Author Description

This short outline traces the story of the 4050th/499th Air Refueling Wing from 1955-1973. The 4050th as a four digit wing could not carry a lineage so it was re-designated as the 499th. The units flew KC-97 tankers and later upgraded to KC-135 and EC-135 aircraft. The unit served in Vietnam along with the 99th Bomb Wing. No tankers were lost in combat. The units suffered a number of fatal accidents including a 1958 crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike in which 15 died including several newsmen.