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{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 26th Air Refueling Squadron
|unit_name= 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-97 Stratotanker|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.
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]], 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==
==History==
The 26th Air Refueling Squadron was formed at Lockbourne AFB Ohio in May 1952. Equipped with the new Boeing [[KC-97 Stratotanker]], it was assigned as the air refueling component of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, primarily supporting the wings [[RB-47 Stratojet]]s. It provided aerial refusing support for a variety of 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 AFB, Alaska; Thule AFB, Greenland; Royal Air Force stations at Upper Heyford and Fairford, United Kingdom; Sidi Slimane in Morocco; Goose Bay, Laborador; and Lajes Field in the Azores.<ref>[http://tenninetyseven.homestead.com/26thbasehistory.html History of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]</ref>
The 26th Air Refueling Squadron was formed at Lockbourne AFB Ohio in May 1952. Equipped with the new Boeing [[KC-97 Stratotanker]], it was assigned as the air refueling component of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, primarily supporting the wings [[RB-47 Stratojet]]s. It provided aerial refusing support for a variety of 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 AFB, Alaska; Thule AFB, Greenland; Royal Air Force stations at Upper Heyford and Fairford, United Kingdom; Sidi Slimane in Morocco; Goose Bay, Laborador; and Lajes Field in the Azores.<ref>[http://tenninetyseven.homestead.com/26thbasehistory.html History of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]</ref>


In August 1953, the squadron refueled [[F-84G]] fighters from the [[506th Strategic Fighter Wing]] participating in the Operation Longstride. 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 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 the 26th SRW's reconnaissance aircraft.
In August 1953, the squadron refueled [[F-84G]] fighters from the [[506th Strategic Fighter Wing]] participating in the Operation Longstride. 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 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 the 26th SRW's reconnaissance aircraft.


In April 1955, the squadron was re-assigned 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 back 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>
In April 1955, the squadron was re-assigned 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 back 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>
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* [[26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]]: 28 May 1952
* [[26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing]]: 28 May 1952
* [[4050th Air Refueling Wing]]: 1 April 1955
* [[4050th Air Refueling Wing]]: 1 April 1955
: [[820th Air Division]]<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 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20121030120240/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10159 |date=10/11/2007|archivedate=October 30th 2012|accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref> (attached to [[380th Bombardment Wing]]): 7 August 1957
: [[820th Air Division]]<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 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20121030120240/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10159 |date=10/11/2007|archivedate=October 30, 2012|accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref> (attached to [[380th Bombardment Wing]]): 7 August 1957
* 380th Bombardment Wing Assigned: 1 August 1959
* 380th Bombardment Wing Assigned: 1 August 1959
* [[4108th Air Refueling Wing]]: 1 January 1961
* [[4108th Air Refueling Wing]]: 1 January 1961
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* [[List of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons]]
* [[List of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons]]
{{-}}
{{-}}

==References==
==References==

===Notes===
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{AFHRA}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|origyear=1969|url= http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/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|pages= }}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|origyear=1969|url= http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/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|pages= }}


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{{United States Air Force}}
{{United States Air Force}}
{{Strategic Air Command}}
{{Strategic Air Command}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}


[[Category:Air refueling squadrons of the United States Air Force|026]]
[[Category:Air refueling squadrons of the United States Air Force|026]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]]

⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}

Revision as of 04:15, 11 September 2014

26th Air Refueling Squadron
Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter 53-816.jpg
Active28 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
TypeAerial refueling
Part ofStrategic Air Command
26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
4050th Air Refueling Wing
380th Bombardment Wing
Garrison/HQLockbourne AFB Ohio
Westover AFB Massachusetts
Plattsburgh AFB New York
Decorations

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
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-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 AFB Ohio in May 1952. Equipped with the new Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker, it was assigned as the air refueling component of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, primarily supporting the wings RB-47 Stratojets. It provided aerial refusing support for a variety of 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 AFB, Alaska; Thule AFB, Greenland; Royal Air Force stations at Upper Heyford and Fairford, United Kingdom; Sidi Slimane in Morocco; Goose Bay, Laborador; and Lajes Field in the Azores.[1]

In August 1953, the squadron refueled F-84G fighters from the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing participating in the Operation Longstride. They refueled seventeen F-84Gs 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-84s 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 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 the 26th SRW's reconnaissance aircraft.

In April 1955, the squadron was re-assigned 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 back 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 JFK 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

  • Established as the 26th Air Refueling Squadron on 28 May 1952
Inactivated on 15 September 1964

Assignments

820th Air Division[3] (attached to 380th Bombardment Wing): 7 August 1957

Stations

Aircraft

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Squadron emblems of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons.

References

Notes

  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. 10/11/2007. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Bibliography

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

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