| 903d Air Refueling Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Boeing KC-135Q refueling aSR-71 Blackbird | |
| Active | 1959–1976 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Air refueling |
| Motto | Vires per Unitatem (Latin for 'Strength Through Unity') |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 903d Air Refueling Squadron emblem |  |
The903d Air Refueling Squadron is an inactiveUnited States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the17th Bombardment Wing, stationed atBeale Air Force Base, California. For much of its existence, the squadron focused on refuelingSR-71 Blackbird aircraft, which were stationed at Beale after 1965. It was inactivated on 30 September 1976.
The903d Air Refueling Squadron was organized on 1 April 1959 byStrategic Air Command (SAC) atBeale Air Force Base, California[1] It was assigned to the4126th Strategic Wing and equipped withKC-135 Stratotankers. The 4126th wing was established by SAC in a program to disperse itsBoeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The squadron initially provided air refueling primarily to the B-52s of the 4126th wing. Half of the wing's aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minutealert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat until the squadron's deployment missions superseded alert requirements. It also deployed tankers to Alaska to supportOperation Chrome Dome.[2]
The 903d transferred to456th Strategic Aerospace Wing in 1963 when SAC replaced its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) strategic wings with wings carrying the honors ofWorld War II organizations.[3] Later that year, the squadron supported Operation Greased Lightning, a speed record flight byB-58 Hustlers from Japan to England.[4]
From the mid 1960s, the squadron concentrated on refuelingSR-71 Blackbirds[5] of the4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, and later, the9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.[6] Its tankers were modified to carry the PF-1 (laterJP-7) fuel used by the SR-71s. The modified aircraft were later designated KC-135Qs. The squadron frequently deployed its aircraft andaircrews and often had its entire resources deployed at various locations.[3] Its deployments included support forOperation Arc Light fromKadena Air Base, Okinawa and deployments toTorrejon Air Base, Spain.[7][8] In 1963 and in 1967 the squadron won the Frank Ellis Trophy fromFifteenth Air Force for outstanding refueling performance.[7][9]
The squadron was reassigned to the17th Bombardment Wing in 1975 when the 17th replaced the 456th at Beale.[6] The squadron inactivated in 1976 when the100th Air Refueling Wing replaced the 17th and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the349th Air Refueling Squadron,[1] which moved to Beale without personnel or equipment fromDavis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it had been areconnaissance unit.[10]
| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964 | [12] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1966 – 30 June 1967 | [12] |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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