98th STRATEGIC WING: TORREJON, SPAIN KC-135s, 1966 - 1976

From January 1964 to April 1965, the 98th controlled an Atlas ICBM squadron. The wing was inactivated on June 5, 1966 at Lincoln AFB, but activated the same day at Torrejon Air Base, Spain replacing the 3970th Strategic Wing. For the next decade, the98th had no tactical aircraft components assigned to it, but rather used attached KC-135 tankers and crews furnished by other SAC wings to provide air refueling support for the operational, alert exercise commitment of SAC, TAC, USAFE and NATO. It's operational area included the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In October 1976, the 306th Strategic Wing, based in West Germany, assumed this support task and the 98th phased down at Torrejon and was inactivated December 31, 1976.

Under the command of Col. Donald Keplinger, the 98th Strategic Wing was unique in that it was tenant on a USAFE (United States Air Force Europe) fighter base.  The 98th Strategic Wing usually had the equivalent of two KC-135 tanker wings (30 aircraft) in its possession.  The uniqueness was that the tankers were there TDY.  The 98th did not own any planes.

The primary mission was to provide refueling support to USAFE as required.  The tankers provided refueling support for all fighters crossing the Atlantic, both coming and going.  At times of major deployments, it was quite spectacular to observe as many as 30 tankers taking off in a short time frame.  The 98th also provided support for aircraft enroute to or from Iran and Turkey.

At this time, the 98th had two subordinate units in Europe.  A detachment in Mildenhall, UK and one in Athens, Greece.  Support was provided for the RC-135 recon missions.

Sometime in 1975, the U.S. and Spain renewed their treaty with significant changes.  One of which would move SAC out of the Torrejon area, establishing a unit at Zaragoza, Spain sometime in 1976 and limiting the number of aircraft in Spain at any given time.  Also about this time a liaison office was opened at USAFE headquarters at Ramstein, Germany.  So now the 98th would be at Ramstein instead of Mildenhall.

A very interesting event happened at Torrejon on July 4, 1976.  On this date the United States Flag was allowed to be raised and flew all day during duty hours.  Because of the treaty with Spain, the U.S. Flag had not flown at Torrejon for many years, but was allowed to fly this day in celebration of our 200th anniversary.  How sad to note it was reported that ONLY five individuals came out to see the flag raised and only about ten were there when it was lowered.

Col. Donald M. Griffin was commanding when the 98th Strategic Wing was closed down at Torrejon in September 1976.

NEXT:   98th Air Refueling Group (A.F. RESERVE) KC-10s, 1987 - Present