160th Air Refueling Group

160th Air Refueling Group
Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker (s/n 58-0008) from the 145th Air Refueling Squadron, 160th Air Refueling Group, Ohio Air National Guard, refuels two U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat fighters from Fighter Squadron VF-74 Be-Devilers, assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-60).
Active	1961-1993
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Group
Role	Air Refueling
Part of	Ohio Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio
Insignia
160th Air Refueling Group emblem

The 160th Air Refueling Group (160 ARG) is an inactive unit of the Ohio Air National Guard. It was last stationed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio. The 160th ARW was inactivated on 1 October 1993.

The Ohio Air National Guard’s 160th Air Refueling Group has its origin with the establishment of the 145th Air Transport Squadron at Akron-Canton Airport, Ohio, 17 March 1956. Its mission was aeromedical evacuation and C-46D Commandos were assigned as interim aircraft until 1958 when they were replaced by the C-119J Flying Boxcar.

In 1961, the 145th was transferred to Clinton County AFB near Wilmington, Ohio. Its mission was changed to air refueling and the 160th Air Refueling Group was established on 8 July 1961 as a headquarters and support organization with Tactical Air Command (TAC) becoming its gaining major air command. The 160th received KC-97F/G Stratotanker aircraft and in 1964, it participated in Operation “Ready Go”, the first all United States Air National Guard (ANG) non-stop deployment of fighter aircraft to Europe. In 1965, the KC-97Gs were upgraded to KC-97Ls with addition of jet engine pods mounted to the outboard wings. 1967 saw the beginning of Operation Creek Party, a continuous rotational mission flying from Rhein Main Air Base, Germany, providing air refueling to U. S Air Forces, Europe (USAFE). The success of this operation, which would continue until 1975, demonstrated the ability of the Air Guard to perform significant day-to-day missions without being mobilized. The 160th was one of the mission’s “Charter” units and when its Creek Party participation ended it had safely flown 426 transatlantic crossings. The unit received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period of 5 June 1967 to 10 May 1968.

The Group Commander at the time, Colonel Frank Cattran, considered aircraft tail number 52-2630 to be "his" bird and often flew it in preference to any of the others. This aircraft became involved in a "Sister City" ceremony with Zeppelinheim, Germany - a small town near Rhein-Main AB - near the end of the Creek Party operation. Upon the Unit's conversion from KC-97s to KC-13's this aircraft was transferred to the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Dayton, Ohio, where it can be seen today with its Ohio Air National Guard and Zeppelinheim markings.

In 1971, Clinton County Air Force Base closed and the 160th moved to Lockbourne Air Force Base near Columbus, Ohio. A second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award was received for the period of 11 May 1968 to 30 June 1975. In 1975, the 160th became the first Air Guard unit to convert to the KC-135A Stratotanker all jet tanker aircraft with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as the gaining command. It was the first ANG unit to perform the SAC Alert mission and pass a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection in July, 1976. The 160th also participated in SAC overseas Tanker Task Forces and other priority missions worldwide. In 1984, the KC-135As were reengined and redesignated as KC-135Es. The upgrade to turbofan engines provided a significant increase in performance, safety and reliability.

In August, 1990, the 160th was one of the first Air Guard units to deploy aircraft after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Aircraft and volunteer aircrews were heavily involved in “Air Bridge” refueling missions supporting deployment of combat forces to Southwest Asia. Aircraft, aircrews and support personnel began volunteer rotational Desert Shield deployments to a provisional Tanker Task Force at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 160th was called to active duty on 20 December 1990. Deployment began on 28 December and the 160th became part of three Provisional Air Refueling Wings at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Jeddah. Additional personnel augmented a regional support base at Moron AB, Spain while others deployed to various bases to “backfill” for deployed active duty personnel. Combat flying missions for Operation Desert Storm commenced on 17 January 1991. The 160th compiled a remarkable record of mission accomplishment during combat operations. When hostilities ended, the 160th returned home in March 1991 to a tremendous welcome by families and friends.

September 1991 brought the stand down of the SAC Alert mission which the 160th had maintained continuously for more than 15 years. 160th began the conversion to KC-135R aircraft in October 1991, and in June 1992, the Strategic Air Command was deactivated with 160th becoming part of the new Air Mobility Command. In September 1993, the 160th was deactivated. All unit members, aircraft, equipment and the 145th Air Refueling Squadron became part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing.

• Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command (1992–1993)
• Air National Guard/Strategic Air Command (1975–1992)
• Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1961-1975)

• 160th Air Refueling Group (1961–1993)
• 145th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (1958–1961)
• 145th Air Transport Squadron Medium AE (1956–1958)

• 145th Air Refueling Squadron (1961-1993); 160th Civil Engineering Squadron (1986-1993); 160th Combat Support Squadron (1962-1993); 160th Communications Flight (1966-1993); 160th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (1966-1993); 160th Supply Squadron (1966-1993); 160th Security Police Flight (1975-1993); 160th USAF Clinic (1979-1993).

• Lockbourne AFB/Rickenbacker ANGB (1971–1993)
• Clinton County AFB (1961–1971)
• Akron-Canton Municipal Airport (1956–1961)

• KC-135 Stratotanker (1975–1993)
• KC-97 Stratotanker (1961–1975)
• C-119J Flying Boxcar (1958–1961)
• C-46 Commando (1956–1958)

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award^[2]

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, June 5, 1967 - May 10, 1968; DAF S.O. GB-157, 1 March 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, First Oak Leaf Cluster, May 11, 1968 - June 30, 1975; DAF S.O. GB-558, July 15, 1977.

• Ohio Air National Guard 60 Year History, Copyright 1988, Published by Headquarters Ohio Air National Guard;
• Crossroads of Liberty, Copyright 2008 by Robert M. Stroup II, Published by Pictorial Histories Publishing Co, Inc. ISBN 978-1-57510-133-0.