the wing maintained a strategic bombardment alert posture from, 1973–1982, but in 1978 it added conventional warfare missions, including mine-laying and sea reconnaissance/surveillance. for many years, the wing provided the operations staff and support of the tanker task force (ttf) operations supporting red flag exercise flight operations on the nellis ranges, north of las vegas, nv, using kc-135 personnel and equipment assets deploying from other bases for the duration of a red flag exercise. the tanker task force staff ttf at march also supported overseas deployments of u.s. navy, marine corps and usaf fighter aircraft going to the pacific region using both kc-135 and kc-10 tankers.