Lineage. Established as 916 Troop Carrier Group, Heavy, and activated, on 28 Dec 1962. Organized in the Reserve on 17 Jan 1963. Redesignated as: 916 Air Transport Group, Heavy on 1 Dec 1965; 916 Military Airlift Group on 1 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 8 Jul 1972. Redesignated as 916 Air Refueling Group, Heavy (Associate) on 10 Jul 1986. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1986. Redesignated as: 916 Air Refueling Group (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992; 916 Air Refueling Wing on 1 Oct 1994.
Assignments. Continental Air Command, 28 Dec 1962; 435 Troop Carrier Wing, 17 Jan 1963; 433 Troop Carrier Wing, 18 Mar 1963; 442 Troop Carrier Wing, 1 Jul 1963; 512 Troop Carrier (later, 512 Air Transport; 512 Military Airlift) Wing, 8 Jan 1965; 433 Military (later, 433 Tactical) Airlift Wing, 21 Apr 1971-8 Jul 1972. 452 Air Refueling Wing, 1 Oct 1986; 434 Air Refueling Wing (later, 434 Wing; 434 Air Refueling Wing), 1 Jul 1987; Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Oct 1994; Fourth Air Force, 1 Apr 1997-.
Operational Components. Group. 916 Operations: 1 Aug 1992-. Squadron. 77 Troop Carrier (later, 77 Air Transport; 77 Military Airlift; 77 Air Refueling): 17 Jan 1963-8 Jul 1972; 1 Oct 1986-1 Aug 1992.
Stations. Donaldson AFB, SC, 17 Jan 1963; Carswell AFB, TX, 1 Apr 1963-8 Jul 1972. Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, 1 Oct 1986-.
Commanders. Col Ben J. Mangina, 21 Feb 1963; Lt Col Walter S. Blythe Jr., 25 Mar 1964; Col Stanley V. Rush, 12 Oct 1964; Lt Col Walter S. Blythe Jr., 8 Jan 1965; Lt Col William F. Keaster, 1 May 1965; Lt Col Walter S. Blythe Jr., by Jun 1966; Col Robert W. Creamer, by Dec 1967; Col George H. Bergmark Jr., by Jul 1969; Lt Col Thomas N. Boothe, 25 Sep 1970; Col Claude G. Lawson, by Mar-c. 8 Jul 1972. Lt Col Russell T. Olson, 1 Oct 1986; Lt Col Paul W. Bishop, 1 Nov 1987; Lt Col John J. Batbie Jr., 10 Apr 1988; Col Peter K. Sullivan, 13 Jul 1991; Col John O. Miller, 14 Nov 1992; Col Alfred E. Cronk Jr., 15 Feb 1997; Col James L. Melin, 23 Sep 2000; Col Ronald A. Rutland, 11 Jan 2003; Col Paul J. Sykes, 1 May 2004; Col Stephen J. Linsenmeyer Jr., 14 Jul 2007; Col Randall A. Ogden, 11 Apr 2010-.
Aircraft. C-124, 1963-1972. KC-10, 1986-1995; KC-135, 1995-.
Operations. As a reserve unit, the 916th conducted air and ground training activities, airlifting personnel and cargo in support of active duty forces worldwide. Support missions included military airlifts to South Vietnam beginning in 1965 and to U.S. forces in the Dominican Republic during a 1965 crisis. The group also participated in numerous humanitarian airlift missions. Since Oct 1986, trained for and flew air mobility missions as needed both within and beyond the United States. Refueled aircraft and airlifted passengers and cargo for various training exercises and contingency and humanitarian operations around the world.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Aug 1967-25 Oct 1968; 1 Aug 1990-31 Jul 1992; 2 Aug 1992-1 Aug 1994; 1 Jun 2000-31 May 2002; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2003; 10 Oct 2004-11 Oct 2006; 1 Aug 2007-31 Jul 2009. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-19 May 1972.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 9 Apr 2013.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 2011.
Supersedes statement prepared on 25 Mar 2002.
Emblem. Approved on 4 May 1964; newest rendition approved on 13 Mar 1995.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.