150th Air Refueling Squadron

150th Air Refueling Squadron
150th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker
Active	1956-2008
Country	United States
Allegiance	New Jersey
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Air Refueling
Part of	New Jersey Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Wrightstown, New Jersey
Nickname(s)	"Count on us"
Tail Code	Orange Tail Stripe "New Jersey" in black letters, Princeton Tiger graphic
Insignia
150th Air Refueling Squadron emblem

The 150th Air Refueling Squadron (150 ARS) was a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard 108th Air Refueling Wing. It was assigned to McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey and was equipped with the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The squadron was inactivated in 2008 following the retirement of the wing's KC-135E aircraft.

It was later reactivated as the 150th Special Operations Squadron (150 SOS), equipped with the C-32B aircraft.^[1]

History

Established at Newark Airport, New Jersey, on February 1, 1956. Initially equipped with C-46 Commando aircraft, performing primarily tactical transport missions from Newark in the northeast. In 1963, retired the C-46 and was re-equipped with the C-121 Constellation long distance transport, primarily for passenger movements to Europe, also flew to the Caribbean and to Japan, Thailand, South Vietnam, Australia and the Philippines during the Vietnam War. In 1965, the unit relocated to McGuire AFB, New Jersey.

The Constellations were retired in 1973, being replaced with the C-7 Caribou light transport, which was withdrawn from service in the Vietnam War. The C-7s were used for carrying small payloads in combat areas with rough airstrips.

In 1977, upon receipt of Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, the unit became the 150th Air Refueling Squadron. It was the first air refueling unit in the United States to launch tankers to establish the now famous U.S.-Saudi Arabia "Air Bridge" during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Hours after President Bush ordered U.S. forces to the Persian Gulf, 150th aircrews were refueling fighters and cargo transports winging their way nonstop from the U.S. to the Persian Gulf. Shortly thereafter, and again, prior to certain units personnel being activated, the 150th deployed aircraft, aircrews, maintenance and support personnel to Saudi Arabia. It also provided urgently needed medical, security police and support personnel to U.S. air bases to assist active duty personnel and serve as "back-fill" for those already rushed to the combat theater.

On 1 October 1993, the 170th Air Refueling Group was consolidated with the senior 108th Air Refueling Wing at McGuire AFB for budgeting reasons. The 170th Air Refueling Group was inactivated, however, the 150th Air Refueling Squadron remained active, being assigned to the 108th Operations Group as its second KC-135 Squadron (along with the 141st ARS).

In September 1994, for over 30 days, five aircraft and 300 members deployed to Pisa, Italy for Operation DENY FLIGHT. Supported by 15 active duty Air Force personnel, the squadron was the first Air National Guard unit to take full responsibility during that period.

Lineage

Legacy Emblem

• Designated 150th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy and allotted to New Jersey ANG, 1956

Extended federal recognition and activated, 1 February 1956

Redesignated 150th Aeromedical Evacuation Transport Squadron, Light on 1 February 1957

Redesignated 150th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 10 December 1963

Redesignated 150th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1966

Redesignated 150th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron ca. 1 December 1969

Redesignated 150th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 22 June 1973

Redesignated 150th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 1 April 1977

Redesignated 150th Air Refueling Squadron ca. 16 March 1992

References

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

External links