185th Air Refueling Wing The 185th Air Refueling Wing ( 185 ARW ) is a unit of the Iowa Air National Guard , stationed at Sioux City Air National Guard Base , Sergeant Bluff , Iowa . If activated to federal service , the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . Mission . The mission of the 185 ARW is to provide mid - air refueling and mobility sustainment in direct support of the global mission of the Air Force . As a community based organization the wing and its subordinate units are also tasked to support the state of Iowa in the event of a state emergency . Units . The 185th Air Refueling Wing consists of the following major units : History . Established on 1 October 1962 when the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron was expanded to a Group level . This reorganization nearly doubled the authorized personnel of the unit to over 800 officers and airmen . This era would also mark the longest continuous period of flying one aircraft . The 185th flew the F - 100 from its establishment until 1977 , a period of 15 years . Vietnam era . On 26 January 1968 , the 185th was recalled to active Federal service as a result of the " Pueblo Crisis " . The 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 185th augmented by many of the other personnel from the Group , deployed with their F - 100s to Phu Cat Air Base , South Vietnam on 11 May 1968 . During the course of the next 90 days , the balance of the 185th was deployed to six military bases in South Korea and several others within the continental United States . During their year in South Vietnam , the 174th flew 6 , 539 combat sorties totally 11 , 359 hours of combat time . The unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award . Individually , its members were awarded 12 Silver Star s , 35 Distinguished Flying Cross es , 30 Bronze Star Medal s , 115 Air Force Commendation Medal s , 325 Air Medal s , and 1 Purple Heart . While in Phu Cat AB , one distinguished Air Force pilot that flew one of our planes was Dick Rutan . Dick went on to become the first pilot to take a non - stop un - refueled trip around the world . In 2005 , Mattel toys introduced a die - cast model of the Sioux City - based F - 100 that Dick Rutan flew in Vietnam , tail # HA 076 . Dick was also one of the famous Misty pilots , a top - secret squadron that flew high - risk missions during their tours . Another member of this famous squadron was Medal of Honor recipient Colonel George " Bud " Day , for whom the airfield in Sioux City is named . As for the 174th , on 28 May 1969 , the personnel and aircraft were recalled with the 185th and returned to Sioux City and released from active duty . In 1969 , the 174th Fighter Squadron won the Air Force Outstanding Unit award with a designation of valor . Vietnam also spawned the nickname Bats . The " Bat " depicted on the tails of the aircraft and the shoulder patch of the pilots became a legendary symbol of the 185th when its 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron was called to duty in Vietnam . " Bat " was the call sign of the 174th . The " Bats " became renowned for their outstanding performance . The other symbol often associated with been the Indian Chief that is part of the unit patch as well as part of the paint work on the aircraft . The Indian Chieftain is symbolic of the brave Indian warriors , like War Eagle , who once lived in the Siouxland area . The pride , courage and determination found in these " First Americans " are traits emulated by the members of the 185th . A - 7D Corsair IIs . In 1977 , the 185th converted to the A - 7D Corsair II While flying the A - 7Ds , the unit won the Spaatz trophy for the second time in 1990 , recognizing them as the best Air Guard unit in the Country . The Unit also was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit award five times - 1985 , 1986 , 1987 , 1989 , and 1991 . In addition , the 185th ' s Logistic Group is a two - time winner of the Daedalian Trophy which recognizes the best maintenance team in the ANG . In 1989 , the 185th won the 12th Air Force A - 7 gunnery meet for the second time . Also in 1989 , the 185th received the Gunsmoke A - 7 Maintenance Team Award for its aircraft . Modern era . On December 19 , 1991 , they received F - 16 Falcons . On March 16 , 1992 , the 185th Tactical Fighter Group was re - designated the 185th Fighter Group . One month later , the unit was rated operational . As the Air Force and Air Guard standardized unit structures , the 185th was designated the 185th Fighter Wing . The F - 16 " Fighting Falcon " would be the last jet that the unit would fly before conversion to KC - 135E tankers in 2003 . The 185th continued to be an award - winning unit . In 1994 , the unit picked up the Winston P . Wilson Award as well as the Air Force Association Outstanding Air National Guard Unit Award . In 1999 , Congress appropriated $ 6 . 5 million for the Air National Guard Aircraft Paint Facility located on base . The facility at the 185th has become top - notch , reflecting the quality of work that has been synonymous with the unit for over 50 years . They were re - designated the 185th Air Refueling Wing . In November 2003 , the first all Sioux City crew flew a KC - 135 out of Sioux City . Within a year , the 185th was flying refueling missions out of Geilenkirchen , Germany supporting NATO AWACS . In 2007 , the 185th began transitioning from the KC - 135E to the KC - 135R model . Today , the 185th consists of nearly 900 members that includes ; traditional guardsman , full - time military , air technicians and state contract employees .