108th Wing

The 108th Wing is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. In its state role it belongs to the New Jersey Air National Guard; when federalized, it is gained by the United States Air Force, currently through Air Mobility Command. The wing is an operational military organization rather than a commercial brand, and its public identity is associated with readiness, global mobility, aerial refueling, emergency response, and support to joint and allied forces. The wing's principal mission is aerial refueling. Its KC-46A Pegasus aircraft extend the range and endurance of Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied aircraft, enabling long-distance transport, combat operations, training, and contingency response. The unit can also support aeromedical evacuation by carrying litter and ambulatory patients on patient support pallets. Its current organization includes the 108th Operations Group, the 108th Maintenance Group, and the 108th Mission Support Group, together with air-refueling, special-operations airlift, intelligence, cyber, logistics, security, communications, and force-support elements. The wing operates as a classic associate unit with the active-duty 305th Air Mobility Wing. In this arrangement, Air National Guard personnel and aircraft operate alongside active-duty personnel in support of the KC-46A mission. The 141st and 170th Air Refueling Squadrons are identified with the KC-46A mission, while the 150th Special Operations Squadron operates C-32B aircraft. The 140th Cyberspace Operations Squadron is one of the Air National Guard's cyber protection units, and the 204th Intelligence Squadron provides intelligence instruction and training products for Air Mobility Command. The resulting portfolio combines mobility operations with specialized information and force-protection functions. The organization's lineage reaches back to the post-Second World War reconstitution of the New Jersey Air National Guard. The wartime 348th Fighter Group was redesignated the 108th Fighter Group in 1946, and the 108th Fighter Wing was established in 1950 under the wing-base structure adopted by the Air Force. It was federalized during the Korean War, redesignated as a fighter-bomber wing, and later returned to New Jersey state control. During the Cold War it moved through fighter-interceptor and tactical-fighter roles, operated aircraft including the F-86 Sabre, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-105 Thunderchief, and F-4 Phantom II, and deployed personnel and aircraft overseas. Following the end of the Cold War, the wing transitioned from tactical fighters to air refueling. It became the 108th Air Refueling Wing in 1991 and began operating KC-135 Stratotankers. The conversion quickly produced operational activity, including refueling, passenger airlift, overseas, humanitarian, and contingency missions. The wing supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation Deny Flight in the Balkans, and humanitarian activities including relief after Hurricane Andrew and Operation Sea Signal at Guantanamo Bay. It was redesignated simply the 108th Wing in 2009, reflecting a broader structure than air refueling alone. The wing completed its KC-135R era in 2023 and moved into its current KC-46A associate-unit role.

The 108th Wing traces its lineage to the reorganization of the postwar United States reserve forces. On 24 May 1946, the Second World War 348th Fighter Group was redesignated the 108th Fighter Group and allotted to the New Jersey National Guard. It was organized at Newark Municipal Airport and later received federal recognition. The unit initially reported to the 52d Fighter Wing of the New York National Guard and was supported by the 208th Air Service Group. In 1950, the Air National Guard adopted the wing-base structure used by the regular Air Force. The 108th Fighter Wing was activated on 1 November 1950, incorporating the 108th Fighter Group and air-base, maintenance, supply, and medical support elements. On 1 March 1951, during the Korean War, the wing was federalized and moved to Turner Air Force Base, Georgia. It became the 108th Fighter-Bomber Wing in May and transferred to Tactical Air Command later that year. In December 1951 it moved to Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, where it replaced a wing that had deployed to Europe. The wing transferred its mission, personnel, and equipment to the 405th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 1 December 1952 and returned to New Jersey state control. After its return, the unit adopted an air-defense role. It was redesignated the 108th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in 1955, coinciding with its transition from P-51H Mustangs to F-86E Sabres. In 1958 it moved to Tactical Air Command and became the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing, receiving F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bombers. The Berlin crisis brought another federal activation on 1 October 1961. A reduced-strength contingent deployed to Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base in France, where it operated as the 7108th Tactical Wing and provided close-air-support sorties for United States Army forces in Europe. The deployment ended in 1962. The wing continued to modernize during the Cold War. It replaced the F-84F with the F-86H and then became the first Air National Guard unit to operate the supersonic F-105 Thunderchief, beginning in 1964. F-4D Phantom II aircraft arrived in 1981, followed by the F-4E in 1985. In 1989 the wing was recognized as the Air National Guard's best flying unit and received the Spaatz Trophy. Its fighter-era deployments included missions and exercises in France, Greece, Ecuador, and Norway. The end of the Cold War led to a major strategic change. The wing converted from tactical fighters to KC-135E Stratotankers and was redesignated the 108th Air Refueling Wing on 19 October 1991. It received its first KC-135E on 27 September and flew its first refueling mission in December. Its first operational mission followed in January 1992, when it refueled an E-3B Sentry bound for the Persian Gulf. That year also included passenger airlift, overseas operations in Costa Rica, Germany, and South Korea, and humanitarian relief after Hurricane Andrew. The wing was declared combat ready in December 1992 and soon supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. The 108th absorbed the New Jersey Air National Guard's 170th Air Refueling Group in 1993. It subsequently supported Operation Deny Flight from Italy and humanitarian operations at Guantanamo Bay under Operation Sea Signal. In 2007 it began moving from KC-135E aircraft to KC-135R aircraft. The organization was redesignated the 108th Wing on 1 December 2009 as its responsibilities broadened beyond air refueling. In the 2020s it moved into a new associate-unit model with the 305th Air Mobility Wing. The squadron's last KC-135R mission took place on 20 September 2023, marking the transition toward KC-46A Pegasus operations. The current wing combines mobility, intelligence, cyber, special-operations airlift, maintenance, and support functions.

• 2023

  KC-135R transition completed

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing flew its last KC-135R mission and proceeded with its KC-46A associate-unit transition.

• 2009

  Redesignated 108th Wing

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted its current wing designation.

• 1992

  First operational air-refueling year

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing conducted its first operational refueling mission, humanitarian relief flights, and international mobility missions.

• 1991

  Conversion to air refueling

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated the 108th Air Refueling Wing as it transitioned from fighter aircraft to KC-135 Stratotankers.

• 1989

  Spaatz Trophy recognition

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing was named the best Air National Guard flying unit and received the Spaatz Trophy.

• 1964

  Supersonic fighter era

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing began operating the F-105 Thunderchief and became the first Air National Guard unit to fly at twice the speed of sound.

• 1961

  Berlin crisis deployment

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing was federalized and deployed a reduced-strength contingent to France as the 7108th Tactical Wing.

• 1951

  Federalization during the Korean War

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing entered federal service, moved to Georgia, and became the 108th Fighter-Bomber Wing.

• 1950

  108th Fighter Wing activated

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The wing-base reorganization created the 108th Fighter Wing with operational and support groups.

• 1946

  Postwar lineage established

  [1]108th Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 348th Fighter Group was redesignated the 108th Fighter Group and allotted to the New Jersey National Guard.

A combat-ready citizen-airman organization focused on global mobility and aerial refueling, with complementary intelligence, cyber, special-operations airlift, maintenance, and mission-support capabilities.

• Aerial refueling and mobility aircraft · 2023

  KC-46A Pegasus

  The KC-46A is the wing's current tanker platform in its associate relationship with the 305th Air Mobility Wing. It supports aerial refueling for United States and allied aircraft and can contribute to broader mobility and aeromedical missions.

• Special-operations airlift aircraft

  C-32B

  C-32B aircraft support the 150th Special Operations Squadron and provide specialized airlift capability within the wing's broader mobility portfolio.

• Aerial refueling aircraft · 1991

  KC-135 Stratotanker

  The KC-135 served as the wing's principal platform after its conversion from tactical fighters. The organization operated KC-135E aircraft beginning in the early 1990s and later KC-135R aircraft until its final KC-135R mission in 2023.

• Historical fighter aircraft · 1946

  Fighter aircraft lineage

  Historical aircraft associated with the wing include the P-51H Mustang, F-86E and F-86H Sabre, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-105 Thunderchief, and F-4D and F-4E Phantom II. These platforms supported air-defense and tactical-fighter missions before the post-Cold War conversion to air refueling.

• 1995Operation Sea Signal

  Cuba

  Members of the 108th and its medical organization deployed to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base for a humanitarian mission.

  Outcome. The deployment provided humanitarian support for more than three months.

  Source
• 1994Operation Deny Flight

  Italy · Balkans

  Five aircraft and approximately 300 personnel deployed to Pisa, Italy, for more than 30 days in support of the no-fly-zone operation over the former Yugoslavia.

  Outcome. The wing became the first Air National Guard unit to take full responsibility for the assigned period of the air-refueling mission.

  Source
• 1992Operation Restore Hope

  Somalia · Spain · Egypt

  The wing established an air-refueling detachment at Morón Air Base in Spain and airlifted active-duty aircrews to Cairo West Air Base in support of the United States air bridge for Somalia.

  Outcome. The wing supported the early mobility and refueling framework for the operation and reached a cumulative one-million-pound fuel offload while deployed at Morón.

  Source
• 1992Hurricane Andrew humanitarian relief

  United States

  Three Stratotankers transported critically needed supplies for victims of Hurricane Andrew in Florida.

  Outcome. The wing expanded its newly established air-refueling role into domestic humanitarian response.

  Source

• 2023

  Transition to the KC-46A associate-unit modelGeneration change

  Background

  The wing's KC-135R era ended as the United States Air Force expanded the KC-46A Pegasus mission at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

  Action taken

  The wing flew its last KC-135R mission and began operating as a classic associate unit with the 305th Air Mobility Wing on the KC-46A.

  Aftermath

  The 108th Wing now combines Air National Guard personnel and mobility capabilities with the active-duty KC-46A mission while retaining intelligence, cyber, and support functions.

  Source

• 2007

  Transition from KC-135E to KC-135RGeneration change

  Background

  The wing began modernizing its Stratotanker fleet.

  Action taken

  KC-135E aircraft were progressively retired and replaced by KC-135R aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The KC-135R remained the wing's principal tanker platform until the final mission in 2023.

  Source

• 1991

  Conversion from tactical fighters to air refuelingStrategy

  Background

  The end of the Cold War changed the force structure and mission requirements facing the wing.

  Action taken

  The wing retired its fighter role, received KC-135 aircraft, and was redesignated the 108th Air Refueling Wing.

  Aftermath

  The organization developed a sustained global-mobility mission and supported operational, overseas, and humanitarian activities.

  Source

1. 1108th Wingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2108th Wing official website108thwing.ang.af.mil