Military Bases: Transfer of the 458th Operations Group to McGuire Air Force Base

Barksdale AFB was established in 1933 and has served primarily as a Strategic Air Command base and home for bomber aircraft. In 1958, Barksdale received its first B-52 Stratofortresses, and in 1981, KC-10 Extender aerial refuelers were assigned to Barksdale to support B-52 operations. By 1993, the 458th Operations Group at Barksdale had 19 assigned KC-10s. In the early 199Os, the Air Force restructured its forces to prepare for the post-Cold War environment. As part of this restructuring, the Air Force realigned the Strategic Air Command, the Tactical Air Command, and the Military Airlift Command into the Air Combat Command and the Air Mobility Command. This restructuring, as well as BRAC 1993 decisions, resulted in the relocation of KC-10 refuelers to the East and West coasts to befter support air mobility requirements. In addition, B-52s from three bases to be closed or realigned were relocated to Barksdale. Today, as part of the Air Combat Command, 57 B-52 aircraft are assigned to Barksdaie. The 8th Air Force, the 2nd Bomb Wing, various support and operations groups, and the only Air Force B-52 Reserve Wing are aiso headquartered at Barksdale.