The unit was activated as the 43rd Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) in November 1947 at Davis-Monthan AFB, operating the B-29. The wing added the B-50 in 1948 and a tanker capability with the KB-29 in 1949. The elderly tankers were replaced by the KC-97 in 1953, while the piston-engined bombers were exchanged for the B-47 in 1954. The wing moved to Carswell AFB in March 1960 to re-equip with the B-58. With conversion to the Hustler complete, the unit moved to Little Rock AFB where it remained until inactivated in January 1970. The unit reformed as the 43rd Strategic Wing in April 1970 with the B-52D assigned. The bombers were retired during the early 1980s, with the unit inactivating in 1990 when the 633rd Air Base Wing was formed to administer the facility. The unit reformed as the 43rd Air Refueling Wing at Malmstrom AFB to replace the 301st Wing in 1992. The 43rd was downgraded to group status in July 1994.