940th Air Refueling Wing

940th Air Refueling Wing
KC-135E previously operated by the 940 ARW prior to transitioning to the KC-135R
Active	1963-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Refueling
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Beale Air Force Base, California
Motto(s)	Citizen Warriors – Always First – Answering America’s Call
Engagements	Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Joint Forge
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Website	www.940arw.afrc.af.mil
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Craig C. Peters
Insignia
940th Air Refueling Wing emblem (approved 11 December 1968)
Tail code	BB
Aircraft flown
Tanker	Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker

The 940th Air Refueling Wing is part of the Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force of the Air Force Reserve Command, is operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command, and is home stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California.

The 940th is an air refueling unit with eight Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft assigned. Its mission is to provide citizen airmen in support of United States national security objectives worldwide.

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: (a) communities were more likely to accept the smaller squadrons than the large wings and (b) the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate local 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 reserve units during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. To resolve this, at the start of 1962, Continental Air Command, (ConAC) determined to reorganize its AFRES 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.

As a result, the 940th Troop Carrier Group was established at McClellan Air Force Base, California on 11 February 1963 as the headquarters for the 314th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been stationed there since October 1955. Along with group headquarters, a combat support squadron, materiel Squadron and a tactical infirmary were organized to support the 314th. The group was equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars for Tactical Air Command airlift operations.