6th Air Refueling Wing

FACT SHEET

6TH AIR REFUELING WING

MISSION

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.

BACKGROUND

Stationed at MacDill Air Force Base on the Interbay Peninsula in Tampa, Florida, the 6th Air Refueling Wing is a vital component of Air Mobility Command and is assigned to the 21st Air Force. The wing operates 26 KC-135R/T Stratotanker aircraft to project air refueling power worldwide. As the host unit for MacDill Air Force Base, the wing directly supports Headquarters U.S. Central Command, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command and 44 joint mission partners, managing capital assets exceeding $3 billion. MacDill Air Force Base spans 5,695 acres and employs a total workforce of more than 15,800 active-duty military and civilian personnel. The installation's presence supports an additional 11,000 military dependents and a local community of approximately 40,000 military retirees residing in the Tampa Bay region.

LINEAGE

Established as 6th Bombardment Wing, Medium, on Dec. 20, 1950. Activated on Jan. 2, 1951. Redesignated as: 6th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on June 16, 1952; 6th Strategic Aerospace Wing on May 1, 1962; 6th Strategic Wing on March 25, 1967; 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on April 1, 1988; 6th Air Base Wing on Dec. 22, 1993; 6th Air Refueling Wing on Oct. 1, 1996; 6th Air Mobility Wing on Jan. 1, 2001; 6th Air Refueling Wing on Sept. 30, 2019.

BESTOWED HONORS
By official military decree, the 6th Air Refueling Wing shares in the history, lineage, and bestowed honors of its predecessor units—the 6th Composite Group (1919–1937) and the 6th Bombardment Group (1937–1952). This official designation authorizes the modern wing to display the combat campaign streamers and Distinguished Unit Citations earned by these units during World War II.

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. Eighth Air Force (1951–1963)
  2. Various Strategic Aerospace Divisions (1963–1992)
  3. Ninth Air Force (1994–1996)
  4. 21st Air Force (1996–2003)
  5. 18th Air Force (2003–2025)
  6. 21st Air Force (2025–present)

STATIONS

  1. France Field, Panama Canal Zone (1919–1943, predecessor unit)
  2. North Field, Tinian (1944–1948, predecessor unit)
  3. Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico (Jan. 2, 1951–March 25, 1967)
  4. Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (March 25, 1967–Sept. 1, 1992)
  5. MacDill Air Force Base, Florida (Jan. 4, 1994–present)

COMMANDERS

Colonel Kevin H. Eley (July 2026–present). A senior pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours, including more than 1,400 combat hours, Col. Eley commissioned in 2003 and previously served as the commander of the 89th Operations Group at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

MAJOR COMPONENTS

The 6th Air Refueling Wing is organized into five groups and one direct-reporting comptroller squadron:

  • 6th Operations Group: Plans and executes global air refueling and specialized operations utilizing KC-135R/T Stratotanker aircraft. (Assigned squadrons: 6th Operations Support Squadron, 50th Air Refueling Squadron, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, and the 99th Air Refueling Squadron operating out of Birmingham International Airport, Alabama).
  • 6th Maintenance Group: Directs logistics and maintenance support for the wing's refueling fleet, managing a $12 million operating budget and $3 billion in aircraft assets.
  • 6th Mission Support Group: Operates, sustains, and defends the physical infrastructure of MacDill Air Force Base, delivering critical support services to all tenant units.
  • 6th Medical Group: Directs healthcare operations under the Defense Health Agency, supporting clinical readiness and providing care to approximately 265,000 regional beneficiaries.
  • 6th Comptroller Squadron: Manages base financial services, managing and certifying $1.05 billion in annual funding allocations.

AIRCRAFT AND WEAPON SYSTEMS

  • Panama Canal Zone (1919–1943): Curtiss R-2, JN-4 Jenny, DeHavilland 4-B, MB-3A, P-12B, HS2L, OA-1 seaplane, O-2, O-38, NBS-1, PW9, LB-5, LB-6, LB-7, OA-4, O-19, B-3, B-6, B-10, B-18 Bolo, B-17 Flying Fortress, LB-30 Liberator II, B-24 Liberator, A-17 Nomad, Piper L-4E, RB-17
  • World War II Pacific (1944–1948): B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29A Superfortress, RB-29, AT-6 Texan, UC-78 Bobcat
  • Walker AFB, NM (1951–1967): B-29, KB-29, B-36 Peacemaker, B-52D/E/F Stratofortress, Atlas ICBM, KC-135 Stratotanker, T-33 Shooting Star, C-47 Skytrain
  • Eielson AFB, AK (1967–1992): KC-135 Stratotanker, RC-135S Cobra Ball, RC-135U Combat Sent, RC-135V/W Rivet Joint, TC-135, C-135, C-130 Hercules
  • MacDill AFB, FL (1994–Present): KC-135R/T Stratotanker, EC-135N, CT-43 Bobcat, C-37A Gulfstream, KC-46A Pegasus (active infrastructure transition)

DECORATIONS

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 18 awards (1960–2022)
  • Air and Space Outstanding Unit Awards: Two awards (2022–2024)

HONORS

  • Distinguished Unit Citations: Tokyo, Japan (May 25, 1945); Japanese Empire (July 9–19, 1945).
  • Campaign Streamers: World War II (Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific); Global War on Terrorism (Service).

EMBLEM

The 6th Air Refueling Wing emblem features a pirate superimposed over a refueling boom, reflecting both the historical legacy of Caribbean service and the wing's modern air refueling mission. The background elements include Air Force gold and blue, an early biplane (representing the wing's origins), a historical sailing ship and a falling star symbolizing its strategic bombardment lineage. The official wing motto is Parati Defendere (Ready to Defend).

ECONOMIC IMPACT

According to the wing's 2024 economic analysis, the 6th Air Refueling Wing generates an annual economic impact of $3.8 billion within the Tampa Bay region. The installation's activities directly support and create approximately 17,806 indirect civilian jobs across the local community.

POINT OF CONTACT

For more information, contact the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office at 8208 Hangar Loop Drive, MacDill AFB, FL 33621; phone (813) 828-2217 or visit https://www.macdill.af.mil.

Current as of July 2026