507th Air Refueling Wing receives Air Force award

  • Published
  • 507th Air Refuelng Wing
Tinker Air Force Base --  The Air Force has recognized the 507th Air Refueling Wing for its superior performance by presenting it with the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award.

In March 2004, the Secretary of the Air Force approved the establishment of the Meritorious Unit Award (MUA) to recognize organizations for outstanding achievement or service in direct support of combat operations.

The Wing was recognized for displaying outstanding devotion and superior performance during the period Sept. 11, 2001 to June 30, 2004. During this period, the Wing provided major contributions to Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, JOINT FORGE, SOUTHERN WATCH, and NORTHERN WATCH. The wing flew over 1,140 sorties totaling over 5,700 flight hours, off-loading over 50 million pounds of fuel to over 2,000 US and allied nation receiver aircraft in direct support of combat and homeland defense operations with virtually perfect safety.

During the award period, the wing conducted five major overseas operational deployments of aircraft and personnel while continuing to maintain local alert status. Other wing units added to the overall war response. Members from the 1st Aviation Standards Flight flew numerous overseas missions including the first flight inspection missions into Afghanistan, commissioning facilities at Bagram and Kandahar Air Bases and Kabul International Airport. The 1st ASF subsequently commissioned approaches into Iraq, including those of Baghdad International Airport, and Kirkuk, Mosul, Tallil, and Basrah ABs.

The 35th Combat Communications Squadron deployed five personnel for 120 days to Kuwait City International Airport, Kuwait. The 507th Fire Protection Flight had 10 fire fighters activated and deployed to McConnell AFB Kansas, from Oct. 21, 2001 through Oct. 5, 2002 in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE.

In October 2001, the 507th Security Forces Squadron activated 43 members for over one year, deploying teams supporting Operation NOBLE EAGLE to California, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma; Operation ENDURING FREEDOM to Qatar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; Operation NORTHERN WATCH to Spain; and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.