McConnell Air Force Base McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles ( 6 km ) southeast of the central business district of Wichita , a city in Sedgwick County , Kansas , United States . The base was named in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell , both Air Force pilots and World War II veterans . It is the home of Air Mobility Command ' s 22d Air Refueling Wing ( 22 ARW ) , Air Force Reserve Command ' s 931st Air Refueling Group ( 931 ARG ) , and the Kansas Air National Guard ' s 184th Intelligence Wing ( 184 IW ) . McConnell ' s primary mission is to provide global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where and when needed . The Commander of the 22d Air Refueling Wing is Colonel Ricky N . Rupp , the Vice - Commander is Colonel Douglas K . Lamberth and the Command Chief is Chief Master Sergeant Michael H . Edwards . Units . Major units at McConnell are : Associate Units : Tenant Units : History . McConnell Air Force Base was known during the first part of its existence as the Wichita Municipal Airport . Although the field was designed originally to serve only municipal civil airport needs , it had an Air Force connection almost from the beginning . Origins . McConnell ' s history began in October 1924 , when the city of Wichita hosted more than 100 , 000 people for the National Air Congress . The event was used by city planners to raise funds for a proposed Wichita Municipal Airport . The event was a success and ground - breaking ceremonies for the airport were held on 28 June 1929 . In August 1941 , the Kansas National Guard 127th Observation Squadron was activated as the first military unit assigned to the Wichita airport . The unit ' s limited equipment included one BC - 1A , one C - 47 , and four L - 1 aircraft . This was the start of a cooperative relationship between the people of Wichita and military aviation . B - 29 Superfortress production . On 6 October 1941 , the unit was ordered to extended active duty and remained an integral part of the United States Army Air Corps until 6 October 1945 , with duty assignments in Tennessee and Okinawa . The airport , at that time , was located about six miles from the city of Wichita and comprised some 1 , 337 acres . The runways were adequate ; were five runways each 150 feet wide ; two were 7 , 500 feet , one 7 , 100 feet , one 6 , 000 feet , and one 4 , 500 feet in length . All had a wheel load capacity of 60 , 000 pounds . A parking apron with dimensions of 8 , 373 by 931 feet , and seven taxi strips were provided . Other facilities at the airport , however , were meager . The field could boast of only one hangar and three small warehouses . No facilities were available either for troop housing or troop messing . No fuel storage facilities existed , and all such supplies were handled by commercial contract . A lease between the federal government and the city was concluded and on 1 March 1942 , the AAF Materiel Center , Midwestern Procurement District ( Materiel Command ) was established at Wichita Army Airfield . As soon as construction permitted , the headquarters of the district was established in the administration building of the municipal airport . By the end of 1942 , due to the growth and expansion of the organization it occupied practically the entire building save for a few offices occupied by the CAA and airline companies , while some activities of the district were housed at the Boeing Airplane Company Plant No . 1 , in Wichita . Air Materiel Command ' s mission at the airport was to accept , service and coordinate the transfer of newly produced Boeing B - 29 Superfortress bombers to other installations . In addition , Ferrying Division , Air Transport Command ' s 4156th AAF Base Unit ( Air Base ) was organized . The new base unit had the mission of servicing , dispatching , and maintaining transient and locally based aircraft . The working personnel were entirely civilian , with a few officers in supervisory capacities . On 11 October 1946 , the 4156th AAF Base Unit was ordered to cease operations by the 30th of the month . Consequently , the remainder of October was spent in closing down operations and transferring property to Tinker Army Airfield , Oklaholma . On 15 November the field was officially transferred to the District Engineer , Seventh Service Command at Omaha , Nebraska who assumed jurisdiction over the field , pending disposition , while the 4156th AAF Base Unit was discontinued on the same day . All military personnel were absorbed by Headquarters , Oklahoma Air Materiel Area ( the successor of the Oklahoma City Air Technical Service Command ) . Wichita Airport was returned to civilian jurisdiction , and it remained so until 1951 . Cold War . The Boeing B - 47 Stratojet was the first swept - winged jet bomber built in quantity for any air force , and was the mainstay of the medium - bombing strength of the Strategic Air Command all throughout the 1950s . The Boeing plant at Wichita was shut down after World War II . However , on 3 September 1948 , the first production order was placed for the B - 47 . Since Boeing ' s Seattle facility was already heavily committed to the KC - 97 tanker and the B - 50 Superfortress bomber , as well as to the conversion of obsolescent B - 29 bombers to aerial tankers , it was decided that the production Stratojets were to be built at Boeing ' s factory in Wichita . B - 47 Stratojet training . By the summer of 1950 , Boeing was ready to turn out the first production models of the B - 47 , and the United States Air Force sought to make Wichita Airport a permanent military installation . Public hearings began to consider locating an Air Force base near the Wichita Boeing facilities , and the city of Wichita was awarded $ 9 . 4 million to build a new airfield for its own use , later to become known as Wichita Mid - Continent Airport . In addition , the production of the B - 47 Stratojet bomber at Boeing made the airport a desirable location for the Air Force to conduct B - 47 combat crew training . On 31 May 1951 , the USAF took title to Wichita Municipal Airport , and on 4 June the Air Training Command 3520th Combat Crew Training Wing was activated at the facility . To perform the training , the 3520th Combat Crew Training Wing was activated , and an ambitious building program totaling some $ 22 , 000 , 000 was begun . In spite of the difficulty of building an installation and initiating an entirely new program simultaneously , the base developed into a highly specialized training center . Actually , there were two principal parts to the mission of the training center : aircrew training in B - 47 ' s and transition training in the same aircraft . A subsequent fluctuation of emphasis from one of those functions to the other reflected the varying demands of the Strategic Air Command . A more inclusive functional title was given the wing in June 1952 when it was redesignated the 3520th Flying Training Wing ( M Bomb ) . The Air Force was not the sole occupant during this period . In 1952 Wing Headquarters shared the Wichita Municipal Airport Terminal Building with four commercial airlines , Braniff , Central , TWA , and Continental , plus one private flying service : Executive Airways . These lines were located in the terminal building at the time of government occupation , and were permitted to operate on a temporary basis pending completion of the proposed new municipal airport . Up to 1 April 1952 the activity at Wichita Municipal Airport was under the jurisdiction of the Flying Training Air Force . On that date it was transferred to the Crew Training Air Force , still remaining , however , in the Air Training Command . By 1952 the Air Force had decided to make a permanent base of the quondam municipal airport . The government took the property by federal court action during the first half of 1952 , thus becoming owner and no longer lessee . Reflecting official government ownership , Wichita Municipal Airport was re - designated the Wichita Air Force Base on 15 May 1953 . However , the name was changed to McConnell Air Force Base after less than a year in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell , both Air Force pilots and World War II veterans . Fred was killed in a private plane crash in 1945 , while Thomas died in a bombing raid on Bougainville Island in the South Pacific . Air Training Command was host at the base from 1951 through 1958 , training B - 47 aircrews . Strategic Air Command took control over the base on 1 July 1958 and the B - 47 training mission . The 4347th Combat Crew Training Wing replaced the 3520th and the 42d Strategic Aerospace Division was activated on 15 July 1959 . B - 47 crew training continued at McConnell until 1 March 1963 when the 4347th CCTW was inactivated . Titan II ballistic missiles . On 1 March 1962 , Strategic Air Command stood up the 381st Strategic Missile Wing ( SMW ) . Using McConnell as its base , 18 Titan II ICBM missile silos formed a ring from the northeast and south to the west on an irregular radius of 20 to 50 miles from the installation . This mission of deterrence would dominate base activity for the next twenty - four years until 1986 when the 381st Strategic Missile Wing was inactivated . Deactivation of all Titan II ICBM systems began in July 1982 and was completed in June 1987 . Tactical fighter aircraft . In October 1962 , the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at McConnell with four ( 560th , 561st , 562d , 563d ) fighter squadrons . The wing initially flew the North American F - 100C Super Sabre , but was replaced in 1963 by the Republic F - 105D / F Thunderchief . On 4 July 1963 , Tactical Air Command became responsible for the base with the 388 TFW as host unit . On 21 July 1964 , the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing was also reactivated at McConnell with four F - 105 ( 354th , 357th , 421st , 469th ) squadrons . Both wings would deploy to Thailand in support of the Vietnam War . On 8 November 1965 , the 355th was ordered to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base and on 8 April 1966 the 388th TFW was ordered to Korat RTAFB , where its F - 105 squadrons had been on a rotational deployment for the past two years . On 8 February 1964 the 23d Tactical Fighter Wing was reactivated at McConnell initially with three F - 105 ( 561st , 562d , 563d ) squadrons . The 4519th Combat Crew Training Squadron was activated on 1 August 1967 with F - 105B / D / F / G aircraft , then was inactivated on 16 October 1969 , being replaced by the 419th TFS . Squadron markings on the natural metal / silver lacquered aircraft included the following : 561 TFS – black / yellow checkerboarding on rudder ; 562 TFS – a red , white and black " sharkmouth " on the nose of the aircraft ; 563 TFS red and white stripes on the rudder , wingtips and stabilizers with a white band on the top of the vertical fin . When the finish on tactical jets was replaced by Southeast Asian Camouflaged , the squadrons carried the following tail codes : 561 TFS " MD " ; 562 TFS " ME " ; 563 TFS " MF " , and the 4519th , ( later 419th TFS ) . TFTS " MG " . The mission of the 23 TFW at McConnell was to provide training for F - 105 pilots prior to their deployment to Southeast Asia . The 560th acted as a combat training squadron , while the other three squadrons began rotational TDY deployments to Southeast Asia beginning in November 1964 . In February 1965 , when the 23 TFW deployed three squadrons to Southeast Asia for combat , these units were initially under the control of the 2d Air Division . Later , the 6441 TFW ( P ) was activated at Takhli RTAFB in July 1965 , taking control of the 23d ' s squadrons deployed there . In addition to the deployments to Thailand , detachments of the 561 TFS also deployed to Da Nang Air Base RVN for operations within the borders of the Republic of Vietnam . On 1 August 1967 , the 4519th Combat Crew Training squadron was added to the 23 TFW , and the 560 TFS was inactivated on 25 September 1968 . The wing maintained proficiency in tactical fighter operations , and later also functioned as an F - 105 replacement training unit and assisted Air National Guard units in their conversion to the F - 105 when the Thunderchief left first - line service . For the dual role it played from June 1970 to June 1971 as both an operational and a training unit , the wing received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award . In 1970 , the " Wild Weasel " F - 105G model replaced the F - 105D / F models in the 561st and 419th TFSs . On 1 July 1972 , the 23d TFW was transferred to England AFB , Louisiana where it replaced the temporary 4403d TFW , and the 561 , 562 and 563 TFS were assigned to the 35 TFW at George AFB , California . The administrative organization in command of these wings was the 835th Air Division , activated on 24 June 1964 . This AD was inactivated 30 June 1971 , leaving the 23d TFW as the main air unit at McConnell until its departure a year later . Strategic bomber / air refueling . McConnell received a new mission in April 1971 with the arrival of the 91st Air Refueling Squadron ( ARS ) and their Boeing KC - 135A Stratotankers from Robins AFB , Georgia . Control of the base was transferred back to SAC on 1 July 1972 , and the 384th Air Refueling Wing ( ARW ) began its tour at McConnell AFB in December 1972 and took control of the 91st ARS . On 30 September 1973 , a second KC - 135A refueling squadron , the 384th ARS was activated on the base , making McConnell an air refueling hub for SAC . In early 1983 , the 384 ARW ' s leadership learned that it would be the first wing to receive the upgraded KC - 135R . The 91st and 384th ARW were both upgraded to the new model in 1984 . The " R " model had upgraded engines which produced much greater fuel efficiency than the older models , as well as having a higher on - board fuel storage capacity . The initial aircraft marking for both squadrons was a light blue / navy blue diamond checkerboard fin flash . On 2 October 1981 , President Ronald Reagan announced a Strategic Modernization Program ( SMP ) , a key feature of which would be the procurement of 100 North American - Rockwell B - 1B bombers . The first production models entered the USAF inventory in March 1985 . It was announced by the Air Force that McConnell would be equipped with the B - 1B in 1987 . The 384th was redesigated as the 384th Bombardment Wing , Heavy on 1 July 1987 , and the 28th Bombardment Squadron was activated that date to fly the 25 bombers assigned to the wing . With the arrival of the B - 1s , the 91st ARS was inactivated , leaving the wing with one KC - 135 tanker squadron . The 91st was later reactivated in July 1988 with the new 301st ARW at Malmstrom AFB , Montana with KC - 135R aircraft . In January 1987 , the Kansas Air National Guard 184th Tactical Fighter Training Group upgraded from its McDonnell - Douglas F - 4D fighters to the General Dynamics F - 16A / B Fighting Falcon and conducted conversion and upgrade training in the F - 16 . On 8 July 1987 , the 161st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron was established as the third flying squadron at McConnell . Formal activation ceremonies for the 161st occurred on 12 September 1987 , with the unit flying 10 F - 16s and conducting its first student training class . In August 1990 , Iraq invaded neighboring Kuwait and McConnell personnel and aircraft were deployed throughout the Middle East , performing refueling missions of Coalition aircraft in support of Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm to help eject the invaders from the small kingdom of Kuwait . Andover , Kansas Tornado . On 26 April 1991 , an F5 tornado devastated McConnell during the Andover , Kansas Tornado Outbreak . As a result of the tornado , the base constructed new facilities ( including a new Officers Club / Enlisted Club / Fitness Center named " Emerald City " ) to replace the destroyed base services . This tornado crossed the southern end of the runways , moving North - East , missing a line of B - 1B bombers and maintenance hangars . Modern era . With the end of the Cold War , the Air Force went though many changes . One of these changes was the Objective Wing concept , with created " Operation Groups " ( OG ) to place operational aircraft squadrons under organizationally . The 38tth engaged this change on 1 September 1991 and was redesignated simply as the 384th Wing , with the 28th Bomb Squadron ( B - 1B ) and the 384th Air Refueling Squadron ( KC - 135R ) as its operational units . In 1992 , additional changes were made at McConnell . In March , the 184th Tactical Fighter Group was designated as the 184th Fighter Group . On 1 June Strategic Air Command was inactivated as part of a massive re - alignment of the Air Force command structure . The 384th was assigned to the newly established Air Combat Command ( ACC ) , a new command which replaced SAC , TAC and elements of Military Airlift Command ( MAC ) . The wing was again redesignated as the 384th Bomb Wing , and the 28th BS aircraft were assigned the tail code " OZ " . The 384th ARS was relieved from assignment to McConnell , and was reassigned to the 19th OG ( 19th Air Refueling Wing ) at Robins AFB , Georgia . The 184th FG also became part of ACC . In July 1993 , the 184th Fighter Group changed gaining commands and became part of the new Air Education and Training Command , due to its F - 16 training commitment , however just one year later the 184th rejoined ACC when the F - 16s were transferred out . The unit was redesignated as the 184th Bomb Wing and the 127th Bomb Squadron received the first of 14 B - 1B bombers . The unit became operational in the summer of 1994 . The 184th was the first Air National Guard unit to fly the B - 1 . As a result of a Base Realignment and Closure ( BRAC ) related realignment , March AFB , California was taken off active - duty status and assigned to the Air Force Reserve . As part of a program to keep historically significant wings active , its 22d Air Refueling Wing was reassigned to McConnell without personnel or equipment on 1 January 1994 . As a result , on 1 January , the 384th was redesignated as the 384th Bomb Group , as a unit under the 22d ARW . The USAF planned to return McConnell to being an air refueling hub , and as a result the B - 1 equipped 28th Bomb Squadron was reassigned without equipment or personnel to the 7th OG at Dyess AFB , Texas on 1 October 1994 . Its B - 1 aircraft were transferred across the runway to the Kansas Air National Guard 127th Bomb Squadron and the 384th BG was inactivated on 30 September 1994 . Throughout 1994 , various KC - 135R air refueling squadrons were reassigned from other units to the 22d ARW as follows : On 1 April 1994 , The Republic of Singapore Air Force ( RSAF ) selected McConnell as its training base for its KC - 135 crews and maintenance personnel . The RSAF stationed two of their Stratotankers with the 22 ARW , naming the organization the Peace Guardian Detachment On 1 January 1995 , the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group ( ARG ) joined Team McConnell . The Air Force Reserve associate unit provides aircrews while the 22d furnishes the maintenance crews and aircraft . Since 1996 , McConnell served as the test site for the PACER CRAG avionics modernization program . The next year , the base became the test unit for the multi - point refueling . During the 1990s , the 22d ARW deployed crews and aircraft to support no - fly missions over northern and southern Iraq and over Bosnia - Herzegovina . In 1999 , wing aircraft and crews deployed to the Mediterranean to refuel NATO aircraft over Serbia . Global war on terror . After the September 11 attacks in 2001 , the 22d initially deployed jets in support of Operation Noble Eagle . Before the end of the year , McConnell tankers were sent to Kyrgyzstan , Afghanistan , Southwest Asia and other locations to support Operation Enduring Freedom . In 2002 , in order to save money , the USAF agreed to reduce its active fleet of B - 1Bs from 92 to 60 aircraft . All B - 1 aircraft built in FY 1983 and most of the FY 1984 B - 1 aircraft , which primarily resided in the Kansas Air National Guard and the Georgia Air National Guard , were retired beginning in August 2002 , leaving only the more recently built B - 1 aircraft in the Regular Air Force still flying . As a result , the 184th Bomb Wing ' s aircraft were transferred to 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group ( AMARC ) . Initially they were retained in " active storage " which means that they could be quickly returned to service should circumstances dictate . In fact , the older aircraft were scavenged for parts to keep the active - duty aircraft flying . With the retirement of their B - 1s , in September 2002 , the 184th took on a new mission flying KC - 135s and was officially designated the 184th Air Refueling Wing . This officially established McConnell as the sole base in the U . S . Air Force where all three components , Active , Guard and Reserve supported the same mission together in a pure “ Mirror Force ” concept . The Base Realignment and Closure Committee in 2005 said that the 184th Air Refueling Wing would become the 184th Intelligence Wing , a non - fying organization , and their KC - 135R aircraft transferred to other Regular Air Force air refueling and air mobility wings . They converted to that designation in 2007 .