‘We’re America’s Best’: 116th Air Refueling Squadron Celebrates 100 Years of Service in Spokane

Twenty nine different planes, three military bases and several missions.

The 116th Air Refueling Squadron’s 100 years can be described as a “history of change”, according to Col. James McGovern, commander of the 141st Air Refueling Wing, which includes the 116th Squadron.

“We’ve been through countless transitions and our commitment to service has never wavered,” McGovern said. “We are an on-call family that continues to selflessly serve and thrive in an uncertain and ever-changing environment.”

McGovern and other senior officials of the Air National Guard’s 141st Airlift Wing in Washington addressed a crowd of Airmen, retirees and civilians who, under a light drizzle, celebrated the 100th years of the 116th Squadron Sunday morning at Fairchild Air Force Base.

The celebration included a presentation of the colors, the singing of the national anthem and two flyovers – the 141st’s flagship KC-135 Stratotanker and a C-130 Hercules from the Montana Air National Guard’s 186th Airlift Squadron.

Aircraft displays, a car show, food and other festive events highlighted the rest of the day’s festivities.

The 116th Air Refueling Squadron, originally designated the 116th Observation Squadron, was federally recognized on 6 August 1924 at present-day Felts Field.

Local officials quickly raised the $10,000 needed to beat out Seattle and Tacoma for the right to have the squadron in Spokane. Spokane leaders sent a telegram notifying Maurice Thompson, adjutant general of the National Guard in Washington, that the city had raised the money.

Thompson had left Spokane on a train bound for Tacoma when he got the news.

Lt. Col. Brian Gliniak, commander of the 116th Airlift Squadron, acknowledged the effect Spokane civic leaders had in forming the squadron a century ago.

“Without your support, we would have no story to tell,” Gliniak said. “Thank you for 100 years when it all started in 1924 with a thread that said, ‘The $10,000 has been raised.’ Stop. We want the squadron. Stop.’ “

Gliniak said the original 116 was a “group of World War I veterans” who once tried to figure out how to transport unassembled and crated JN-6-A2 “Jenny” aircraft to a railway yard, at Felts. Field.

Members of the 116th assembled the aircraft and constructed buildings at Felts, Gliniak said.

“The legacy of the 116th is one of ingenuity, volunteerism and adaptation to almost constant change,” he said.

The 116th moved to a fighter squadron and moved in 1949 to Geiger Field, now Spokane International Airport, so that pilots could use a longer runway for aircraft. It moved on again, this time to refueling missions, and moved in 1976 to its current home at Fairchild.

The jets occasionally drowned out Gliniak’s history lesson in front of the squadron crowd on Sunday.

The ceremony was held outside at the memorial for four 141st aircrew who died 25 years ago when their KC-135 went down on the way back to Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base in Germany after a refueling mission.

Generations of families have served in the 141st, Gliniak said.

For example, col. Mark Scott and Major Jon Cael are fourth-generation members of the wing.

“The people, the family, the camaraderie is what has allowed the 116th to thrive through all the ups and downs we’ve faced,” Gliniak said.

As they celebrated Sunday, McGovern asked those in attendance to remember what the 116th has accomplished and look forward to what it will accomplish in the future.

“Let me remind you that we are the best in America,” McGovern said. “We are the nation’s first Air National Guard KC-135 unit with a long and distinguished legacy of service to back it up.”