all within a diminished bordure Or. Approved for the 19th Group on 19 Oct 1936 and for the 19th Wing on 9 May 1952; modified on 19 Sep 1983. Motto: CHECKMATE TO AGGRESSION, approved c. 3 Oct 1969.