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.
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
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.
Lineageedit
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
^History of the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
^Chronology of the 4050th Air Refueling Wing (Medium) (AREFWG)
^. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
Bibliographyedit
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. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
May 03, 2024
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 26th Air Refueling SquadronBoeing KC 97G Stratofreighter 53 816 jpgActive28 May 1952 1 April 1955 1 April 1955 7 August 1957 7 August 1957 15 September 1964Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceTypeAerial refuelingPart ofStrategic Air Command 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing 4050th Air Refueling Wing 380th Bombardment WingGarrison HQLockbourne AFB OhioWestover AFB MassachusettsPlattsburgh AFB New YorkDecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardInsigniaEmblem of the 26th Air Refueling Squadron Contents 1 History 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 BibliographyHistory editThe 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 editConstituted 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 edit 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 edit 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 edit Boeing KC 97E Stratofreighter 1952 1957 Boeing KC 97F Stratofreighter 1953 1961 Boeing KC 97G Stratofreighter 1954 1964 See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emblems of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons List of United States Air Force air refueling squadronsReferences editNotes edit 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 edit nbsp 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 26th Air Refueling Squadron amp oldid 1208316153, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
