903d Air Refueling Squadron

903d Air Refueling Squadron
Boeing KC-135Q refueling a SR-71 Blackbird
Active	1959–1976
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air refueling
Motto(s)	Vires per Unitatem (Latin for 'Strength Through Unity')
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
903d Air Refueling Squadron emblem

The 903d Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 17th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California. For much of its existence, the squadron focused on refueling SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, which were stationed at Beale after 1965. It was inactivated on 30 September 1976.

History

The 903d Air Refueling Squadron was organized on 1 April 1959 by Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Beale Air Force Base, California ^[1] It was assigned to the 4126th Strategic Wing and equipped with KC-135 Stratotankers. The 4126th wing was established by SAC in a program to disperse its Boeing 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maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat until the squadron's deployment missions superseded alert requirements. It also deployed tankers to Alaska to support Operation Chrome Dome. ^[2]

The 903d transferred to 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing in 1963 when SAC replaced its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) strategic wings with wings carrying the honors of World War II organizations. ^[3] Later that year, the squadron supported Operation Greased Lightning, a speed record flight by B-58 Hustlers from Japan to England. ^[4]

From the mid 1960s, the squadron concentrated on refueling SR-71 Blackbirds ^[5] of the 4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, and later, the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. ^[6] Its tankers were modified to carry the PF-1 (later JP-7) fuel used by the SR-71s. The modified aircraft were later designated KC-135Qs. The squadron frequently deployed its aircraft and aircrews and often had its entire resources deployed at various locations. ^[3] Its deployments included support for Operation Arc Light from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa and deployments to Torrejon Air Base, Spain. ^{[7] [8]} In 1963 and in 1967 the squadron won the Frank Ellis Trophy from Fifteenth Air Force for outstanding refueling performance. ^{[7] [9]}

The squadron was reassigned to the 17th Bombardment Wing in 1975 when the 17th replaced the 456th at Beale. ^[6] The squadron inactivated in 1976 when the 100th Air Refueling Wing replaced the 17th and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 349th Air Refueling Squadron, ^[1] which moved to Beale without personnel or equipment from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it had been a reconnaissance unit. ^[10]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 903d Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 9 March 1959

Activated on 1 April 1959 ^[1]

Inactivated on 30 September 1976 ^[1]

Assignments

• 4126th Strategic Wing: 1 April 1959 ^[3]
• 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing (later 456th Bombardment Wing): 1 February 1963 ^[3]
• 17th Bombardment Wing: 30 September 1975 – 30 September 1976 ^[6]

Stations

• Beale Air Force Base, California, 1 April 1959 – 30 September 1976 ^[11]

Awards

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]

Aircraft

• Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1959–1976 ^[13]

See also

• List of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons

References

Notes

1. See Mueller, pp. 25–27
2. "Abstract, Vol. 1 History 456 Strategic Aerospace Wing Feb 1963". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
3. Ravenstein, pp. 251–252
4. "Abstract, History 456 Strategic Aerospace Wing Oct 1963". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
5. "Abstract, History 456 Strategic Aerospace Wing Feb 1964". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
6. Ravenstein, pp. 32–33
7. "Abstract, History 456 Strategic Aerospace Wing Jan–Mar 1967". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
8. "Abstract, History 456 Strategic Aerospace Wing Oct–Dec 1968". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
9. "Abstract, History 456 Strategic Aerospace Wing Aug 1963". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
10. Mueller, p. 104
11. Mueller, p. 26
12. AF Pamphlet 900-2, p.
13. See Ravenstein, pp. 252,

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• 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.
• "AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits" (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force. 15 June 1971. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.

Further reading

• Smith, Richard K. (1998). Seventy-Five Years of Inflight Refueling: Highlights, 1923–1998 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Retrieved 13 August 2013.