465th Air Refueling Squadron

465th Air Refueling Squadron
File:465th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135A Stratotanker[note 1]
Active 1944–1946; 1953–1955; 1955–1960; 1972–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Air refueling
Part of Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ Tinker Air Force Base
Engagements

  • World War II Asia-Pacific Theater[1]
Decorations
Insignia
465th Air Refueling Squadron emblem
Patch with 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem (approved 22 August 1955)[2]

The 465th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 507th Operations Group, stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Overview

The squadron operates Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions. It is one of three flying organizations in the 507th Air Refueling Wing, incorporating pilots and traditional operations functions.

As civilians, many of the pilots assigned to the refueling squadron are employed by commercial airlines. As reservists, they are required to fly the same type sorties as their active-duty counterparts to remain proficient and combat ready.

History

World War II

Formed in late 1944 as the 465th Fighter Squadron and trained under II Fighter Command in the midwest and Texas. Equipped with the very long range P-47N Thunderbolt with a combat mission to escort B-29 Superfortress bombers from their bases in the Mariana Islands to Japan.

Following months of delays, the squadron arrived in the Pacific Theater, being assigned to Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands on 28 June 1945 from Saipan/Tinian. During forty-six days of combat, the squadron flew forty-six missions. With the end of the war, the squadron was reassigned to Yontan Air Base, Okinawa in January 1946 conducting occupation duty. It was inactivated on 24 May 1946.

Air Defense Command

Activated 18 February 1953 by Air Defense Command at McChord AFB, Washington, equipped with F-86D Sabre Interceptors with an air defense mission. Inactivated 18 Aug 1955 IAW Project Arrow when parent 527th ADG inactivated and replaced 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense).

Reactivated 8 Oct 1955 at Griffiss AFB, New York and assigned to 32d Air Division with F-89D Scorpions; converted to F-89H/J Scorpions in the fall of 1956; transferred to 4727th Air Defense Group in February 1957; moved to Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts and transferred to Boston Air Defense Sector in August 1959, acquiring F-86L Sabre Interceptors in a swap with the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron; inactivated 15 Mar 1960 as the Sabre was being phased out in favor of supersonic interceptors.

Air Force Reserve

465th TFS F-105s, 1978
A 465th TFS F-4D, 1985
301st TFW F-16Cs, 2003

It trained for fighter missions between 1972 and 1994 and has flown worldwide air refueling missions since 1994.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 465th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 5 October 1944
Activated on 12 October 1944
Inactivated on 24 May 1946
  • Redesignated 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 3 February 1953
Activated on 18 February 1953
Inactivated on 18 August 1955
  • Activated on 8 October 1955
Discontinued on 15 March 1960
  • Redesignated 465th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 4 May 1972[note 2]
Activated in the reserve on 20 May 1972
Redesignated 465th Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992
Redesignated 465th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 April 1994[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Aircraft is Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker serial 62-3503
  2. ↑ From December 1972 to January 1977, there was also an unrelated 465th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron in the Regular Air Force.
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Robertson, Patsy (March 27, 2012). "Factsheet 465 Air Refueling Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  2. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 571-572

Bibliography

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

  • Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  • 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. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  • 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. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  • "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor. Aerospace Defense Command. 21 (1): 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59. January 1979.
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