40th Air Refueling Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 40th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 310th Strategic Aerospace Wing, stationed at Schilling AFB, Kansas
. It was inactivated on 15 March 1963
B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator
operational training unit (OTU). Redesignated as a replacement training unit (RTU) in October 1943. Inactivated in April 1944 when Second Air Force ended heavy bomber training.
The squadron was reactivated in 1952 as a Strategic Air Command
KC-97 Stratotanker
squadron, providing air refueling to USAF units. The squadron was inactivated in 1963 as part of the phaseout of the KC-97 from SAC
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last assigned to the 310th Strategic Aerospace Wing, stationed at Schilling AFB, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. It was inactivated on 15 March 1963
History
The unit was initially a World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
operational training unit (OTU). Redesignated as a replacement training unit (RTU) in October 1943. Inactivated in April 1944 when Second Air Force ended heavy bomber training.
The squadron was reactivated in 1952 as a Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
KC-97 Stratotanker
KC-97 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
squadron, providing air refueling to USAF units. The squadron was inactivated in 1963 as part of the phaseout of the KC-97 from SAC
Lineage
- Constituted 540th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Oct 1942
- Activated on 3 Nov 1942
- Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944
- Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 40th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium
- Constituted on 18 Jun 1952
- Activated on 8 Jul 1952
- Discontinued on 15 Mar 1963.
Assignments
- 383d Bombardment Group383d Bombardment GroupThe 383d Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Army Service Forces, being stationed at Camp Azna, California. It was inactivated on 3 January 1946....
, 3 Nov 1942-1 Apr 1944 - 40th Bombardment Wing, 8 Jul 1952
- 310th Bomb (later, 310th Strategic Aerospace) Wing, 1 Jun 1960-15 Mar 1963
Stations
- Salt Lake City Army Air Base, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 3 Nov 1942 - Rapid City Army Air Base, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, 12 Nov 1942 - Ainsworth Army AirfieldAinsworth Army AirfieldAinsworth Municipal Airport is a public use airport located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Ainsworth, in Brown County, Nebraska, United States...
, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 13 Dec 1942 - Rapid City Army Air Base, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, 26 Apr 1943 - Geiger Field, Washington, 20 Jun 1943
- Peterson FieldPeterson FieldPeterson Field is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Plains, a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. It is privately owned by G. Thomas Peterson.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, c. 26 Oct 1943-1 Apr 1944 - Smoky Hill (later, Schilling) AFB, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 8 Jul 1952-15 Mar 1963.
Aircraft
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1943–1944 - KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
, 1952–1964