126th Air Refueling Wing

The 126th Air Refueling Wing (126 ARW) is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Originally activated in 1942 as the 344th Bombardment Group, the unit served with distinction during World War II in the European Theater. In the postwar era, it was redesignated and realigned multiple times, becoming the 126th Air Refueling Wing in 1961 and transitioning to the KC-135 Stratotanker mission. Today, the 126 ARW provides essential aerial refueling capabilities, supporting U.S. and allied operations worldwide.