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6th Air Refueling Wing

Mission Statement

The 6th Air Refueling Wing delivers world-class air refueling and comprehensive installation support to promote global security, power projection, and humanitarian operations, executing Air Mobility Command’s mission with precision and excellence.

Vision

To be America’s premier air refueling wing, providing unmatched global reach through innovative, agile, and resilient Airmen.

Overview

Stationed at MacDill Air Force Base on the Interbay Peninsula in Tampa, Florida, the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6th ARW) is a vital component of Air Mobility Command (AMC), assigned to the Eighteenth Air Force. With over 3,000 personnel organized into five groups, the wing operates 26 KC-135 Stratotankers to project air refueling power worldwide. As the host unit, it supports Headquarters U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and 33 mission partners, managing assets exceeding $3 billion. MacDill AFB, spanning 5,695 acres, employs over 20,000 personnel—7,721 active-duty, 8,147 civilians, and 11,147 dependents—bolstered by approximately 40,825 retirees in the region.

Lineage

  • Established: 20 December 1950 as 6th Bombardment Wing, Medium.
  • Activated: 2 January 1951.
  • Redesignations:
    • 6th Bombardment Wing, Heavy (16 June 1952)
    • 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing (1 May 1962)
    • 6th Strategic Wing (25 March 1967)
    • 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (1 April 1988)
    • 6th Air Base Wing (22 December 1993)
    • 6th Air Refueling Wing (1 October 1996)
    • 6th Air Mobility Wing (1 January 2001)
    • 6th Air Refueling Wing (30 September 2019)
  • Predecessor Unit: 6th Composite Group (1919–1937), later 6th Bombardment Group (1937–1952).

Assignments

  • Eighth Air Force (1951–1963)
  • Various Strategic Aerospace Divisions (1963–1992)
  • Ninth Air Force (1994–1996)
  • Twenty-First Air Force (1996–2003)
  • Eighteenth Air Force (2003–present)

Stations

  • France Field, Panama Canal Zone (1919–1943, predecessor unit)
  • North Field, Tinian (1944–1948, predecessor unit)
  • Walker AFB, New Mexico (2 January 1951–25 March 1967)
  • Eielson AFB, Alaska (25 March 1967–1 September 1992)
  • MacDill AFB, Florida (4 January 1994–present)

Operational Components

  • 6th Operations Group: Plans and executes global air refueling and specialized missions using KC-135R aircraft.
  • 6th Maintenance Group: Manages logistics for worldwide refueling missions, overseeing 733 personnel, a $12 million annual budget, and $3 billion in assets.
  • 6th Mission Support Group: Operates, sustains, and defends the installation, delivering mission support to Team MacDill.
  • 6th Medical Group, Defense Health Agency (DHA): Provides readiness-focused healthcare to 265,000 beneficiaries.
  • 6th Comptroller Squadron: Manages financial operations, certifying $1.05 billion in funding documents.
  • Squadrons:
    • 6th Operations Support Squadron
    • 50th Air Refueling Squadron
    • 91st Air Refueling Squadron
    • 99th Air Refueling Squadron (Birmingham International Airport, Alabama)
    • Historical: 24th, 39th, 40th Bombardment/Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons; 307th, 310th Air Refueling Squadrons; 579th Strategic Missile Squadron.

Aircraft

  • Current: KC-135 Stratotanker (26 aircraft, 1996–present; designated KC-135R/T).
  • Future Transition: KC-46 Pegasus (infrastructure upgrades in progress).
  • Historical:
    • Panama Canal Zone (1919–1943):
      • 1919–1921 (3rd Observation Group, France Field): Curtiss R-2/F6C floatplane, R-4, JN-4 “Jenny” (observation and training).
      • 1922–1936 (6th Group: Observation, Composite; France Field): DeHavilland 4-B, SE-5A, MB-3A, P-12B (observation and pursuit); HS2L, OA-1 Loening seaplane, O-2, O-38, NBS-1, PW9 (maritime patrol and observation); LB-5, LB-6, LB-7 (1928–32, light bombers); OA-4, O-19 (1930–36, amphibious observation); B-3, B-6 (1931–36, early bombers).
      • 1937–1943 (6th Bombardment Group: Medium, Heavy; France Field, Rio Hato AB, Howard Field): B-10 (1936–37), B-18 “Bolo” (1936–39), B-17 “Flying Fortress” (1938–43); LB-30 “Liberator II” (1941–43), B-24 “Liberator” (1942–43); A-17 “Nomad,” Piper L-4E (liaison), RB-17 (1943, reconnaissance).
    • World War II: Pacific Theater (1944–1948) (6th Bombardment Group, Heavy, Very Heavy; Dalhart AAF, Grand Island AAF, Tinian, Clark Field, Kadena):
      • B-17 “Flying Fortress” (1944, training), B-29A “Superfortress” (1944–47, combat), RB-29 (1946–48, reconnaissance possible).
      • Training: AT-6 Texan, UC-78 Bobcat (1944).
    • Walker AFB, New Mexico (1951–1967):
      • 1951–1952 (6th Bombardment Wing, Medium): B-29, KB-29 (tanker, phased out by 1954).
      • 1952–1967 (6th Bombardment Wing, Heavy; 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing; 6th Strategic Wing): B-36 “Peacemaker” (1952–57), B-52D/E/F “Stratofortress” (1957–67); Atlas ICBM (1962–65); KC-135 “Stratotanker” (1958–67, 1967–92); T-33 Shooting Star, C-47 Skytrain (support/training).
    • Eielson AFB, Alaska (1967–1992) (6th Strategic Wing, 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing):
      • KC-135 “Stratotanker” (1967–92); RC-135S (Cobra Ball), RC-135U (Combat Sent), RC-135V/W (Rivet Joint) (1967–92); TC-135 (1985–92, reconnaissance training); C-135, C-130 Hercules (logistics).
    • MacDill AFB, Florida (1994–Present):
      • 1994–1996 (6th Air Base Wing): No aircraft; base support for USCENTCOM/USSOCOM.
      • 1996–Present (6th Air Refueling Wing, 6th Air Mobility Wing, 6th Air Refueling Wing): KC-135R/T “Stratotanker” (1996–Present, 26 aircraft); EC-135N (1997–2003, command-and-control); CT-43 “Bobcat” (1997–2001, executive transport); C-37A Gulfstream (2001–2019, VIP transport); C-130, C-17 (temporary, humanitarian missions, e.g., 2010 Haiti).

Operations

The 6th ARW projects air refueling power globally, supporting U.S. and allied aircraft. Key highlights:

  • Historical:
    • Panama Canal Defense (1919–1943)
    • WWII: Trained B-17/B-26 crews; bombed Japan from Tinian.
    • Cold War: Evolved from bombardment to missile and reconnaissance operations.
    • Post-1994: Supported Operations UNIFIED RESPONSE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN.
  • Current (2024): Refueled 4,400 aircraft in 845 combat missions for USCENTCOM, partnered with 927th ARW, and flew 1,979 sorties with 46.8M lbs of fuel offloaded.

Decorations

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 18 awards (1960–2022).
  • Air and Space Outstanding Unit Awards: 2 awards (2022–2024).
  • Bestowed Honors (6th Operations Group, pre-1951):
    • Distinguished Unit Citations: Tokyo (25 May 1945); Japanese Empire (9–19 July 1945).
    • Campaign Streamers: WWII (Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific); Global War on Terrorism (Service).

Emblem

  • Description: Features a pirate with a refueling boom, symbolizing WWII heritage and current mission.
  • Significance: Blue and yellow Air Force colors; biplane (R-4), sailing ship (Caribbean service), and falling star (bombardment) reflect lineage. Motto: Parati Defendere (Ready to Defend).

Economic and Community Impact

  • Workforce: 7,721 active-duty, 8,147 civilians, 11,147 dependents; 40,825 retirees nearby.
  • Economic Impact (2024): $3.8 billion, creating 17,806 indirect jobs in Tampa Bay.
  • Community Role: Hosts Tampa Bay AirFest and supports local communities.

Commander

  • Current Commander (as of August 2024): Colonel Edward V. Szczepanik.
  • Background: Commissioned in 2003, command pilot with over 3,260 flight hours (677 combat). Focuses on readiness, joint partnerships, and KC-46 transition.

Major Units at MacDill AFB

  • 6th ARW (host unit)
  • 927th ARW (Air Force Reserve)
  • United States Central Command (USCENTCOM)
  • United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
  • Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE)

Looking Ahead

The 6th ARW is preparing for the KC-46 Pegasus refueling aircraft, with infrastructure upgrades ensuring future readiness. The wing continues to support global operations from its strategic Tampa location.

Contact Information

  • Address: 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs, 8208 Hangar Loop Drive, MacDill AFB, FL 33621
  • Phone: (813) 828-2217
  • Website: http://www.macdill.af.mil

(Current as of April 2025)