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22nd Air Refueling Wing
Unit of US Air Force Air Mobility Command / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
22d Air Refueling Wing![]() | |
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Active | 1 August 1948–present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Air Refueling |
Part of | Air Mobility Command |
Garrison/HQ | McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas |
Motto(s) | Ducemus Latin "We Lead" |
Equipment | Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker Boeing KC-46 Pegasus |
Decorations | Distinguished 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] | ![]() |
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]