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6th Air Refueling Wing

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6th Air Mobility Wing
Official emblem of the 6th Air Mobility Wing
Active30 September 1919
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Garrison/HQMacDill AFB, Florida
Motto(s)"Parati Defendere"
Ready to Defend
EquipmentKC-135 Stratotanker, Gulfstream C-37A
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Robert D. Thomas

The United States Air Force's 6th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's (AMC)Eighteenth Air Force.

The 6th AMW provides day-to-day mission support to more than 3,000 personnel along with more than 50 Mission Partners, including the United States Central Command and United States Special Operations Command.

Mission

The 6th Air Mobility Wing is a force capable of rapidly projecting air refueling power anywhere in the world. The Wing is organized into five unique groups and two operational flying squadrons to carry out its mission to be America’s premier mobility team providing world-class air refueling, responsive airlift and airbase support.

Units

The 6th Air Mobility Wing consists of:

Lineage

The 6th Operations Group is the successor to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps 3d Observation Group established on 30 September 1919 at France Field, Panama Canal Zone. On 14 March 1921 the group was redesignated the 6th Group (Observation); in June 1922, the 6th Group (Composite), and on 1 September 1937, the 6th Bombardment Group.

The United States Air Force 6th Bombardment Wing was activated on 2 January 1951 at Walker AFB, New Mexico. In 1952, the wing was bestowed the honours and history of the USAAF 6th Bombardment Group.

The wing was redesignated as the 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing on 1 May 1962; 6th Strategic Wing on 25 March 1967, and 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on 1 April 1988.

The wing was inactivated on 1 September 1992, reactivated on 4 January 1994 as the 6th Air Base Wing; redesignated 6th Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1996, and redesignated 6th Air Mobility Wing on 1 January 2001.

History

Origns

The 6th Air Mobility Wing was activated on 30 September 1919 as the 3d Observation Group at France Field in the Panama Canal Zone to provide protection for the Panama Canal area, participating in maneuvers, flying patrol missions, photographing the canal area, staging aerial reviews and making good-flights to Central and South America.

In 1921 the group was redesignated the 6th Group (Observation) and in 1922, the 6th Group (Composite). The 6th flew such aircraft at the Curtiss R-4, DeHavilland 4-B, SE-5A, MG-3A, Piper L-4, P-12B and Martin B-10 and Douglas B-18 Bolo aircraft.

In 1937, as the mission of the 6th moved toward bombardment, the War Department renamed it the 6th Bombardment Group. They continued to operate in the Canal Zone under the VI Bomber Command of the Sixth Air Force at Rio Hato AB, Albrook Field and Howard Field until 31 October 1943, when it inactivated.

World War II

on 19 April 1944, the 6th reactivated at Dalhart Army Airfield, Texas. Equipped first with B-17 aircraft, crews were later trained in B-29 aircraft for deployment to the Pacific Theater. By 28 December 1944 the 6th had deployed to North Field, Tinian, under Twentieth Air Force, from where it entered WWII by flying navigational escort for a major attack force bound for Iwo Jima. The 6th then struck Tokyo and other major Japanese cities and facilities during daylight high-altitude bombing raids, with crippling, non-stop incendiary raids which destroyed lines of communication, supply, and numerous kamikaze bases. On 25 May 1945, the 6th flew a low-altitude night mission through alerted enemy defenses to drop incendiary bombs on Tokyo, for which they received their first Distinguished Unit Citation. In addition to incendiary raids, the 6th also participated in mining operations. By mining harbors in Japan and Korea in July 1945, the group contributed to the blockade of the Japanese Empire earning their second Distinguished Unit Citation. The 6th's final WWII mission came on 14 August 1945, with the dropping of 500-pound general purpose bombs on the Marifu railroad yards at Iwakuni. With the war over, the 6th dropped food and supplies to Allied prisoners of war and took part in show-of-force flights over Japan.

In January 1946, the 6th Bombardment Group relocated to Clark Field, Luson, Philippines, and in June 1947, to Kadena, Okinawa, where it inactivated 18 October 1948.

Cold War

Resulting from hostilities in Korea, the 6th was reborn on 2 January 1951, as the 6th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) and began flying the formidable B-36 at Walker AFB, New Mexico. The B-52 Stratofortress replaced the wing's B-36 in September 1957, and KC-135 Stratotankers were added in April 1958.

As the Soviet missile threat increased, so did the 6th's mission. On 1 May 1962, with the arrival of the wing's first Atlas-F SM65 intercontinental ballistic missile, came another name change -- the 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing. The missiles lasted until 1965, when Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced base closure of Walker AFB and wing inactivation of the 6th.

The inactivation never happened as the 6th transferred to Eielson AFB, Alaska, without equipment and personnel on 25 March 1967, to become the 6th Strategic Wing. The 6th had gone full circle and was back in reconnaissance as it had been in 1919, only with modern, state-of-the-art RC-135 jet aircraft. The 6th Strategic Wing maintained a detachment at Shemya AFB, Alaska, in addition to maintaining the Alaskan Tanker Task Force to support strategic reconnaissance and NORAD intercept sorties. On 1 April 1988, SAC renamed the wing the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.

Post Cold War

Announcement of the 6th's most recent inactivation came in December 1991, as the mission of the 6th transferred to the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, and the mission of the Alaskan Tanker Task force was terminated. The 6th inactivated 1 September 1992 at Eielson and following the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission?s (DBCRC) termination of MacDill?s 56th Fighter Wing mission in September 1993, the 6th Air Base Wing activated at MacDill on 4 January 1994 with a mission of operating the base in support of US Central Command, US Special Operations Command, and several other associate units.

In September 1994, MacDill became a major staging area for OPERATION RESTORE DEMOCRACY and the wing hosted C-130 units from Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina. During the two-week contingency, wing personnel housed 1,437 troops, supported 562 flying missions, processed over 2.3 million pounds of cargo and 3,360 passengers, dispensed 854,967 gallons of JP-8 fuel, and provided aircraft security for 62 aircraft.

In 1995, the DBCRC again visited MacDill. Efforts of the wing to highlight MacDill's phenomenal airfield capabilities and in-place support units resulted in a redirect of the 1991 and 1993 DBCRC laws regarding the closure and transfer of MacDill's airfield. 1995 DBCRC laws called for the retention of the airfield as part of MacDill AFB (to be operated by the Air Force), and directed the relocation of the 43d Air Refueling Group's mission to transfer from Malmstrom AFB, Montana, to MacDill beginning in October 1996.

On 1 October 1996 the wing again changed names, this time to 6th Air Mobility Wing, assigned to Air Mobility Command's Twenty-first Air Force.

In June 2005, the 6th Air Mobility Wing swept the competition at the Air Mobility Command Rodeo taking first place at McChord AFB, Washington. Rodeo is a week-long biennial competition that focuses on and features airdrops, air refueling, special tactics and other events showcasing security forces, aerial port, main and aeromedical evacuation personnel. This year's Rodeo included teams from across the Air Force, a Marine unit and included six countries.

MacDill won the "Best Air Mobility Wing-Best of the Best" award proving they are the best in the Air Force. Additionally, MacDill won "Best Cargo Load Team," "Best KC-135 Wing" and "Best KC-135 with crew." MacDill also won Rodeo in 2000, the last Rodeo held for five years due to 9/11 and the Global War on Terrorism.

Lineage and Honors


Aircraft & Missiles Operated

References

  • Rarenstein, C. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings: Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Office of Air Force History: Washington, D.C. ISBN: 0-912799-12-9
  • Dorr, R. & Peacock, L. (2000). B-52 Stratofortress: Boeing's Cold War Warrior. Osprey Aviation: Great Britain. ISBN: 1-84176-097-8
  • Lloyd, A. (1999). A Cold War Legacy: A Tribute to the Strategic Air Command 1946-1992. Pictoral Histories Publishing Co: Missoula, Montana. ISBN: 1-57510-052-5
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