171st Air Refueling Wing
military unit
The 171st Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, located at Pittsburgh International Airport in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.
Mission
The 171st Air Refueling Wing is an air refueling organization which provides in-flight refueling of fighters, bombers and other aircraft using the KC-135T Stratotanker. The 171 ARW presently has 16 aircraft assigned.
Units
The 171st Air Refueling Wing consists of the following units:
171st Operations Group
146th Air Refueling Squadron (KC-135T Stratotanker)
147th Air Refueling Squadron (KC-135T Stratotanker)
258th Air Traffic Control Squadron
Geographically separated unit of the 171st ARW, located at the John P. Murtha Cambria County Airport in Johnstown Pennsylvania.
171st Maintenance Group
171st Mission Support Group
171st Medical Group
History
Aeromedical Airlift
On 1 February 1961, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 147th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was authorized to expand to a group level, and the 171st Air Transport Group was established by the National Guard Bureau. The 147th being transferred from the 112th Fighter-Interceptor Group and re-designated as the 147th Aeromedical Transport Squadron. The 147th ATS became the 171st ATG's flying squadron. The 147th ATS was converted to twin engine C-119J Flying Boxcar aircraft and began training for its new mission. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 171st Headquarters, 171st Material Squadron (Maintenance), 171st Combat Support Squadron, and the 171st USAF Dispensary.
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