186th Air Refueling Wing | |
---|---|
Active | 1962–present |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | Mississippi |
Branch | Air National Guard |
Type | Wing |
Role | Air Refueling |
Size | About 1200 |
Part of | Mississippi Air National Guard |
Garrison/HQ | Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian Regional Airport |
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Cynthia Smith |
Insignia | |
186th Air Refueling Wing emblem | |
186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group emblem | |
Tail Stripe |
The 186th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Mississippi Air National Guard stationed at Meridian Regional Airport, Mississippi. The 153d Air Refueling Squadron, assigned to the Wing's 186th Operations Group, was established on 18 August 1939 as the 153d Observation Squadron, one of the 29 National Guard observation squadrons formed before World War II.
The group was first organized in October 1962 as the 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. It served in the reconnaissance role until 1992, when it received Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers and converted to an air refueling mission.