380th Air Refueling Squadron

The 380th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York where it was inactivated on 30 September 1995.

380th Air Refueling Squadron
KC-135A with Strategic Air Command markings
Active1943–1944: 1956–1994
Country United States
BranchUnited States Air Force
RoleAerial refueling
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
380th Air Refueling Squadron Emblem

The squadron was first active during World War II as the 580th Bombardment Squadron, which served as an Operational Training Unit and Replacement Training Unit during World War II.

The 380th Air Refueling Squadron was activated at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska in November 1954. In 1956 it moved to Plattsburgh where it served with Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft until inactivating. In September 1985, the two squadrons were consolidated into a single unit.

History

World War II

The earliest predecessor of the squadron was the 580th Bombardment Squadron, which was activated in early 1943 as one of the original squadrons of the 393d Bombardment Group.[1][2] The squadron served as a training unit until it was disbanded in 1944.[2]

Strategic Air Command refueling operations
KC-97 refueling B-47 Stratojet

The 380th Air Refueling Squadron was first activated in the summer of 1954 at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska. It moved to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York in 1956 with Boeing KC-97 Stratotankers providing air refueling to SAC B-47s and other USAF aircraft as directed. It converted to jet-powered Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers in 1964. In 1985 the two squadrons were consolidated.[3] The squadron deployed aircraft and personnel to forward SAC provisional units in Western Pacific during the Vietnam War. The unit deployed aircraft and personnel to 1703d Air Refueling Wing, Provisional at King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia between October 1990 and March 1991 during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The squadron remained on duty until shutdown of Plattsburgh and inactivation of parent 380th Bombardment Wing in 1994.

Lineage

Assignments
  • 393d Bombardment Group: 16 February 1943 – 1 April 1944[2]
  • Fifteenth Air Force: 8 July 1964 (attached to 98th Air Base Group)
  • 98th Bombardment Wing: 1 August 1954[4]
  • Eighth Air Force: 8 November 1954 (attached to 96th Bombardment Wing)[5]
  • Second Air Force: 1 April 1955
  • 380th Bombardment Wing: 16 August 1956[6]
  • 4108th Air Refueling Wing: 1 April 1961
  • 497th Air Refueling Wing, 1 January 1963[7]
  • 380th Bombardment Wing: 15 September 1964[6]
  • 380th Operations Group: 1 September 1991 – 1 October 1994

Stations
  • Geiger Field, Washington, 26 January 1943
  • Gowen Field, Idaho, 3 March 1943
  • Wendover Field, Utah, 3 April 1943
  • Sioux City Army Air Base. 9 June 1943
  • Watertown Army Air Field, South Dakota, 4 July 1943
  • Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska, 1 August 1943
  • Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, ca. 5 November 1943 – 1 April 1944[2]
  • Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, 8 November 1954
  • Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, 8 November 1954[8]
  • Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, 16 August 1956[9] – 1 October 1994

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns
Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1974-30 June 1975380th Air Refueling Squadron[10]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1979-30 June 1981380th Air Refueling Squadron[10]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1983-30 June 1985380th Air Refueling Squadron[10]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1985-30 June 1986380th Air Refueling Squadron[10]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1988-30 June 1990380th Air Refueling Squadron[10]
Service Streamer Theater Dates Notes
American Theater of World War II16 February 1943 – 1 April 1944580th Bombardment Squadron[2]

References

Notes
  1. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 280–281
  2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 671–672
  3. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  4. Ravenstein, p. 139
  5. Ravenstein, p. 135
  6. Ravenstein, p. 205
  7. Ravenstein. p. 272
  8. Mueller, p. 543
  9. Mueller, p. 476
  10. Air Force Recognition Programs (search performed 21 September 2013)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • 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.
  • Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
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