11th Air Refueling Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 11th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma
. It was inactivated on 1 October 1994.
Reactivated in 1955 under Strategic Air Command as a KC-97 air refueling squadron. Participated in tests, exercises, and air refueling operations of the Strategic Air Command
and other Air Force commands in North America
, Europe
, and Pacific Far East, and Southeast Asia, 1955 onward. Won numerous wards for operational performance.
Upgraded in 1965 to the jet KC-135 Stratotanker. In 1972 the 11th supported two large-scale aircraft movements to Southeast Asia
, 5-6 and 8–9 April, and on 12 May and the next three days deployed all available tankers and crews at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand
. About one-half of squadron personnel formed a rear echelon at Altus AFB. The forward echelon manned the 4101st Air Refueling Squadron, Provisional. Some 11th ARS personnel bean returning to Altus AFB on 4 Nov 1972, but some of the squadron remained on temporary duty in SEA. By January 1973 about half of the 11th’s KC-135s had returned and in June 1973 all aircraft and crews had returned. The 11th continued its normal SEA support as well as its many other global commitments. The squadron refueled its first C-5 on 1 May 1974.
Squadron resources were divided effective 1 Jul 1977, part being retained by the 11th, and the remainder used to man the new 340th Air Refueling Group, Heavy, and the 340th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The new group was assigned to the 19th Air Division, and the 11th to the group.
Inactivated in 1994 as part of the drawdown of USAF after the end of the Cold War
.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. It was inactivated on 1 October 1994.
History
During World War II the squadron trained crews and technicians for photographic reconnaissance and mapping, 1942-1944.Reactivated in 1955 under Strategic Air Command as a KC-97 air refueling squadron. Participated in tests, exercises, and air refueling operations of the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
and other Air Force commands in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and Pacific Far East, and Southeast Asia, 1955 onward. Won numerous wards for operational performance.
Upgraded in 1965 to the jet KC-135 Stratotanker. In 1972 the 11th supported two large-scale aircraft movements to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, 5-6 and 8–9 April, and on 12 May and the next three days deployed all available tankers and crews at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. About one-half of squadron personnel formed a rear echelon at Altus AFB. The forward echelon manned the 4101st Air Refueling Squadron, Provisional. Some 11th ARS personnel bean returning to Altus AFB on 4 Nov 1972, but some of the squadron remained on temporary duty in SEA. By January 1973 about half of the 11th’s KC-135s had returned and in June 1973 all aircraft and crews had returned. The 11th continued its normal SEA support as well as its many other global commitments. The squadron refueled its first C-5 on 1 May 1974.
Squadron resources were divided effective 1 Jul 1977, part being retained by the 11th, and the remainder used to man the new 340th Air Refueling Group, Heavy, and the 340th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The new group was assigned to the 19th Air Division, and the 11th to the group.
Inactivated in 1994 as part of the drawdown of USAF after the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
Lineage
- Constituted 5th Mapping Squadron on 1 May 1942
- Activated on 7 May 1942
- Redesignated: 11th Photographic Mapping Squadron on 9 Jun 1942
- Redesignated: 11th Photographic Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Feb 1943
- Redesignated: 11th Combat Mapping Squadron on 11 Aug 1943
- Disbanded on 1 May 1944
- Reconstituted, and constituted (19 Sep 1985) with 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy
- Constituted as 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 10 Aug 1955
- Activated on 1 Dec 1955
- Redesignated: 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, on 15 Sep 1958
- Redesignated: 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 25 Jun 1965
- Redesignated: 11th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Sep 1991
- Inactivated on 1 Oct 1994
Assignments
- 2d Photographic (later Photographic and Mapping; Photographic Reconnaissance) Group, 7 May 1942-1 May 1944
- 11th Bombardment Wing, 10 Aug 1955
- 341st Bombardment Wing, 1 Dec 1955
- 4050th Air Refueling Wing, 1 Jun 1960
- 499th Air Refueling Wing499th Air Refueling WingThe United States Air Force's 499th Air Refueling Wing was an aerial refueling unit located at Westover AFB, Massachusetts. It was inactivated in 1966....
, 1 Jan 1963 - 820th Strategic Aerospace Division820th Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 820th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Eighth Air Force, being stationed at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York...
, 1 Jul 1964 - 11th Strategic Aerospace (later, 11th Air Refueling) Wing, 25 Jun 1965
- 19th Air Division, 25 Mar 1969
- 17th Strategic Aerospace Division, 2 Jul 1969
- 47th Air Division, 31 Mar 1970
- 19th Air Division, 30 Jun 1971
- 340th Air Refueling Group (later Wing), 1 Jul 1977
- 340th Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991
- 97th Operations Group97th Operations GroupThe 97th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command 97th Air Mobility Wing. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma...
, 1 Oct 1992 - 457th Operations Group, 1 Jul 1993-1 Oct 1994
Stations
- Bradley FieldBradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
, ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, 7 May 1942 - Colorado Springs Army Air Base, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 13 May 1942 - Will Rogers Field, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 14 Oct 1943-1 May 1944 - Abilene (later, Dyess) AFB, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, 10 Aug 1955-1 Jun 1960 - Dover AFB, DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, 1 Jun 1960-25 Jun 1965 - Altus AFB, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 25 Jun 1965-1 Oct 1994
Aircraft
- Primarily B-17/F-7 Flying Fortress and B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1942–1943 - KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
, 1956–1965 - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, 1965–1994
Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1 Jul 1980-30 Jun 1982
- 1 Jul 1971-30 Jun 1973
- 1 Jan 1963-31 Dec 1974
- 1 Sep 1956-11 Apr 1957