Story and photos by Scott Jankowski
Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport has been home to the 128th Air Refueling Wing, formerly the 128th Fighter Group since 1946 and is vital part of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. The 128th Air Refueling Wing has operated the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker since 1976 and currently operates the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, which it has operated since 1991. They were the first Guard unit to convert to the “R” model. For many years my hometown unit would hold regularly scheduled Open Houses on Armed Forces Weekend, trading years with the once Milwaukee based United States Air Force Reserve’s 440TH Airlift Wing. This two-day event would feature static displays from all branches of the United States Armed Forces, vintage warbirds, locally based law enforcement, EMS, private aircraft, and commercial airliners. The following photos are from past years’ events and are a representation of the aircraft you would find on the 128th ramp.
The last such event was held back in 2012 and featured several current at the time military aircraft and vintage warbirds. Featured aircraft included the Boeing KC-10A Extender from the 305th Air Mobility Wing, the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III from the 105th Airlift Wing, and from the 55th Wing the Boeing TC-135S. Other aircraft included the Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon from the Madison Wisconsin based 115th Fighter Wing. Several civilian owned warbirds were present and included the Grumman F-8F Bearcat and the Waukesha Wisconsin based CT-133 Silver Star.
It has been 13 years since the Wing opened it doors to the public to allow them to see their hometown unit up close. Earlier this year the 128th unveiled its “Heritage Tanker” Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker serial number 57-1514 was painted in the Wing’s first specially painted Tanker that honor’s the Wing’s history and its close ties to the city of Milwaukee. While this aircraft made its public debut up at AirVenture Oshkosh in July, the citizens of the surrounding communities may not have made it up there to see the aircraft up close. Wing Leadership made the decision to hold an open house this year to show the community this very special aircraft.
The weekend of September 13th and 14th was chosen for the event, and the weather could not have been better. Several tanker, transport, trainer, fighter, civilian owned warbirds graced the 128th ramp for the weekend. The hometown unit had three Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers on display, one of which was serial number 57-1514 wearing the special Heritage Paint Scheme. This special paint scheme includes a flying beer stein on the tail, and instead of the usual Wisconsin fin flash that has been replaced with City of Milwaukee name, the tail also carries “Home of the Brew City Tankers” titles. The fuselage wears the old SAC (Strategic Air Command) blue sash with white stars along with the wing crest in full color, similar to how the aircraft looked back when the Wing fell under SAC control. The blue and yellow colors used throughout symbolize the Wing’s connection to the City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Team.
Also on display were 2 other Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers including serial number 65-3512 which was fitted with the drogue adapter for refueling aircraft with a probe (United States Navy, Marine Corps and our NATO allies) as opposed to the receptacle (United States Air Force aircraft). Serial number 63-7979 was also present and carries special nose art similar to the Miller Brewing logo on the nose. Boeing KC-135R serial number 61-0298 was parked on runway 19L/1R not on display but still visible from the ramp.
The 128th’s sister unit, the 115th Fighter Wing, based out at Truax Air National Guard Base Madison Wisconsin, had one of their fifth-generation fighter Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II’s, serial number 22-5995 on display. The 115th previously flew the Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon and has flown the F-35A since 2023. The 115th has operated out of Truax Air National Guard base from 1951 to 1952 and from 1972 to present day. The 115th has flown such iconic aircraft as the North American F-51 Mustang, Northrop F-89 Scorpion, Convair F-102 Delta Daggar, and the Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.
The Wisconsin National Guard was also represented with one of their Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawks on display in the form of serial number 89-026127. This UH-60 is based at the West Bend Municipal Airport, Aviation Support Facility #1. This helicopter serves with Company F, 2ND Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment. This UH-60A has been seen up at AirVenture Oshkosh for the past few years during the Air Power Demonstration.
The New Hampshire Air National Guard had Boeing KC-46A Pegasus serial number 18-46047 from the 157th Air Refueling Wing based at Pease Air National Guard Base New Hampshire. The 157th Air Refueling Wing has flown the KC-46A since 2019 after operating the KC-135 for 44 years. The 157th Air Refueling Wing can trace its lineage back to 1942 as the 311th Bombardment Group Light flying the A-36 Apache dive bomber version of the P-51 Mustang.
The 446th Airlift Wing based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Washington brought Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, serial number 10-0216. The 446th Airlift Wing is part of the United States Air Force Reserve Command and has flown the C-17A since 1999. This is the same aircraft that was refueled over Nebraska enroute to Milwaukee on Friday on special Media Flight that is was blessed to be able to be a part of. Look for my upcoming article on this memorable experience coming up. The 128th Readiness Logistics Squadron did a simulated load demo which featured a 6,000-gallon capacity Oshkosh AS332R-11 Fuel Truck being loaded on this C-17A. This fuel truck weighs approximately 40,000#’s. This demo showcased the airlift capability of the C-17A.
The 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth International Airport, Duluth Minnesota had Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 50D Fighting Falcon serial number 91-474 on display. The 148th Fighter Wing has operated the F-16 since 1990 and specializes in the SEAD (Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) role employing the AGM-188A HARM (Highspeed Anti-Radiation Missile).
The United States Navy had a trio of Boeing T-45C Goshawk trainers on display in three different color schemes. All three aircraft are flown by CTW-6 (Carrier Training Wing) based at Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida. T-45C Bureau number 163637 wears the traditional orange and white color scheme that the T-45C has always worn. Bureau number 167098 wears the new glossy gray color scheme that will be replacing the orange and white color scheme. This change is being made to modernize the appearance of the training aircraft and to be more aligned with the tactical paint schemes of the operational fleet. VT-86 (Training Squadron) also known as the “Sabrehawks” has operated the Boeing T-45C Goshawk since 2008.
The third aircraft was bureau number 163612, wears a special color scheme that VT-86 created to honor William “Willie” Driscoll, a NFO (Naval Flight Officer) and RIO (Radar Intercept Officer). Lieutenant JG (Junior Grade) Driscoll along with pilot Lieutenant Randy “Duke” Cunnigham became the only United States Navy Aces of the Vietnam War by shooting down 5 enemy MiG’s, 4 Mig-17’s and 1 MiG-21. This T-45C is painted to represent the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II that the pair flew while assigned to VF-96 the “Fighting Falcons” they flew off the deck of the U.S.S. Constellation during the Vietnam War. This tribute aircraft was painted in conjunction with the celebration of the United Stats Navy’s 250th anniversary and is meant to inspire new generations of Naval Flight Officers.
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The 128th also welcomed the aircraft of the Wisconsin Wing of the Commemorative Air Force based at the nearby Waukesha County Airport better known as Crites Field. The first aircraft was N3195G, A 1943 manufactured North American SNJ-5 Texan, serial number 51697. SNJ is the designation given aircraft the United States Navy flew, with T-6 being the designation given aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force and designated the Harvard by British Commonwealth Air Forces. It first flew in 1935 and was finally withdrawn from service in 1995. It trained more pilots in World War II than any other aircraft. The other aircraft present was a 1953 manufactured Beechcraft T-34A Mentor, registered N5347W, serial number 6275. The United States Air Force operated 450 of the primary trainer until 1960 when it was replaced by the jet powered Cessna T-37. This T-34 was a recent addition to the Wisconsin Wing after many years of restoration work.
The 128th also had ground support vehicles on display including a Halvorsen aircraft loader as well as Oshkosh and Pierce ARFF (Airport Rescue and Firefighting) vehicles.
The 128th Air Refueling Wing is located on the East side of General Mitchell International Airport adjacent to Runways 25L-7R and 1R-19L. This location offers a great view of the passenger terminal as well as arrivals and departures off these runways and Runway 19R-1L. One very notable commercial airliner to be seen was a 1.5-year-old Boeing 737-9MAX, N710AL, serial number 67434 operated by Seattle Washington based Alaska Airlines. This aircraft wears a special Seattle Mariners baseball team color scheme which features the team’s name, logo, and its mascot Mariner Moose. Alaska Airlines has had a partnership with the Mariners since 2001. The tail number N710AL is also a nod to the official Mariners radio station Seattle Sports 710 AM.
This free to the public event was tremendously popular with the local population. Hopefully this will become a yearly event once again.
I would to extend a very special thank you to 128th Air Refueling Wing Commanding Officer Colonel Charles Merkel, Captain Luke Cofax 128th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs as well as all of the men and women of the Wing for their service and their hospitality. Until Next time, “Blue Skies To All!”
