54th Air Refueling Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 54th Air Refueling Squadron


caption= 54th Air Refueling Squadron Patch
dates= 1 July 1942 - 5 March 1949
20 September 1949 - 25 June 1965
1 October 1972 - 1 April 1997
16 January 1998 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Aerial refueling
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Education and Training Command
19th Air Force
97th Air Mobility Wing
97th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Altus Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
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nickname=
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The 54th Air Refueling Squadron (54 ARS) is part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling training.

Mission

History

The 54th was originally based at Hamilton Field, California, but moved to Bowman Field, Kentucky, in June 1942. Successive reassignments were to Florence, South Carolina, in August 1942, and to Elmendorf Field, Alaska, until deactivation on 5 March 1949. That deactivation lasted only six months and on 20 September 1949, the unit was activated again at Elmendorf and again moved to Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, in July 1956, remaining in service until 25 June 1965. While there the 54th deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, to support the Berlin Airlift. [http://www.altus.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4917 54 ARS Fact Sheet] ]

On 14 April 1972, the 54th received a new mission and name. It became the 54th Flying Training Squadron, and was reassigned to Reese Air Force Base, Texas, with an official activation date of 1 October. Here personnel trained new pilots in the T-38 Talon until the 54th was once again deactivated in April 1997.

The 54th Air Refueling Squadron was reactivated at its current home of Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma on 16 January 1998. The 54th Air Refueling Squadron is one of only two Air Education and Training Command KC-135R flying training squadrons. The 55th and 54th Air Refueling Squadrons provide KC-135R initial and advanced flight qualification. The squadron's mission continues to encompass the training of all active duty, guard, reserve and international KC-135 crewmembers. Over 70 instructors train 450 pilot and boom operator students annually for the Department of Defense and international customers.

=Operations [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0054ars.html AFHRA 54 ARS Page] ] =

*World War II

=Lineage=

*54th Transport Squadron (1942)
*54th Troop Carrier Squadron (1942 - 1948)
*54th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy (1948 - 1972)
*54th Flying Training Squadron (1972 - 1998)
*54th Air Refueling Squadron (1998 - Present)

=Assignments=

*64th Transport Group (1942)
*315th Troop Carrier Group (1942)
*4th Air Force (1942)
*XI Air Force Service Command (1942 - 1944)
**Attached: Troop Carrier Group (Provisional) (1 July 1943 - 18 February 1944)
*Alaskan Air Command (1944 - 1949, 1949 - 1951)
**Attached: United States Air Forces in Europe (2 - 21 July 1948)
**Attached: Airlift Task Force (Provisional) (29 July - 30 November 1948)
**Attached: 57th Fighter Wing (1949 - 1951)
*5039th Air Transport Group (1951 - 1956)
*11th Air Force (1956)
*63d Troop Carrier Wing (1957 - 1965)
**Attached: 322d Air Division (February - c. 19 August 1959)
*64th Flying Training Wing (1972 - 1997)
*97th Air Mobility Wing (1995 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Hamilton Field, California (1942)
*Bowman Field, Kentucky (1942)
*Florence, South Carolina (1942)
*Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (1942 - 1949, 1949 - 1956)
**Deployed: Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (2 July - 26 September 1948)
**Deployed: RAF Fassberg, Germany (26 September - 30 November 1948)
*Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina (1956 - 1963)
**Deployed: Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (February - c. 19 August 1959)
*Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia (1963 - 1965)
*Reese Air Force Base, Texas (1972 - 1997)
*Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma (1998 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*C-60 Lodestar (1942 - 1944)
*C-47 Skytrain (1942 - 1949)
*C-54 Skymaster (1946 - 1949, 1949 - 1952)
*C-82 Packet (1949, 1951 - 1952)
*C-124 Globemaster II (1952 - 1965)
*T-38 Talon (1972 - 1997)
*KC-135 Stratotanker (1998 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0054ars.html AFHRA 54th Air Refueling Squadron History]
* [http://www.altus.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4917 54th Air Refueling Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also