301st Air Refueling Squadron | |
|---|---|
%2c_USA_-_Air_Force_AN1137013.jpg) KC-135A inStrategic Air Command markings | |
| Active | 1943; 1943–1944; 1949–1962: 1973–1975 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Aerial refueling |
| Part of | Strategic Air Command |
| Engagements | China Burma India TheaterEuropean Theater of World War II |
| Insignia | |
| Patch with 301st Air Refueling Squadron emblem |  |
The301st Air Refueling Squadron is an inactiveUnited States Air Force (USAF) unit. It was last assigned to the301st Air Refueling Wing atRickenbacker Air Force Base, Ohio, where it was inactivated on 31 December 1975. In 1985 the 301st was consolidated with theWorld War II301st Transport Squadron and322d Transport Squadron. Thesquadron has not been active since consolidation.
The301st Transport Squadron was anAir Transport Command airlift that operated C-47 transports flyingThe Hump route from India to China fromSookerating Airfield in the Assam Valley of India during 1943.
The322d Transport Squadron performed a similar mission forUnited States Strategic Air Forces in England in late 1943 and early 1944.
The301st Air Refueling Squadron performedair refueling missions to support of USAF operations on a worldwide basis. The squadron was one of the firstStrategic Air Command (SAC) air refueling squadrons. It was inactivated in 1962 with the phaseout of the propeller-drivenBoeing KC-97 Stratofreighter from SAC. The squadron was later activated in the early 1970s as aBoeing KC-135A Stratotanker squadron.
The first of the twoWorld War II squadrons that were later to be consolidated with the301st Air Refueling Squadron was the301st Transport Squadron, which was activated in the summer of 1943 atSookerating Airfield, India as one of the three squadrons of the29th Transport Group when theIndia-China Wing, Air Transport Command expanded by adding three groups, the 28th, 29th, and 30th Transport Groups. The squadron drew itscadre from the13th Air Corps Ferry Squadron, which had been stationed at Sookerating since 1942. For the next five months the squadron flew personnel, equipment and supplies from its base in India overthe Hump to advanced bases in China.
On 1 December 1943, the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command reorganized, disbanding itstable of organization groups and squadrons and replacing them with "Stations" manned under exact manning tables. The squadron, along with the remainder of the 29th group, was replaced byStation 7, India-China Wing, Air Transport Command.
The322d Transport Squadron was assigned to the31st Transport Group shortly after the 301st squadron was disbanded. The 31st group was located atRAF Grove and had been activated to transport high priority passengers and cargo forIX Air Force Service Command to supportNinth Air Force andEighth Air Force in the United Kingdom and France. The 322d squadron was disbanded only a few months after it was activated.
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The301st Air Refueling Squadron was activated in March 1949[1] atBarksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana[2]The squadron was one of the firstStrategic Air Command (SAC) air refueling squadrons established. The squadron performed air refueling in support of USAF operations on a worldwide basis as part of the301st Bombardment Wing. The squadron performed one of its first deployments toRAF Lakenheath, England, supporting the32d Bombardment Squadron from May to November 1950.[3]
In the spring of 1951, SAC ordered the301st Bombardment Wing to provide thecadre for the formation of the376th Bombardment Wing at Barksdale,[4] with the 301st providing the nucleus for the376th Air Refueling Squadron. The 301st replaced its initial contingent ofBoeing KB-29 Superfortresses withBoeing KC-97 Stratofreighters in 1953.[5] After 1955, the squadron was frequently detached from its parent wing[5] as it deployed to forward locations.
In the spring of 1958, SAC phased outBoeing B-47 Stratojet operations at Barksdale, and the 301st Bombardment Wing transferred toLockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio.[5] The squadron did not move, but was assigned to the4238th Strategic Wing, which was activated in anticipation of the assignment ofBoeing B-52 Stratofortresses to Barksdale.[6]
The 301st Deployed toLajes Air Base in theAzores Islands in 1960, returning to Barksdale in mid-October.[7] The squadron was programmed for inactivation in 1961 with the phaseout of the propeller-driven KC-97 from SAC, however instead it was reduced to half strength in the summer of 1961 and its inactivation was delayed until 1962 .[8] During the period it operated at reduced strength the squadron continued to deploy toGoose Air Base, Canada[9] as late as April 1962.[10] As the 301st reduced in size, its companion refueling squadron in the 4238th Strategic Wing, the913th Air Refueling Squadron, which flew more modernBoeing KC-135 Stratotankers, doubled its strength.[11]
The 301st was reactivated in 1973 at Lockbourne as a KC-135A squadron. In 1975, the 301st wing transferred eight KC-135s to the160th Air Refueling Group of theOhio Air National Guard, which became the first SAC gained Air National Guard unit under the "Total Force" concept.[12] The squadron was inactivated at the end of 1975.[13]
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | India-Burma | 21 June 1943 – 1 December 1943 | 301st Transport Squadron[16] |
 | EAME Theater without inscription | December 1943-9 April 1944 | 322d Transport Squadron |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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