22nd Air Refueling Wing

22d Air Refueling Wing
A 22d Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker refuels an F-22A Raptor from Edwards AFB, California.
Active1 August 1948–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir Refueling
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Garrison/HQMcConnell Air Force Base, Kansas
Motto(s)Ducemus Latin "We Lead"
EquipmentBoeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Cory M. Damon[1]
Notable
commanders
General Howell M. Estes II
General Hansford T. Johnson
General Jerome F. O'Malley
Major General William Crumm
Insignia
22d Air Refueling Wing emblem (approved 28 June 1951)[2]

The 22d Air Refueling Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas and also functions as the host wing for McConnell.

Its primary mission is to provide global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where and when needed. It is one of only three "supertanker" wings in the Air Force, with four Regular Air Force air refueling squadrons, and 47 Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker and Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft.[citation needed]

Its origins date to 1940 as the 22d Bombardment Group. The group was one of the first United States Army Air Forces units to be deployed into the Pacific Theater after the Pearl Harbor Attack with the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber. The 22d Operations Group carries the lineage and history of its highly decorated World War II predecessor unit. Active for over 60 years, the 22 Air Refueling Wing and its earlier designation as the 22d Bombardment Wing, was a component wing of Strategic Air Command's deterrent force during the Cold War.

The 22d Air Refueling Wing is commanded by Colonel Richard Tanner.[3] Its Vice Commander is Colonel Mark Baran.[4] The Wing's Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Melissa Royster.[5]

  1. ^ "McConnell Air Force BaseBiographies". McConnell AFB. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ Robertson, Patsy (13 February 2008). "Factsheet 22 Air Refueling Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Cory M. Damon".
  4. ^ "COLONEL MARK E. BARAN > McConnell Air Force Base > Biographies". www.mcconnell.af.mil. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Chief Master Sergeant Melissa H. Royster".