Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base ( 1942 – present ) is an Air National Guard facility of the Ohio Air National Guard . The base was named for the famous early aviator and Columbus native Eddie Rickenbacker . It is the home of the United States Air Force ' s 121st Air Refueling Wing ( 121 ARW ) , which serves as the host wing and is an Air National Guard ( ANG ) unit operationally - gained by the Air Mobility Command ( AMC ) . Rickenbacker ANGB is part of a joint airfield operation as a tenant activity of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority in a joint civil - military airfield arrangement with commercial airlines and other civilian aircraft operators utilizing the colocated Rickenbacker International Airport . Rickenbacker ANGB is also a joint military facility , with tenant activities of the Ohio Army National Guard ( Army Aviation Support Facility # 2 ) , as well as Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve units and associated facilities . Rickenbacker ANGB is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command ( SAC ) base previously named Lockbourne AFB and later Rickenbacker AFB . During World War II , it was a U . S . Army Air Forces training base . The facility was transferred from SAC and the Air Force on 1 April 1980 and turned over to the Air National Guard . 121st Air Refueling Wing . The Rickenbacker - based 121st Air Refueling Wing ( 121 ARW ) mission is to provide in - flight air refueling support to Air Force , Navy , Marine Corps and allied aircraft , on a worldwide , daily basis . The 121 ARW is one of three " super wings " in the Air National Guard , the others being the 131st Bomb Wing , Missouri ANG , and the 146th Airlift Wing , California ANG . If activated , the wing comes under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command . The Wing operates two operational Air Refueling Squadrons , the 145th and 166th . Both squadrons fly the Boeing KC - 135R Stratotanker ( blue / red tail stripe " Ohio " ) History . 1940s . The facility was originally opened in June 1942 as Lockbourne Army Airfield ( named after the nearby village of Lockbourne ) as a World War II pilot training airfield . It was then named the Northeastern Training Center of the Army Air Corps , and provided basic pilot training and military support . In addition , the training center provided B - 17 flight training to the WASPS ( Women Airforce Service Pilots ) , and training for glider pilots in the CG - 4A Waco glider . After the war , flight - training activities were halted and the airfield was used as a development and testing facility for all - weather military flight operations . The primary unit at the base was the all - Black 447th Composite Group , also known as the Tuskegee Airmen , commanded by Colonel ( later General ) Benjamin O . Davis in 1946 . This unit merged with the 477th Composite Group in 1947 , becoming the 332nd Fighter Wing , one of the first all - Black flying units in the newly created United States Air Force . In addition to commanding 477th as a flying unit , Davis also served as base commander . He was the first African - American to obtain the rank of lieutenant general in the U . S . Air Force and was subsequently promoted to the rank of full general on the retired list in 1998 . Lockbourne Field was renamed Lockbourne Air Force Base on 13 January 1948 , by Department of the Air Force General Order No . 2 . In June 1949 , the 332nd was reassigned , the base was inactivated , and control transferred to the Ohio Air National Guard . Strategic Air Command . With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 , and as a response to the ensuing military buildup , the base was reactivated as Lockbourne Air Force Base in January 1951 , and placed under the control of the Strategic Air Command in March of that year . Throughout the 1950s , the Strategic Air Command used the base as a training facility and stationed aircraft on full - time alert duty for national defense . 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing . On 11 September 1951 , the Strategic Air Command ' s 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was reassigned to Lockbourne from Barksdale AFB , Louisiana . The mission of the 91st SRW was to provide aerial reconnaissance and mapping services . It was equipped with myriad aircraft fitted with cameras to perform this mission , including B / RB - 45 and the B / YRB - 47 . When the move of the wing was made to Lockbourne from Barksdale , a detachment of the wing was deployed to Yokota AB , Japan , performing combat reconnaissance for Far East Air Forces over the Korean Peninsula flying RB - 29 Superfortresses . Over North Korea , they were being confronted daily by Chinese - piloted MiG - 15 s and were no longer able to perform reconnaissance , targeting , and bomb - damage assessment photography with impunity . The RB - 45C unit was attached to the 91st Squadron and began flying reconnaissance missions over northwestern Korea . The RB - 45Cs were able to evade the MiGs for several months , but on 9 April 1951 one of the RB - 45Cs had a close call and was barely able to escape a numerically superior enemy . At that time , it was decided that RB - 45s could no longer go into northwestern Korea without fighter escort . Another close call on 9 November 1951 caused the RB - 45s to be restricted from entering northwestern Korean airspace in daylight even when fighter escort was available . In January 1952 , the 91st Squadron was ordered to convert to night operations . Some RB - 45Cs were painted all black so that they would not show up on enemy searchlights . However , the RB - 45s were not well suited for night photography because the aircraft buffeted too badly when the forward bomb bay doors were opened to drop flash bombs . The RB - 45s were withdrawn from the Korean theatre shortly thereafter , bringing the Korean experience with the RB - 45 to an end . On 29 July 1952 , A 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing RB - 45C ( AF Serial No . 48 - 0042 ) commanded by Major Louis H . Carrington made the first nonstop trans - Pacific flight from Elmendorf AFB , Alaska to Yokota AB in Japan . There were two inflight refuelings by KB - 29s along the way . This feat earned the 1952 Mackay Trophy for the crew . The 91st SRW won the SAC reconnaissance , photographic , and navigation competition and the P . T . Cullen Award in 1955 and 1956 . From Aug to November 1956 most of the wing deployed overseas in detachments to North Africa , Newfoundland and Greenland and were not under the operational control of the small establishment remaining at Lockbourne . Along with the reconnaissance mission , the 91st had an aerial refueling mission , being equipped with KB - 29s and KC - 97s . The wing was inactivated in November 1957 . In 1953 , a reconstruction program was completed with the addition of a second and longer runway , several jumbo hangars and a permanent air traffic control tower . Two years later , a major expansion was completed which doubled the land area of the base to approximately . New construction included the two current parallel runways , a assault strip and a number of new buildings . 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing . The 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing , Medium ( 26th SRW ) was established at the base on 9 May 1952 and activated on 28 May 1952 . The 26th SRW ' s mission was to gather intelligence on a global scale , for the strategic objective of the US as part of the strategic reconnaissance force of SAC . Assigned to the 801st Air Division , the 26th SRW flew day and night strategic reconnaissance missions . Also developed the capabilities of the Boeing YRB - 47 " Stratojet " . With the exception of the 26th Air refueling squadron , Medium , the wing and its squadrons were manned with only minimal strength . In 1953 , the flying squadrons began receiving additional personnel . The flying squadrons were the 3rd , 4th and 10th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons , Medium . In July 1953 , the wing began transitional training in YRB - 47s . In March of that same year , the RB - 47Es began to replace the YRB models . By the end of December 1954 , the wing ' s last two YRB - 47s were sent to Dobbins AFB , Georgia , for modification . In February 1955 , these two aircraft were returned to the wing as RB - 47B - 1s . By the following year , the wing was only flying RB - 47Es . The 26 SRW ' s other aircraft , the Boeing KC - 97Fs and later KC - 97Gs were flown by the 26th and 321st Air Refueling Squadrons , Medium . These units were assigned to the wing in May 1952 and April 1955 , and remained as part of the wing until September 1956 and April 1958 , respectively . The wing participated in a variety of SAC directed exercises and operations between 1953 and 1958 . These included numerous simulated combat missions and deployments , ranging from a few days to a few months . The exercises took the wing ' s reconnaissance and tanker aircraft to such bases as Eielson AFB , Alaska ; Thule AFB , Greenland ; Royal Air Force stations at Upper Heyford and Fairford , United Kingdom ; Sidi Slimane AB in Morocco ; Goose Bay AB , Laborador ; and Lajes Field in the Azores . In December 1957 , the wing learned that it was to be inactivated the following summer . On 15 April 1958 , the 321st Air Refueling Squadron was reassigned to the 301st Bombardment Wing , as were the remainder of the wing ' s aircrews . The wing ' s strength was slowly reduced by transferring personnel to other units . On 1 July 1958 , the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was inactivated . 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing . The 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing , Medium was established at the base on 23 March 1953 and activated on 24 January 1955 . The wings mission was to provide strategic reconnaissance to meet the Strategic Air Command ' s ( SAC ) global commitments . It was initially deployed at Lockbourne while its permanent base underwent construction . During this time , few wing components were actually manned . In 1955 , it moved to its new home , Little Rock AFB , Arkansas and began flying strategic reconnaissance missions using R B - 47 Stratojets . 301st Bombardment / Air Refueling Wing . The 301st Bombardment Wing moved from Barksdale AFB to Lockbourne on 15 April 1958 . Although equipped with the B - 47 Stratojet , the 301st added electronic countermeasures activities to other missions in 1958 with the addition of the RB - 47 and later EB - 47 . With these aircraft , the wing soon devoted most of its activity to ECM work . The RB - 47 carried out many ferret missions around the periphery of Soviet territory , and sometimes inside . The EB - 47 was also applied to a number of USAF electronics countermeasure conversions of the standard B - 47E . The first of these was equipped with what was known as the Phase IV ( or Blue Cradle ) ECM package , consisting of 16 AN / ALT - 6B electronic jammers mounted on a cradle inside the bomb bay . Phase V aircraft carried a pressurized capsule inside the bomb bay that carried two electronics warfare officers that operated a suite of up to 13 different jammers that could focus on specific threats . Not much is known about the USAF EB - 47E program , but it is believed that up to 40 B - 47Es were converted to either Phase IV or V standard In 1964 , the mission of the wing was changed to that of an air refueling wing . It was redesignated as the 301st Air Refueling Wing on 15 June 1964 . The B - 47s were phased out and the wing received KC - 135s . However , the ECM work was continued for a few years by the wing operating EC - 135s until 1966 . From 9 June to 8 October 1972 , most of the wing headquarters staff , all tactical aircraft and crews and most of the maintenance personnel , plus support personnel in various categories were deployed to Southeast Asia and attached to other SAC organizations . A reduced wing headquarters remained in the United States to administer activities of the combat support group and hospital at Lockbourne AFB . From 19 December 1972 to 18 January 1973 , the wing repeated the previous deployed condition on a smaller scale with deployed resources forming a provisional air refueling squadron in the Philippines . Lockbourne AFB was redesignated Rickenbacker Air Force Base on 18 May 1974 , by Department of the Air Force Special Order GA - 11 of 6 March 1974 , to honor Columbus native Eddie Rickenbacker , the leading American fighter pilot of World War I . The 301 ARW was inactivated on 30 November 1979 in conjunction with SAC turning over Rickenbacker AFB to the Air National Guard . The 301 ARW ' s KC - 135As were sent to various Air National Guard units . 317th Troop Carrier Wing / 317th Tactical Airlift Wing . In June 1964 , the Tactical Air Command 317 Troop Carrier Wing was reassigned to Lockbourne from Evreux - Fauville Air Base , France . The 317th was equipped with Lockheed C - 130 s and Fairchild C - 123 Providers The mission of the 317th was to perform worldwide tactical airlift operations , with emphasis on airborne training . The wing provided C - 130 crew replacement training support for PACAF as well as training of C - 123 combat crews for the USAF . and Republic of Vietnam Air Force ( VNAF ) during the Vietnam War . They also developed and perfected the use of the Adverse Weather Delivery System ( AWADS ) becoming the Air Force ' s pioneer group behind this method of cargo delivery . In May 1967 the unit became the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing ( 317 TAW ) and not long after in 1971 , was reassigned to Pope AFB , North Carolina . 302d Tactical Airlift Wing . The 302d Tactical Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve ( AFRES ) operated from Rickenbacker from 1971 to 1981 . Relocating following the closure of Clinton County AFB , Ohio , the wing operated the C - 123 and UC - 123 Provider and briefly operated the C - 7 Caribou . In April 1973 , the wing assumed an aerial spraying mission with the UC - 123 aircraft , which frequently took wing crews to Central America , the Caribbean , the Azores , North Africa , islands of the Pacific , and to many U . S . points for insect - spraying missions . In 1985 , it transitioned to the E - model C - 130 Hercules . In 1992 it transitioned to the H - model C - 130 and relocated to Youngstown Air Reserve Station ( ARS ) , Ohio . Post - Vietnam era . With the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam , the ending of the military draft and the transition to an all - volunteer force , the number of U . S . Armed Forces personnel declined sharply , resulting in downsizing and closures of military bases around the country . The Air Force , in particular , was subject to a substantial Reduction in Force ( RIF ) . In April 1978 , the Air Force announced that Strategic Air Command functions at Rickenbacker were to be transferred elsewhere , estimating that 12 , 000 jobs would be lost as a result . In September 1979 , with the base population at 2 , 800 military and civilian employees , the Base Closure Commission announced plans for the phased closing of the base , which at the time consisted of approximately , including an estimated 265 buildings with approximately of floor space . In April 1980 , Rickenbacker Air Force Base closed . The base was transferred from the Strategic Air Command to the Air National Guard and redesignated Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base on 1 April 1980 by Department of the Air Force Special Order GA - 34 of 20 May 1980 . Air National Guard at Lockbourne AFB / Rickenbacker AFB . In June 1949 , Lockbourne Air Force Base was closed as an active base , and control of the facility was transferred to the Ohio Air National Guard . For the next 18 months , the Ohio Air National Guard ' s 55th Fighter Wing used the base for training , flying F - 47 Thunderbolts and F - 51 Mustangs . In November 1950 , the 55th Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 121st Fighter Wing and was assigned an air defense mission . Under various designations , the 121st has been stationed at Rickenbacker for over 50 years . Many of its members were activated for the Korean War and were additionally reassigned to other units for duty in Korea and other overseas locations . In 1954 , the F - 80C Shooting Star arrived and the wing continued with an air defense mission . F - 84E aircraft were received in 1955 followed by the swept - wing F - 84F in 1957 , which brought with it a fighter - bomber mission . In October 1961 , the wing was called to active duty for the Berlin Crisis . The 166th and additional augmenting personnel deployed to Etain Air Base , France , where they served until returning in August 1962 . Upon its return from France , the 121st converted to the F - 100C Super Sabre in August 1962 , which greatly enhanced its mission capabilities . Another call - up to active duty occurred on 26 January 1968 as a result of the USS Pueblo Crisis . One year of the 18 - month activation was spent in Kunsan Air Base , Republic of Korea where it wore the " BP " tailcode and red colors as part of the active duty Air Force ' s 354th Tactical Fighter Wing . During the deployment some of the Air National Guard pilots of the 121st flew combat missions in Vietnam while performing temporary assignments with other units . Aircraft and personnel returned home in June 1969 and an aircraft upgrade to the F - 100D was accomplished in 1971 . Under the “ Total Force Policy , ” Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units began to receive newer aircraft and equipment in the 1970s . The 121st began conversion to the A - 7D Corsair II in 1974 which brought with it additional missions . The unit was deployed to Howard AFB , Panama when hostilities began in late December 1989 and participated in Operation Just Cause . They were among the ANG units that rotated to Howard Air Force Base to provide a presence in Panama Cornet Cove deployment exercises . On 1 July 1976 , the 160th Air Refueling Group was activated at Rickenbacker AFB and equipped with Boeing KC - 135A / Q Stratotankers . The 160 ARG was one of 13 Air National Guard refueling units assigned to SAC as part of the initial integration of Air Reserve Component units into SAC ' s forces and mission . With the end of the Cold War , a major reorganization of the Air Force was soon underway . On the disbandment of SAC in 1992 , the 160 ARG was reassigned to the newly established Air Mobility Command ( AMC ) and AMC ' s Fifteenth Air Force ( 15 AF ) on 31 May 1992 . The 121 Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 121st Fighter Wing the same year and reassigned to new Air Combat Command ( ACC ) with the concurrent disbandment of Tactical Air Command ( TAC ) . In October 1993 , the 121st FW was consolidated with the 160th Air Refueling Group , the latter of which was inactivated in the process . The 121st Fighter Wing ' s A - 7Ds were flown to AMARC at Davis - Monthan AFB , Arizona and the first KC - 135Rs were received . With this consolidation , the 121st became the 121st Air Refueling Wing and gained the 145th Air Refueling Squadron from the inactivated 160 ARG with its aircraft , unique history and heritage . The 121st also assumed base support responsibilities . Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base was recommended for closure by the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure ( BRAC ) Commission , but as a result of a proposal by the State of Ohio , the 1993 Commission recommended that Rickenbacker ANGB be realigned rather than closed . The Commission decided to retain the 121st Air Refueling Wing in its existing military cantonment area at Rickenbacker ANGB instead of realigning to Wright - Patterson AFB . The Air National Guard would continue to operate as tenants of the Rickenbacker Port Authority ( RPA ) on the RPA ' s airport and the military facilities were realigned as Rickenbacker Air National Guard Station on 30 September 1994 by the 1991 Congressional Base Closure and Realignment Commission . In August 2001 a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the start of construction for a new , consolidated Navy and Marine Corps Air Reserve Center at Rickenbacker International Airport . The $ 10 million center , scheduled for completion in early 2003 , will be located at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Club Street adjacent to the Air National Guard facility at Rickenbacker . Being developed by the Navy Reserve , the project will consolidate the Naval Air Reserve Center at Rickenbacker with the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center currently located on Yearling Road in Columbus . When completed , the nearly 1 , 000 Navy and Marine Corps Reservists currently located at the two existing Reserve Centers will shift their activities to this new facility . Once the new center opens , the site of the existing Naval Air Reserve Center at Rickenbacker will be redeveloped by the Rickenbacker Port Authority , which operates the airport .