121st Air Refueling Wing

• Origins in World War II: The 121st Air Refueling Wing traces its lineage back to the 357th Fighter Group, which was activated in 1942 and played a key role in the European Theater during World War II. • "Yoxford Boys": The 357th Fighter Group, from which the 121st descends, earned the nickname "Yoxford Boys" after the village of Yoxford, England, where they were stationed. • Ohio Air National Guard: The 121st Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard, based at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. • Transition to Air Refueling Mission: In 1961, the unit transitioned from a fighter mission to an air refueling mission, operating the KC-97 Stratofreighter and later the KC-135 Stratotanker. • Vietnam War Support: The 121st provided critical air refueling support to U.S. operations during the Vietnam War, extending the range of combat and transport aircraft. • Operation Desert Storm: Members of the 121st Air Refueling Wing deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm in 1990–1991, providing vital aerial refueling for coalition air forces. • Humanitarian Missions: The unit has participated in humanitarian missions, including disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally, such as hurricane responses. • Rickenbacker Namesake: The base and the wing are named after Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, America's top-scoring World War I ace and Columbus native. • Distinguished Unit Awards: The 121st and its predecessors have earned numerous awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation for heroism in World War II. • Modern Deployments: The 121st Air Refueling Wing continues to support global U.S. military operations, including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, by providing aerial refueling across the world.