The 507th Air Refueling Wing is the largest Air Force Reserve Command flying unit in the state of Oklahoma. The 507th ARW reports to Fourth Air Force and performs daily missions both locally and around the world in support of Air Mobility Command and U.S. Strategic Command's national emergency war order requirements, operating out of Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The wing operates and maintains eight KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft providing world-wide aerial refueling to U.S. and NATO aircraft in times of peace, war, and national emergency. The 507th ARW trains aircrew on the Reserve KC-135 and the Reserve C-17 Globemaster III at a geographically separated unit, the 730th Air Mobility Training Squadron at Altus AFB, Okla., where KC-46 Pegasus flight training will begin in the near future.
Today, the 507th ARW consists of three subordinate groups and 11 squadrons while employing more than 1,100 men and women. The 507th ARW is made up of citizen Airmen, many of whom live and work in our Oklahoma communities in addition to their Reserve commitment. Approximately 200 members of the 507th are traditional civilian employees or dual status Air Reserve Technicians who serve as a support cadre.
The 507th ARW is one of the more diverse Air Force Reserve units in existence. Reservists fly three to four missions daily and off-load millions of pounds of fuel in support of operations worldwide. The 507th ARW flies more than 3,000 hours annually in support of national defense requirements. Additionally, the wing serves as the support backbone for the 513th Air Control Group (ACC), the Air Force Reserve’s only associate E-3 Sentry Airborne and Warning Control System (AWACS). Expeditionary medical support rounds out the wing to make it one of the Reserve Command’s most valuable assets.
The wing’s location at Tinker AFB has created a strong working relationship with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, the Air Force’s primary KC-135 engine maintenance facility. The 507th routinely supports depot requests involving modification projects aimed at producing future upgrades to the Air Force’s tanker fleet.
The 507th was activated at Tinker Air Force Base in 1972 as the 507th Fighter Group, flying the F-105D “Thunderchief.” In 1980, the unit converted to the F-4D “Phantom” and then to the F-16A “Falcon” in 1990.
In 1994, the 507th converted to its current KC-135R "Stratotanker" aerial refueling mission. In 1995, the 507th was a driving force in the creation and activation of the 513th ACG, an Air Force Reserve Airborne Warning and Control Systems associate unit at Tinker AFB.
In 1997, the 513th ACG became a direct reporting unit to the Air Force Reserve's Tenth Air Force and Air Combat Command with the 507th continuing to provide peacetime personnel and support functions for that organization.
During the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure and Total Force Integration process, the 507th ARW was selected to become the first Air Force Reserve unit to serve as a host wing for an associate Air National Guard wing. Aircrew and maintenance members from Oklahoma’s 137th Air Refueling Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, transitioned from C-130 aircraft and served as equal partners with the 507th flying and maintaining the KC-135. In July 2015, this unique Air Reserve Component Association between the 507th ARW and the 137th ARW ended as the 137th transferred to Special Operations Command.
The 507th ARW plays an important part in the Oklahoma community. The wing has a combined military-civilian work force and many members live in the Oklahoma or Texas areas. The 507th ARW’s estimated annual economic impact in the greater Oklahoma City area for FY14 exceeded $90 million. The wing’s major subordinate units are described below.
The 507th Operations Group
The 507th Operations Group (507th OG) has a lean staff consisting of the commander, immediate staff, and standardization-evaluation functions. The group commander oversees three subordinate units: 465th Air Refueling Squadron, 507th Operations Support Squadron and the 730th Air Mobility Training Squadron.
The 465th Air Refueling Squadron (465th ARS) is one of three flying organizations in the 507th OG, incorporating pilots and traditional operations functions. The squadron operates eight Boeing KC-135R aircraft from Tinker Air Force Base. Reservists, both pilots and boom operators, fly and maintain worldwide mission-ready status and regularly deploy in support of contingency operations.
The 507th Operations Support Squadron (507th OSS) incorporates traditional operations support functions such as Intelligence, Aircrew Flight Equipment, Combat Crew Communications, Operations Plans, war plans and flight records maintenance.
The 730th Air Mobility Training Squadron (730th AMTS) is a geographically separated unit operating at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The 730th AMTS is charged with training aircrew on the C-17, KC-135 and in the future, KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft. The Reservists in the unit work next to active duty Airmen of the 97th Air Mobility Wing, training aircrew members for Air Education and Training Command.
The 507th Maintenance Group
The 507th Maintenance Group brings all maintenance support activities under a single commander. The group staff is small, consisting primarily of quality assurance personnel supporting intermediate level maintenance. Additionally, due to the deactivation of all Maintenance Operations Flights, group staffs now support aircraft records, maintenance reporting, personnel support, and military training. The Maintenance Group consists of two squadrons.
The 507th Maintenance Squadron is responsible for periodic inspections, fabrication repairs, propulsion, air refueling boom maintenance, aircraft fuel systems, and aerospace ground equipment.
The 507th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is responsible for directing all organizational level maintenance and generation of aircraft.
The 507th Mission Support Group
The Mission Support Group commander oversees five squadrons: 507th Security Forces Squadron, 507th Civil Engineer Squadron, 507th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 507th Force Support Squadron, and 72nd Aerial Port Squadron.
The 507th Security Forces Squadron is tasked to provide air base ground defense and to protect weapon systems and support personnel. The squadron’s Combat Arms Training and Maintenance section trains wing personnel in the use of small arms.
The 507th Civil Engineer Squadron trains and equips engineering teams for worldwide combat support. The squadron’s personnel can perform rapid runway repair, structural bomb damage repair, firefighting and crash rescue.
The 507th Logistics Readiness Squadron carries out all other logistics staff functions, including those pertaining to transportation, supply, contracting, fuels, maintenance training and plans.
The 72nd Aerial Port Squadron personnel load, unload, and process airfreight arriving from and departing to locations worldwide.
The 507th Force Support Squadron provides personnel management and services support such as lodging, fitness, food, recreation and mortuary affairs to the entire 507th ARW and the 513th ACG. Additionally, a communications element consisting of wing knowledge operations, unit telecommunications, radio systems, and small computer support falls under the 507th FSS’s command.
507th Medical Squadron
The 507th ARW has its own medical squadron, the 507th MDS. The 507th MDS monitors the medical, dental and mental health of all members in the 507th as well as the personnel in the 513th ACG. Major focus areas are: Maintaining processes and records for annual physical and dental assessments, currency in immunizations, and monitoring occupational environments. Other program responsibilities include: training initial first-aid care, CPR training, gas mask fit testing, and heightening awareness of suicide and its prevention. The medical squadron operates out of Tinker Air Force Base’s 72nd Medical Group and integrates with the staff. If mobilized, staff members are trained to support a fixed or mobile field hospital site.
1st Aviation Standards Flight (22nd Air Force)
The 507th ARW administratively supports the 1st ASF, located at Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City. The 1st Aviation Standards Flight falls under the 413th Flight Test Group, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia (22nd AF). This unit, working in tandem with the Federal Aviation Administration, performs flight inspections of navigational aid radar and instrument procedures at military and civilian installations in the United States and overseas. The flight operates from Will Rogers International World Airport, Oklahoma City, and augments the Air Force Flight Standards Agency Detachment 1, the on-site active duty unit. The 1st ASF consists of approximately 23 people. They fly and help maintain the FAA’s Bombardier “Challenger” 601, 604 and 605.
(Current as of June 2018)
507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
7435 Reserve Road, Suite 114
Tinker Air Force Base, OK. 73145-8726
507arw.pa2@us.af.mil