<p>The 197th ARS is the group's operational unit and has flown the KC-135E since 1982. The unit was formed as the 197th Fighter Squadron in December 1946 at Luke AAF with P-51Ds, before moving to Sky Harbor Airport two years later. The 197th converted to the F-84B in November 1950 prior to mobilization in February 1951 as the 197th Pilot Training Squadron. The unit was returned to state control in October 1952 as the 197th FIS with F-51Ds. It re-equipped with F-86As in 1953, with the 161st FIG assigned in October 1957. Aircraft were upgraded to the F-86L in November 1957 before conversion to the F-104A/B in April 1960. The unit undertook active duty between November 1961 and August 1962 with deployment to Ramstein AB, Germany. Redesignated the 197th Air Transport Squadron in October 1962 with C-97Gs, the unit became the 197th MAS in January 1966. The squadron changed to the 197th ARS in August 1972 with KC-97Ls assigned until October 1977, when the unit re-equipped with the KC-135A.
