The 54th Transport Squadron was activated at Hamilton Field, California, but moved to Bowman Field, Kentucky, in June 1942, as the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron. Successive reassignments were to Florence Army Air Field, South Carolina, in August 1942, and to Elmendorf Field, Alaska, until inactivation on 5 March 1949. While there the 54th deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, to support the Berlin Airlift.[2]
That inactivation 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.[2]
Pilot trainingedit
On 14 April 1972, the 54th received a new mission and name. It became the 54th Flying Training Squadron, and was stationed at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, with an official activation date of 1 October. Here personnel trained new pilots in the Northrop T-38 Talon until the 54th was once again inactivated in April 1997.[2]
Air refueling trainingedit
The 54th Air Refueling Squadron was reactivated at its current home of Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma on 16 January 1998.[2] The 54th Air Refueling Squadron the only Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker flying training squadron in Air Education and Training Command. The squadron provides KC-135R initial and advanced flight qualification. The squadron's mission continues to encompass the training of all active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force 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.[4]
Lineageedit
Constituted as the 54th Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942
Activated on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 54th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Redesignated 54th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 20 July 1948
Inactivated on 5 March 1949
Activated on 20 September 1949
Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1965
Redesignated 54th Flying Training Squadron on 14 April 1972
Activated on 1 October 1972
Inactivated on 1 April 1997
Redesignated 54th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 January 1998
Awards. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 July 1957 – 10 December 1962; 1 January 1973 – 31 December 1974; 30 April 1981 – 29 April 1983; 1 April 1984 – 31 March 1986; 1 April 1988 – 31 March 1990; 1 October 1995–[1 April] 1997; [16 January] 1998-30 June 1998; 1 July 1998 – 30 June 1999; 1 July 1999 – 30 June 2000; 1 July 2000 – 30 June 2002; 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2004; 1 July 2004 – 30 June 2006; 1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007; 1 July 2007 – 30 June 2008; 1 July 2008–30 June 2009[2]
^ abcdefghijRobertson, Patsy (18 October 2010). . Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
^. 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs. June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
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.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
January 01, 1970
54th, refueling, squadron, part, 97th, mobility, wing, altus, force, base, oklahoma, operates, boeing, stratotanker, aircraft, conducting, refueling, training, instructor, pilotactive1942, 1949, 1949, 1965, 1972, 1997, 1998, presentcountry, united, statesbranc. The 54th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base Oklahoma It operates the Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling training 54th Air Refueling Squadron54th Air Refueling Squadron KC 135 and instructor pilotActive1942 1949 1949 1965 1972 1997 1998 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceTypeAir refuelingRoleFlight trainingPart ofAir Education and Training CommandGarrison HQAltus Air Force BaseNickname s Eager Beavers 1956 1965 JestersDecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardInsignia54th Air Refueling Squadron emblem Approved 6 June 1995 1 54th Flying Training Squadron emblem Approved 20 February 1973 2 54th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem approved 18 July 1956 3 54th Transport Squadron redirects here For the 54th Transport Squadron formerly 54th Ferrying Squadron see 54th Airlift Squadron Contents 1 History 1 1 Airlift operations 1 2 Pilot training 1 3 Air refueling training 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 2 4 Awards 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyHistory editAirlift operations edit The 54th Transport Squadron was activated at Hamilton Field California but moved to Bowman Field Kentucky in June 1942 as the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron Successive reassignments were to Florence Army Air Field South Carolina in August 1942 and to Elmendorf Field Alaska until inactivation on 5 March 1949 While there the 54th deployed to Rhein Main Air Base Germany to support the Berlin Airlift 2 That inactivation 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 2 Pilot training edit On 14 April 1972 the 54th received a new mission and name It became the 54th Flying Training Squadron and was stationed at Reese Air Force Base Texas with an official activation date of 1 October Here personnel trained new pilots in the Northrop T 38 Talon until the 54th was once again inactivated in April 1997 2 Air refueling training edit The 54th Air Refueling Squadron was reactivated at its current home of Altus Air Force Base Oklahoma on 16 January 1998 2 The 54th Air Refueling Squadron the only Boeing KC 135R Stratotanker flying training squadron in Air Education and Training Command The squadron provides KC 135R initial and advanced flight qualification The squadron s mission continues to encompass the training of all active duty Air National Guard Air Force 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 4 Lineage editConstituted as the 54th Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942 Activated on 1 June 1942 Redesignated 54th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942 Redesignated 54th Troop Carrier Squadron Heavy on 20 July 1948 Inactivated on 5 March 1949 Activated on 20 September 1949 Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1965 Redesignated 54th Flying Training Squadron on 14 April 1972 Activated on 1 October 1972 Inactivated on 1 April 1997 Redesignated 54th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 January 1998 Activated on 16 January 1998 2 Assignments edit 64th Transport Group 1 June 1942 315th Transport Group later 315th Troop Carrier Group 11 June 1942 Fourth Air Force 23 October 1942 XI Air Force Service Command 15 November 1942 attached to Troop Carrier Group Provisional 1 July 1943 18 February 1944 Eleventh Air Force later Alaskan Air Command 10 October 1944 5 March 1949 attached to United States Air Forces in Europe 2 21 July 1948 Airlift Task Force Provisional 29 July 30 November 1948 Alaskan Air Command attached to 57 Fighter Wing 20 September 1949 attached to 57th Fighter Wing 5039th Air Transport Group 1 January 1951 Eighteenth Air Force 23 July 1956 attached to 63d Troop Carrier Group 63d Troop Carrier Wing 1 July 1957 attached to 63d Troop Carrier Group until 7 October 1959 63d Troop Carrier Group 8 October 1959 attached to 322d Air Division February c 19 August 1959 63d Troop Carrier Wing 18 January 1963 25 June 1965 64th Flying Training Wing 1 October 1972 64th Operations Group 15 December 1991 1 April 1997 97th Operations Group 16 January 1998 present 2 Stations edit Hamilton Field California 1 June 1942 Bowman Field Kentucky c 19 June 1942 Florence Army Air Field 3 August 17 October 1942 Elmendorf Field later Elmendorf Air Force Base Alaska 15 November 1942 5 March 1949 Detachment deployed to Rhein Main Air Base Germany 2 July 1948 RAF Fassberg Germany 26 September 30 November 1948 dd Elmendorf Air Force Base Alaska 20 September 1949 Donaldson Air Force Base South Carolina 23 July 1956 deployed to Rhein Main Air Base Germany February c 19 August 1959 Hunter Air Force Base Georgia 1 April 1963 25 June 1965 Reese Air Force Base Texas 1 October 1972 1 April 1997 Altus Air Force Base Oklahoma 16 January 1998 present 2 Aircraft edit Lockheed C 60 Lodestar 1942 1944 Douglas C 47 Skytrain 1942 1949 Douglas C 54 Skymaster 1946 1949 1949 1952 Fairchild C 82 Packet 1949 1951 1952 Douglas C 124 Globemaster II 1952 1965 Northrop T 38 Talon 1972 1997 Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker 1998 present 2 Awards edit Awards Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards 1 July 1957 10 December 1962 1 January 1973 31 December 1974 30 April 1981 29 April 1983 1 April 1984 31 March 1986 1 April 1988 31 March 1990 1 October 1995 1 April 1997 16 January 1998 30 June 1998 1 July 1998 30 June 1999 1 July 1999 30 June 2000 1 July 2000 30 June 2002 1 July 2002 30 June 2004 1 July 2004 30 June 2006 1 July 2006 30 June 2007 1 July 2007 30 June 2008 1 July 2008 30 June 2009 2 References editNotes edit Endicott p 593 a b c d e f g h i j Robertson Patsy 18 October 2010 Factsheet 54 Air Refueling Squadron AETC Air Force Historical Research Agency Archived from the original on 14 March 2016 Retrieved 19 March 2016 Maurer Combat Squadrons pp 224 225 54th Air Refueling Squadron 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs June 2009 Archived from the original on 2 July 2010 Retrieved 19 March 2016 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 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 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 54th Air Refueling Squadron amp oldid 1221663071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
