Flight and Operation Southern Watch. 1 October 1995, marked another key change in the unit's long history. The 161st Air Refueling Group was redesignated as the 161st Air Refueling Wing under the USAF Air Mobility Command (AMC). 1996 saw the Copperheads turn 50 years old. The unit celebrated with year-round contests and a 50th Anniversary Celebration in December. The 161st sent about 130 personnel to Operation Northern Watch early in 1999. Based at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, the unit supported flight operations within the northern no-fly zone over Iraq. Early in the second quarter of 1999, 161st Copperheads were quickly pressed into service over Kosovo for Operation Allied Force. Nearly 200 unit airmen served on active duty for about two months, flying 125 missions to offload almost 2.5 million gallons of fuel. The airmen returned to Phoenix in late June 1999. Although not directly called as a unit the "Copperheads" played a vital role in support units during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003. Many Security Forces saw duty overseas directly supporting bases while maintenance and operations personnel were called to support the ongoing operations. Lineage Constituted as 412th Fighter Squadron on 25 May 1943 Activated on 15 August 1943 Inactivated on 7 November 1945 Re-designated: 197th Fighter Squadron and allotted to Arizona ANG on 24 May 1946 Extended federal recognition on 12 December 1946 Federalized and placed on active duty, 1 February 1951 Released from active duty and returned to Arizona state control, 1 November 1952 Re-designated: 197th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 November 1952 Re-designated: 197th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 March 1954 Federalized and placed on active duty, 1 November 1961 Released from active duty and returned to Arizona state control, 15 August 1962 Re-designated: 197th Air Transport Squadron on 1 October 1962 Re-designated: 197th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1966 Re-designated: 197th Aeromedical Transport Squadron on 16 August 1968 Re-designated: 197th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 December 1969 Re-designated: 197th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 August 1972 Assignments 373d Fighter Group, 15 Aug 1943 – 7 Nov 1945 146th Fighter Group, 12 December 1946 127th Pilot Training Group, 1 Feb 1951 – 1 Nov 1952 146th Fighter-Bomber Group, 1 November 1952 146th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 July 1955 161st Fighter-Interceptor Group, 2 October 1957 86th Air Division, 25 November 1961 161st Fighter-Interceptor Group, 11 July 1962 161st Air Transport Group, 1 October 1962 161st Military Airlift Group, 8 January