26th Air Refueling Squadron: Difference between revisions

26th Air Refueling Squadron
26th Air Refueling Squadron
	Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter 53-816.jpg
Active	28 May 1952 – 1 April 1955 ; 1 April 1955 – 7 August 1957 ; 7 August 1957 – 15 September 1964
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Aerial refueling
Part of	Strategic Air Command ; 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing ; 4050th Air Refueling Wing ; 380th Bombardment Wing
Garrison/HQ	Lockbourne AFB, Ohio; Westover AFB, Massachusetts; Plattsburgh AFB, New York;
Decorations	; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award;
Insignia
Emblem of the 26th Air Refueling Squadron

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The 26th Air Refueling Squadron (26 AREFS) was a squadron of the United States Air Force that flew the KC-97E/F/G Stratofreighter, An early Cold War air refueling squadron, it primarily supported B-47 Stratojets of the Strategic Air Command Eighth Air Force during the 1950s and early 1960s. The squadron was inactivated in September 1964 as part of the phaseout of the KC-97 from SAC.

History

The 26th Air Refueling Squadron was formed at Lockbourne Air Force Base Ohio in May 1952. Equipped with the new Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, it was assigned as the air refueling component of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, primarily supporting the wing's Boeing RB-47 Stratojets. It provided air refueling support for a variety of Strategic Air Command (SAC) directed exercises and operations that included numerous simulated combat missions and deployments, ranging from a few days to a few months. The exercises took the squadron's aircraft to such bases as Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; Thule Air Base, Greenland; Royal Air Force stations at Upper Heyford and Fairford, United Kingdom; Sidi Slimane Air Base in Morocco; Goose Bay Airport, Laborador; and Lajes Field in the Azores.^[1]

In August 1953, the squadron refueled Republic F-84G Thunderjet fighters from the 508th Strategic Fighter Wing participating in the Operation Long Stride. They refueled seventeen F-84Gs from Turner Air Force Base, Georgia to RAF Lakenheath, Great Britain during a non-stop 4,485-mile trip. During the second phase of Operation Long Stride in October 1953, the 26th helped refuel eight F-84s of the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing from Turner to Nouasseur Air Base, French Morocco. The aircraft covered 3,800 miles in 10 hours and 20 minutes, thanks to in-flight refueling in the vicinity of Bermuda and the Azores. Crews and aircraft from the 26th deployed to Lajes in September 1954 for 45 days to refuel the 26th Wing's reconnaissance aircraft.

In April 1955, the squadron was reassigned to the new 4050th Air Refueling Wing under the SAC 57th Air Division at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. From Westover, the squadron carried out air refueling primary for Eighth Air Force B-47s transiting the Atlantic from either the United States or returning from SAC's REFLEX bases in Europe and North Africa. On 22 May 1957, the 26th was moved from Westover to Plattsburgh AFB, New York, being reassigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing under the 820th Air Division.^[2]

From its base at Plattsburgh, the squadron continued to support training in air refueling for B-47 and B-52 crews as well as deploying to bases in Newfoundland and Greenland. Aircraft and crews were at Sondrestrom, Greenland, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, to guard against any potential "sucker punch" that the USSR might try while our country grieved. The squadron was inactivated in September 1964 as part of the retirement of the KC-97 from SAC service.

Lineage

Constituted as the 26th Air Refueling Squadron on 9 May 1952

Activated on 28 May 1952

Inactivated on 15 September 1964

Redesignated 26th Expeditionary Air Refueling Flight, converted to provisional status and assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed on 29 September 2004

Assignments

26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 28 May 1952
4050th Air Refueling Wing, 1 April 1955
820th Air Division, 7 August 1957 (attached to 380th Bombardment Wing)^[3]
380th Bombardment Wing, 1 August 1959
4108th Air Refueling Wing, 1 January 1961
497th Air Refueling Wing, 1 January 1963 – 15 September 1964

Stations

Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, 28 May 1952
Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 1 April 1955
Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, 7 Aug 1957 – 15 September 1964

Aircraft

Boeing KC-97E Stratofreighter (1952–1957)
Boeing KC-97F Stratofreighter (1953–1961)
Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter (1954–1964)

References

Notes

^ History of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
^ Chronology of the 4050th Air Refueling Wing (Medium) (AREFWG)
^ "Factsheet 820 Strategic Aerospace Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.

[1] History of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing

[2] Chronology of the 4050th Air Refueling Wing (Medium) (AREFWG)

[3] "Factsheet 820 Strategic Aerospace Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use American English|date=June 2015}}
+{{more footnotes needed|date=December 2012}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
 {{Infobox military unit
 |unit_name= 26th Air Refueling Squadron
+| image= Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter 53-816.jpg
-|image= [[Image:26 air refueling sq 1.gif|200 px]] <br> [[Image:26 air refueling sq Plattsburgh.jpg|200 px]] <BR> [[Image:26ars3.jpg|200 px]] <BR> [[Image:26ars2.jpg|200 px]] <br> [[Image:26ars4.jpg|200 px]] <BR> [[Image:26ars5.jpg|200 px]]
+| image_size = 300
-|caption=
+|caption= Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter 53-816.jpg
-|dates= 28 May 1952 - 1 April 1955 <BR> 1 April 1955 - 7 August 1957 <BR> 7 August 1957 - 15 September 1964
+|dates= 28 May 1952 – 1 April 1955 <BR> 1 April 1955 – 7 August 1957 <BR> 7 August 1957 – 15 September 1964
-|country= [[United States]]
+|country={{flag|United States|23px}}
 |allegiance=
-|branch=[[United States Air Force]]
+|branch= {{air force|USA}}
 |type= [[Aerial refueling]]
 |role=
@@ Line 12: / Line 16: @@
 |command_structure= [[Strategic Air Command]] <BR> [[26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]] <BR> [[4050th Air Refueling Wing]] <BR> [[380th Bombardment Wing]]
 |current_commander=
-|garrison= [[Lockbourne AFB]] [[Ohio]] <BR>  [[Westover AFB]] [[Massachusetts]] <BR> [[Plattsburgh AFB]] [[New York]]
+|garrison= {{unbulleted list|[[Lockbourne AFB]], [[Ohio]]|[[Westover AFB]], [[Massachusetts]]|[[Plattsburgh AFB]], [[New York (state)|New York]]}}
 |ceremonial_chief=
 |colonel_of_the_regiment=
@@ Line 25: / Line 29: @@
 |anniversaries=
 |decorations=
+* [[File:US Air Force Outstanding Unit Award - Stremer.jpg|150px]]<BR>Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
 |battle_honours=
+<!-- Insignia -->
+|identification_symbol= [[File:26th Air Refueling Squadron Emblem - 2.jpg|125px]]
+|identification_symbol_label= Emblem of the 26th Air Refueling Squadron
 }}
-The '''26th Air Refueling Squadron''' ('''26 AREFS''') was a squadron of the [[United States Air Force]] that flew the [[KC-97 Stratotanker|KC-97]]E/F/G [[Stratofreighter]].
+The '''26th Air Refueling Squadron''' ('''26 AREFS''') was a squadron of the [[United States Air Force]] that flew the [[KC-97 Stratofreighter|KC-97]]E/F/G [[Stratofreighter]], An early [[Cold War]] air refueling squadron, it primarily supported B-47 Stratojets of the Strategic Air Command Eighth Air Force during the 1950s and early 1960s. The squadron was inactivated in September 1964 as part of the phaseout of the KC-97 from SAC.
 ==History==
+The 26th Air Refueling Squadron was formed at [[Lockbourne Air Force Base]] Ohio in May 1952. Equipped with the new [[Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter]], it was assigned as the [[air refueling]] component of the [[26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]], primarily supporting the wing's [[Boeing RB-47 Stratojet]]s. It provided air refueling support for a variety of [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC) directed exercises and operations that included numerous simulated combat missions and deployments, ranging from a few days to a few months. The exercises took the squadron's aircraft to such bases as [[Eielson Air Force Base]], Alaska; [[Thule Air Base]], Greenland; Royal Air Force stations at [[RAF Upper Heyford|Upper Heyford]] and [[RAF Fairford|Fairford]], United Kingdom; [[Sidi Slimane Air Base]] in Morocco; [[CFB Goose Bay|Goose Bay Airport]], Laborador; and [[Lajes Field]] in the Azores.<ref>[http://tenninetyseven.homestead.com/26thbasehistory.html History of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]</ref>
-The '''26 AREFS''' flew worldwide air refueling operations from 1952-61. The 26th AREFS's [[KC-97]]s refueled [[F-84G]] fighters from the [[506th Strategic Fighter Wing]] participating in the [[Operation Longstride]] in Aug 1953. They refueled seventeen [[F-84G]]s from [[Turner AFB]], Georgia to [[RAF Lakenheath]], Great Britain during a non-stop 4,485 mile trip. During the second phase of Operation Longstride in October 1953, the 26th helped refuel eight [[F-84]]s of the [[31st Strategic Fighter Wing]] from [[Turner AFB]], Georgia to [[Nouasseur Air Base]], French Morocco. The aircraft covered 3,800 miles in 10 hours and 20 minutes, thanks to in-flight refueling by brand-new SAC KC-97s in the vicinity of Bermuda and the Azores. Crews and aircraft from the 26th deployed to [[Lajes AB]] Portugal in September 1954 for 45 days to refuel [[RB-47]] reconnaissance aircraft.
+In August 1953, the squadron refueled [[Republic F-84G Thunderjet]] fighters from the [[508th Strategic Fighter Wing]] participating in the Operation Long Stride. They refueled seventeen F-84Gs from [[Turner Air Force Base]], Georgia to [[RAF Lakenheath]], Great Britain during a non-stop 4,485-mile trip. During the second phase of Operation Long Stride in October 1953, the 26th helped refuel eight F-84s of the [[31st Strategic Fighter Wing]] from Turner to [[Nouasseur Air Base]], French Morocco. The aircraft covered 3,800 miles in 10 hours and 20 minutes, thanks to in-flight refueling in the vicinity of Bermuda and the Azores. Crews and aircraft from the 26th deployed to Lajes in September 1954 for 45 days to refuel the 26th Wing's [[aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]] aircraft.
-===Operations===
-*[[Cold War]]
+In April 1955, the squadron was reassigned to the new 4050th Air Refueling Wing under the SAC 57th Air Division at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. From Westover, the squadron carried out air refueling primary for Eighth Air Force B-47s transiting the Atlantic from either the United States or returning from SAC's REFLEX bases in Europe and North Africa. On 22 May 1957, the 26th was moved from Westover to Plattsburgh AFB, New York, being reassigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing under the 820th Air Division.<ref>[http://www.vermontel.net/~tomh/AIRCRAFT/UNITS/4050ARW/4050_AREFWG_5758.html Chronology of the 4050th Air Refueling Wing (Medium) (AREFWG)]</ref>
-===Lineage===
-*26th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium (1952–1964)
+From its base at Plattsburgh, the squadron continued to support training in air refueling for B-47 and B-52 crews as well as deploying to bases in Newfoundland and Greenland. Aircraft and crews were at Sondrestrom, Greenland, when President [[John F. Kennedy]] was assassinated, to guard against any potential "sucker punch" that the USSR might try while our country grieved. The squadron was inactivated in September 1964 as part of the retirement of the KC-97 from SAC service.
-==Assignments==
-{{col-begin}}
-{{col-break}}
-*[[26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]] (Medium) (28 May 1952-1 Apr 1955)
-*[[4050th Air Refueling Wing]] (1 Apr 1955-7 Aug 1957)
-*[[380th Air Expeditionary Wing|380th Bombardment Wing]] (Medium) (7 Aug 1957-1 Jan 1961)
-**Attached: (07 Aug 1957-31 Jul 1959)
-**Assigned: (01 Aug 1959-01 Jan 1961)
-*[[4108th Air Refueling Wing]] (Medium) (1 Jan 1961-1 Jan 1963)
-*[[497th Air Refueling Wing]] (Medium) (1 Jan 1963-15 September 1964)
-{{col-end}}
-==Bases stationed==
+==Lineage==
+* Constituted as the '''26th Air Refueling Squadron''' on 9 May 1952
-{{col-begin}}
+: Activated on 28 May 1952
-{{col-break}}
+: Inactivated on 15 September 1964
-*[[Lockbourne Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]] (28 May 1952-1 Apr 1955)
+* Redesignated '''26th Expeditionary Air Refueling Flight''', converted to provisional status and assigned to [[Air Mobility Command]] to activate or inactivate as needed on 29 September 2004
-*[[Westover Air Force Base]], [[Massachusetts]] (1 Apr 1955-7 Aug 1957)
-*[[Plattsburgh Air Force Base]], [[New York]] (7 Aug 1957-15 September 1964)
-{{col-end}}
+===Assignments===
-==Aircraft operated==
+* [[26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]], 28 May 1952
-*[[KC-97 Stratotanker|KC-97E]] [[Stratofreighter]] (1952–1957)
+* [[4050th Air Refueling Wing]], 1 April 1955
-*[[KC-97 Stratotanker|KC-97F]] [[Stratofreighter]] (1953–1961)
+* [[820th Air Division]], 7 August 1957 (attached to [[380th Bombardment Wing]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10159 |title=Factsheet 820 Strategic Aerospace Division |publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030120240/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10159 |date=11 October 2007|archive-date=30 October 2012|access-date=5 March 2014}}</ref>
-*[[KC-97 Stratotanker|KC-97G]] [[Stratofreighter]] (1954–1964)
+* 380th Bombardment Wing, 1 August 1959
+* [[4108th Air Refueling Wing]], 1 January 1961
+* [[497th Air Refueling Wing]], 1 January 1963 – 15 September 1964
+===Stations===
+*[[Lockbourne Air Force Base]], Ohio, 28 May 1952
+*[[Westover Air Force Base]], Massachusetts, 1 April 1955
+*[[Plattsburgh Air Force Base]], New York, 7 Aug 1957 – 15 September 1964
+===Aircraft===
+* [[Boeing KC-97E Stratofreighter]] (1952–1957)
+* Boeing KC-97F Stratofreighter (1953–1961)
+* Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter (1954–1964)
+==See also==
+{{Commons category}}
+* [[List of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons]]
+{{Clear}}
 ==References==
+===Notes===
-{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Military of the United States|World War II}}
-{{AFHRA}}
 {{Reflist}}
-* Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
-<references/>
-==External links==
+===Bibliography===
+{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
+* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf|edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
 {{USAF air refueling units}}
 {{United States Air Force}}
 {{Strategic Air Command}}
+[[Category:Air refueling squadrons of the United States Air Force|026]]
-{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2010}}
+[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1952]]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:26th Air Refueling Squadron}}
-[[Category:Air refueling squadrons of the United States Air Force|Air Refueling 0026]]
-[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]]
-[[Category:Air refueling squadrons of the United States Air Force]]

v t e Aerial refueling units of the United States Air Force
Wings	6th 19th 22d 68th 92d 100th 101st 107th 108th 117th 121st 126th 128th 134th 141st 157th 155th 157th 161st 163d 168th 171st 184th 185th 186th 190th 301st 305th 319th 340th 380th 384th 434th 452d 459th 497th 499th 507th 916th 927th 939th 940th 4045th 4061st 4108th 4397th 4505th
Groups	19th 43d 98th 307th 931st
Squadrons	2d 6th 7th 9th 11th 19th 22d 26th 28th 32d 34th 40th 41st 42d 43d 44th 46th 54th 55th 63d 64th 68th 70th 71st 72d 74th 77th 90th 91st 92d 93d 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 105th 106th 108th 116th 117th 126th 127th 132d 133d 136th 141st 146th 147th 150th 151st 154th 166th 168th 203d 301st 303d 305th 306th 307th 308th 310th 314th 320th 321st 336th 340th 341st 344th 349th 350th 351st 376th 380th 384th 407th 465th 509th 711th 744th 763d 900th 901st 902d 903d 904th 905th 906th 907th 908th 909th 911th 913th 915th 916th 917th 919th 920th 922d 924th