927th Air Refueling Wing

927th Air Refueling Wing
927th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotankers
Active	15 January 1963 — present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Air Refueling
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	MacDill Air Force Base, Florida
Tail Code	Blue tail stripe "MacDill" in white
Engagements	Operation Desert Storm Operation Deny Flight Operation Enduring Freedom
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
927th Air Refueling Wing emblem (approved 5 June 1995)
927th Tactical Airlift Group emblem
Aircraft flown
Tanker	KC-135 Stratotanker

The 927th Air Refueling Wing is an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force of Air Force Reserve Command and is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

The wing is an associate unit of the 6th Air Mobility Wing of Air Mobility Command, with both units sharing and flying the same Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft. If mobilized to active duty, the wing is operationally-gained by Air Mobility Command.

The mission of the 927th Air Refueling Wing is to provide a dedicated and prepared Total Force Team to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace.

The wing directly supports the totally integrated Air Force mission by way of extending the global reach of United States air power through mission ready personnel and equipment while providing global air refueling and airlift operations.

The wing consists of 3 groups and 11 subordinate units including:

After May 1959, the Air Force reserve flying force consisted of 45 troop carrier squadrons assigned to 15 troop carrier wings. The squadrons were not all located with their parent wings, but were spread over thirty-five Air Force, Navy and civilian airfields under what was called the Detached Squadron Concept. The concept offered several advantages. Communities were more likely to accept the smaller squadrons than the large wings and the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate recruiting and manning. However, under this concept, all support organizations were located with the wing headquarters. Although this was not a problem when the entire wing was called to active service, mobilizing a single flying squadron and elements to support it proved difficult. This weakness was demonstrated in the partial mobilization of Air Force Reserve units during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. To resolve this, at the start of 1962, Continental Air Command, (ConAC) determined to reorganize its reserve wings by establishing groups with support elements for each of its troop carrier squadrons. This reorganization would facilitate mobilization of elements of wings in various combinations when needed.