 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
| 301st Air Refueling Wing | |
|---|---|
 301st Bombardment WingB-29A Superfortress[a] | |
| Active |
|
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Bombardment,aerial refueling |
| Motto | Who Fears?[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 301st Air Refueling Wing emblem[b][1] |  |
The301st Air Refueling Wing is an inactive unit of theUnited States Air Force being last assigned to theStrategic Air Command atMalmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where it was inactivated on 1 June 1992.
Activated 5 November 1947. Assigned toStrategic Air Command. Equipped withB-29 Superfortresses. Conducted strategic bombardment training, 1947–1948, and aerial gunnery training for other SAC organizations, November 1947 – January 1948.
Moved toBarksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in 1949, the 301st was one of the first units to conductair refueling operations with theKB-29 tanker version of the Superfortress. Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with newBoeing B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1953, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. Also upgraded its KB-29 tankers to the dedicatedBoeing KC-97 Stratofreighter. The mission of the 301st was to train for strategic bombing missions and to conduct aerial refueling. The wing deployed to England in 1953 and to French Morocco in 1954.
It moved toLockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio on 15 April 1958 where it became anelectronic countermeasures (ECM) unit and was engaged in various clandestine intelligence missions. Although equipped with the B-47E Stratojet, the 301st added electronic countermeasure activities to other missions in 1958 with the addition of the RB-47E and later EB-47E. With these aircraft, the wing soon devoted most of its activity to ECM work. The RB-47 carried out manyferret missions around the periphery of Soviet territory, and sometimes inside. In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. Began sending its stratojets toDavis-Monthan Air Force Base in late 1963, the last EB-47E going to storage in 1964.
Became an air refueling wing in April 1964, discontinuing all previous missions. In addition, participated in the post attack command and control system from 3 March 1965 to 30 June 1966.
From around 9 June to 8 October 1972, most of the wing headquarters staff, all tactical aircraft and crews, and most of the maintenance personnel, plus support personnel in various categories, deployed in Southeast Asia (U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield), attached to other SAC organizations. A reduced wing headquarters remained in the United States to administer activities of the combat support group and hospital at Lockbourne.
From 19 December 1972 to 18 January 1973, the wing repeated previous deployed condition on a smaller scale, with deployed resources forming a provisional air refueling squadron atClark Air Base in the Philippines.
The 301st was inactivated on 30 November 1979 in conjunction with SAC turning over Rickenbacker to theAir National Guard. Its KC-135As were sent to various Air National Guard units.
The Wing was reactivated on 8 January 1988 atMalmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, and assigned to4th Air Division, Strategic Air Command. It was equipped with KC-135s. It was inactivated on 1 June 1992.
Wings
Groups
Squadrons
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
