506th Air Refueling Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 506th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing, stationed at Dow AFB, Maine
. It was inactivated on 1 March 1955
Established on 20 January 1953 by Strategic Air Command
at Dow AFB and equipped with rigid flying boom KB-29P Superfortress tankers. Mission was to provide in-flight refueling (IFR) to the F-84 Thunderjet
strategic fighters of its parent Wing and other USAF units as directed.
Inactivated on 20 March 1955 with SAC shutting down it's strategic fighter wings, and the advancement of technology with the introduction of the purpose-built KC-97 Stratotanker
for aerial refueling. The squadron's aircraft were reassigned to Tactical Air Command
.
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 506th Strategic Fighter Wing, stationed at Dow AFB, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It was inactivated on 1 March 1955
Established on 20 January 1953 by 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...
at Dow AFB and equipped with rigid flying boom KB-29P Superfortress tankers. Mission was to provide in-flight refueling (IFR) to the F-84 Thunderjet
F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
strategic fighters of its parent Wing and other USAF units as directed.
Inactivated on 20 March 1955 with SAC shutting down it's strategic fighter wings, and the advancement of technology with the introduction of the purpose-built 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:...
for aerial refueling. The squadron's aircraft were reassigned to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
.