Desert Storm Prelude

When Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990 the members of the Ohio Air Guard units at Rickenbacker were just as surprised and unprepared as the rest of the country. At the time it was not clear if the Iraqis would stop at the Kuwait border or continue into Saudi Arabia and seize the oil fields of the southern Gulf. When President Bush ordered the deployment of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing and the 82nd Airborne Division it was clear that we were going to be very busy. Within a week most of the 160th aircraft were providing air refueling support to deploying forces and the first Ohio Guardsmen had already set foot on the sands of Arabia. The ANG response was under volunteerism and at the time nobody knew what would happen to volunteers if war broke out. Fortunately, the Iraqi’s halted their advance and the forces took up positions that they would hold until January. Our volunteers returned on schedule.

By the end of September, the initial deployment of forces was mostly complete, and the “Air Bridge” activity slowed. The 160th joined other Guard and Reserve air refueling units in a rotational Tanker Task Force at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During October and November, the flying tempo remained high while all units busily prepared for an expected call-up. Chemical Warfare Defense Training was a top priority for the 160th since the Strategic Air Command had never required that training and most personnel did not even have the equipment. That changed quickly. The 121st Tactical Fighter Wing was a key unit planned for assignment to U.S. CENTCOM. They had trained hard and were well prepared, however, the A-7D aircraft had structure al problems and lacked the latest weapons delivery capability. It was also slower and more vulnerable than the F-16. The Air Force decided that the A-7’s of the 121st would not deploy. Although nobody in their right mind wants to go to war, no soldier wants to be told to stay be hind while someone else does their job. It was a bitter disappointment.

For the 121st Security Police Squadron it was a different story. They became the first Rickenbacker unit to be called-up. Deploying to Bahrain, they would soon have some exciting times. In early December, the 160th received preliminary notification that they would be part of the call-up. It would be a “Call-up by Tailored Unit Type Code (UTC)” meaning only personnel with the needed specialties would be activated. For the 160th this was about 25 percent of the Group. Events were a blur as the pace of planning and preparation became furious. The official call-up date was 20 December with the ADVON departing on 28 December. Activity was planned so that everyone deploying could spend Christmas with families. The 1990 holiday sea son was subdued as soldiers and airmen faced an uncertain future with war imminent.

Deployment and Bed-Down

On 28 December 1990, the 160th ADVON Team members said their farewells to families and colleagues and departed Rickenbacker on a cold, snowy afternoon. After a late-night fuel stop at Moron AB, Spain, the aircraft continued to Saudi Arabia, landing at a hot and dusty Jeddah, the main base for SAC’s tankers and bombers in the area. They were greeted with news that the base was under Condition Yellow because of Iraqi SCUD Missile activity. Welcome to Saudi Arabia! They remained at Jeddah for 3 days awaiting clearance to proceed to final destinations in the United Arab Emirates. On New Years Day of 1991, the ADVON teams arrived in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.160th aircraft and personnel joined other ANG and Reserve units to become part of three Provisional Wings; the 1709th at Jeddah with Kansas and Grissom AFB Reserves, the 1712th at Abu Dhabi with Chicago, and the 1713th at Dubai with Pittsburgh and Knoxville. The Supply element was assigned to a SAC theatre support operation at Moron AB, Spain. The loss of unit integrity was disappointing, but everyone realized it was required by operational necessity. Key personnel worked around the clock to set up these new provisional units, integrate the personnel and establish working relationships with our Arab hosts that owned and operated the civilian airports where we would be based. Similar coordination was necessary with active units who operated the military enclaves at the airbases of Al Dhafra, Al Minhad and Prince Abdullah. Deployment was delayed while “Tent City” billeting was being constructed. Finally, aircraft and personnel began to arrive, and the units started to fly orientation missions. Aircrews soon learned the hazards when they found themselves within fifty miles of the Iraqi border, almost within missile range of hostile aircraft. This was not a comforting thought while flying the unarmed and vulnerable tanker. Meanwhile, the 121st Security Police Squadron was busy provid ing airbase defense at Shaikh Isa AB, Bahrain. They had departed Rickenbacker on 20 December, arriving in Bahrain on Christmas day. They were integrated with the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. Billeting was another “Tent City” on the base where more than 6,000 personnel were packed into an area planned for 1,800. Bahrain was much closer to Kuwait and the expected combat area so defensive preparations were an extremely serious business. The deadline of 15 January was quickly approaching, and Iraq was still refusing to withdraw from Kuwait. Everyone expected war to start on that date and despite all the hard work the units were not as ready as they wanted to be. Personnel, equipment and aircraft were still enroute. Would they arrive in time or would the 15th find the Guard units still short handed? It was a time of great anxiety.

Combat Operations Redeployment And Homecoming

The pace of action remained heavy as new targets were hit. Tank er air crews flew every day and support staffs worked round the clock to accomplish the necessary planning and coordination. Ground crews turned and re-launched aircraft in minimum time. Security units continuously searched for any sign of terrorists. We were conducting the most successful air campaign in the history of warfare. Nevertheless, Iraq showed no sign of being ready to surrender and was still capable of in flicking damage. Even with air supremacy we could not locate and destroy their mobile SCUD missiles. The tanker bases were well beyond range but the Security Police at Bahrain learned what it was like to be under enemy fire. The base was under Condition Red fifty-three times and SCUD’s struck nearby on three occasions. Most memorable was when a SCUD was intercepted directly over the base by a Patriot missile and debris fragments fell on the compound.

Although allied casualties remained light we were saddened by every loss, whether from hostile action or accident. Tankers experienced a midair collision, an in-flight fire and a multiple engine loss from wake turbulence. There were many near misses. On 24 February the start of the ground war brought redoubled effort and maximum sortie production. During this surge the Air Guard tankers were flying close to a 2.0 sortie rate, meaning that many aircraft and aircrews were flying two missions per day, a level of production rarely seen with large aircraft. This was the result of seven months of preparation and hard work. We cheered the news of Coalition success, and when Iraq agreed to a cease-fire on 28 February it was celebration time at our compounds.

Redeployment And Homecoming

Victory and the end of the fighting brought first relief, and then un certainty. Would we be going home or would we stay in the theatre to enforce the fragile peace? Would the Air Force units that had been there since August go home first? The answer came in early March. The Arab hosts wanted their airports back and the Guard and Reserve units would be going home as soon as possible. We didn’t have to be told twice to start packing

By the second week in March the provisional tanker wings were being deactivated, and units resumed their original identity as they began redeployment to home bases. 160th aircraft stopped at Moron AB, Spain for fuel and picked up the Supply element that had been supporting B-52’s and other USAFE operations. The return trip was a happy contrast to the one we had made 3 months previously. We were told that there would be a special homecoming but none of us were prepared for the huge and enthusiastic welcome. The tankers flew in formation across the airfield and landed to meet a cheering and flag waving crowd of thousands, bands playing patriotic music, the Governor, the Adjutant General, city mayors, other dignitaries but most of all the embraces of families and loved ones. It was a time that none of the participants will ever forget.

In the weeks and months that followed those who had been called up were gradually released from duty. Members took leave and then re turned to a slower pace of catching up on equipment maintenance and administrative backlogs. Not everyone got home in March. The 121st Security Police Squadron did not return until mid-April, and some personnel serving as active duty backfills were gone until early summer. Service members and Guardsmen were the center of much attention and praise. The military had regained public respect and appreciation that it had not seen since before Vietnam. Members were cheered during parades on the 4th of July, and on 11 November, the veterans of Desert Storm marched down High Street in Columbus and received the Governor’s salute in the formal homecoming parade. Although the 160th did not receive a specific award for its service, The Provisional Air Refueling units of Desert Storm all received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award as did all the 160th members who deployed

Farewell to SAC and the Deactivation

Farewell to SAC and the Deactivation September 1991 brought the stand down of the SAC Alert mission. The 160th has maintained a continuous alert status for more than 16 years. The post Cold War military reorganization and downsizing of the active force led to the next major change when the 160th began conversion to KC-135R aircraft on 11 October. In June 1992, the Strategic Air Command was deactivated and the 160th was assigned to the new Air Mobility Command. Finally, in September 26 1993, the 160th was deactivated, ending a proud 32-year history where the unit pioneered new missions for the Air Guard and achieved an outstanding record of flying safety and other accomplishments. Unit members and the 145th Air Refueling Squadron became part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing where the heritage of the 160th and its air refueling mission resides today.

Former Commanders B Gen (Ret) Edward (Ret) Power Col (Ret) William J Ingler Assist Col Serdt in folding and casing the unit flag

Re-designated: 121 Air Refueling Wing 16 January 1993

160th Air Refueling Group, Retirement of the colors

With the end of the Cold War, a major reorganization of the Air Force was soon underway which would bring about the most significant mission change in the history of the 121st. After 35 years of flying fighters, it was to become an air refueling wing. In 1992, the A-7Ds were flown to storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona Re-designated: 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 16 January 1993, and the first KC-135R Stratotankers were received. The 121st also assumed base support responsibili ties. The 121 TFW and 160 ARG were combined to form a super-wing, 121 in September 1993. The 121st lost several entire sections of maintenance support; the Weapons Branch, most of the Avionics Branch, and much of Field Maintenance personnel had their jobs deleted or converted to fill new sections required to support the new mission under the conversion to Tankers. In October 1993, after a year of getting settled, losing the fighters, and gaining the Tankers, the 121 ARW combined with the 160 ARG to form the 121 ARW. With this consolidation, the 121st became a “Super Wing” by gaining the 145th Air Refueling Squadron. This combination was less than enthusiastically received by many rank-and-file members. There was a long-standing “Red Tail-Blue Tail” animosity to be overcome. Nevertheless, the pace of “Real World” commitments greatly increased and demanded the cooperation and professionalism of all to achieve mission success. At this time, KC-135R aircraft avionics modernization began with Pacer Crag, which ran for 10 years. From 1993-95, the now combined 121st ARW super wing began flying from bases in southern France and Italy to support strike aircraft during Operation Deny Flight missions over the Balkans. The unit was also a fixture at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, as well as Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, supporting Operations Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch restricting military flights over Iraq. This started a series of international support missions that continued until 9/11. In 1994, the 121st was called to support Provide Comfort/Hope over Kosovo. Missions were flown from France and Italy as well as Gielenkirchen, Germany.

In 2001 at the outset of the terrorist attack known as 9/11, the 121st was tasked within the hour and generated the first of numerous refueling and support flights over the USA four hours after the attack began; they were known as “Caps”. Tasking ranged from NYC, DC, New Orleans, Seattle, and Texas. This was known as Op eration Noble Eagle. The 121st ARW had the distinction of flying more Noble Eagle missions than any other unit during the first 6 months in addition to supporting Endur ing Freedom. From 1991-2, the 121st ARW deployed to Turkey with 6 aircraft and support personnel to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan, as well as continuing support for Southern Watch missions. Numerous other missions were in support of ferrying aircrew, prisoners, personnel, and wounded in theater. The pace initially was 24-hour/7 day a week. In addition to domestic tasking, the 121st led a nine-month deployment to Turkey with 7 aircraft, combined with the California unit from March AFB. They collocated with aircraft from Meridian, MS to support Deny Flight as well as operations in Afghanistan. These missions were eventually combined as part of Enduring Freedom. The Air Force took over the mission in late 2002.

In 2004, the 121st mobilized and deployed for 4 months to a Middle Eastern bare base location known only as Site 41. This was in direct support of Iraqi Free dom. After Saddam Hussien was captured and Iraq declared secure 4 months later, the 121st was redeployed home. This particular deployment broke a trend in that, for the first time, the support aircraft were deployed forward of the attack aircraft. From 2005 until today, the unit has been tasked to support operations from Guam and other worldwide sites numerous times. Since 2014, the unit regained Alert taskings and maintains a constant presence at a Middle Eastern site to support the intervention against the Islamic State in the Levant. (ISIL), The unit was downsized in 2012 from a super-wing to a single squadron; the 145 ARS was retired. In addition to the combat deployments, the unit has also been very heavily tasked with airlift missions during national emergencies. Immediately following Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the 121 ARW was one of the first units to send aircraft into Louisiana filled with supplies and troops. Similar missions were flown in September 2005, after Hurricane Rita. Though the pace of operations has slowed significantly since 9/11, the Real-World importance of the various international missions of the 121st remains high.