<p>The unit was established at Walker AFB, NM as the 6th Bombardment Wing in January 1951, flying the B-29 and later the B-36 and B-52. It was redesignated 6th Strategic Wing and moved to Eielson AFB in March 1967, replacing the 4157th SW operating various RC-135s including some directly assigned, including RC-135S Cobra Ball and RC-135X Cobra Eye, along with other Stateside-based examples. In addition, KC-135s from SAC units in the 'lower 48' regularly rotate to Eielson for the Alaskan Tanker Task Force. The unit has specialized in conducting reconnaissance operations to gather atmospheric particles for analysis in connection with Soviet nuclear tests. It was redesignated the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing before changing to 6th Wing in October 1991. The unit was inactivated in 1992 when reconnaissance assets were consolidated at Offutt AFB. It was reformed at MacDill AFB in January 1994 to administer the base following the transfer of the 56th FW to Luke AFB, prior to the former facility closing. The wing is due to transfer to Robins AFB as the sole Stateside operator of the E-8 J-STARS later in the decade.
