In July 1949, Continental Air Command (ConAC) reopened Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana, a World War II field, as a training base for reserve flying units and activated the 434th Troop Carrier Wing there the wing initially flew the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, but soon converted to Curtiss C-46 Commandos, and is now operating the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

The 434th Air Refueling Wing regularly participates in exercises and front-line operations to support America's national interests.

The Air Force Reserve Command provides a substantial portion of the Department of Defense's total aerial refueling capability.

Hence, the 434th receives its share of taskings both during peacetime and times of crisis to support our nation's active duty military forces.

Grissom is one of only five Air Force Reserve Bases nationwide The 434th Air Refueling Wing consists of the following major units: Included in these major organizations are such areas as flight operations, aircraft maintenance, plans and programs, safety, airfield management, security police, military personnel, services, communications, medical support, information management, administration, and civil engineering.

[6] The wing was manned at 25% of normal strength but its combat group was authorized four squadrons rather than the three of active duty units.

[citation needed] All reserve combat and corollary units, including the 434th Wing, were mobilized for the Korean war.

[9] The wing trained at Atterbury until January 1952, when it moved to Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia.

In September, the wing began to provide combat crew training for aircrews being assigned to C-46 units with Far East Air Forces.

However, as this plan was entering its implementation phase, another partial mobilization, which included the 434th Wing, occurred for the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the units being released on 28 November 1962 after a month of active service.

The wing's C-119 squadrons began transporting supplies, equipment and Army personnel to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida.

[1] On 1 October 1966, the 932d Group was released from assignment to the 434th and reassigned to the 442d Military Airlift Wing at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri, in preparation for heavy cargo operations.

On 15 January 1971, the 434th was reactivated at Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, as the 434th Special Operations Wing.

The 45th and 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron were equipped with Cessna A-37 Dragonfly aircraft for close air support missions.

In April 1981, the 434th received the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and the wing's mission changed to training forward air controllers.

During the December 1993 to February 1997 time period, the wing staged four separate deployments to Europe to support Operation Decisive Endeavor, the United Nation's enforcement of the no-fly zone over war-torn Bosnia.

In May 1999, the 434th ARW was called upon to provide aerial refueling support to Operation Allied Force as personnel and aircraft were deployed to various European locations.