28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

World War II

The first predecessor of the squadron, the 28th Ferrying Squadron was activated at Hamilton Field, California in 1942. It soon moved to Long Beach Army Air Field, California, near the production facilities of Douglas Aircraft. It ferried aircraft within the United States until a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces (AAF) in 1944 replaced the squadron and other Air Transport Command units at Long Beach with an AAF Base Unit.

Shortly after this, the second predecessor of the squadron, the 328th Ferrying Squadron was activated in Italy to ferry aircraft in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It continued operations until shortly after the end of World War II, when it was inactivated. It was disbanded in October 1948.

Cold War

During the Cold War, the 28th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 15 March 1994. The squadron was formed from the personnel and equipment of the 928th Air Refueling Squadron, which was simultaneously inactivated, on 1 October 1960. The 28th supported the 28th Bombardment Wing providing refueling to its Boeing B-52 Stratofortress aircraft with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers between 1960 and the retirement of the wing's "Buffs" in 1990.

In 1985 the 28th Air Refueling Squadron was consolidated with the 28th Ferrying Squadron and the 328th Ferrying Squadron. The 28th continued its air refueling mission as part of the 28th Operations Group at Ellsworth until Strategic Air Command was inactivated in June 1992. The squadron was reassigned to the 43d Operations Group of Air Mobility Command at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana until 1994.

The squadron was reactivated as a provisional KC-135 organization as part of the Global War On Terrorism approximately 2002. The squadron has taken part in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It may have inactivated in 2006.

Lineage

28th Ferrying Squadron

Constituted as the 28th Ferrying Squadron c. 9 July 1942

Activated on 10 July 1942Disbanded 31 March 1944

Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 328th Ferrying Squadron and 928th Air Refueling Squadron as the 928th Air Refueling Squadron

328th Ferrying Squadron

Constituted as the 328th Ferrying Squadron

Activated c. 1 June 1944Inactivated c. June 1946Disbanded 8 October 1948

Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 28th Ferrying Squadron and 928th Air Refueling Squadron as the 928th Air Refueling Squadron

28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

Constituted as the 28th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 19 April 1960 and activated (not organized)

Organized on 1 October 1960

Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 28th Ferrying Squadron and 328th Ferrying Squadron

Redesignated 28th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 September 1991Inactivated on 15 May 1994Redesignated 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and converted to provisional statusActive during 2003

Assignments

Domestic Wing, Air Transport Command: 10 July 1942

6th Ferrying Group: September 1942 - 31 March 1944

Mediterranean Air Transport Service: c. 1 June 1944 - c. June 1946

Strategic Air Command: 19 April 1960 (not organized)

28th Bombardment Wing: 1 October 1960

28th Operations Group: 1 September 1991

43d Operations Group: 1 June 1992 – 15 May 1994

40th Air Expeditionary Wing: c. 2003

Stations

Hamilton Field, California, 10 July 1942

Long Beach Army Air Field, California, September 1942 - 31 March 1944

Unknown, c. 1 June 1944

Capodichino Airport Aug 1944 - c. June 1946

Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, 1 October 1960 – 15 May 1994

Diego Garcia Naval Station, British Indian Ocean Territories, c. 2003

Aircraft

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1960-1994, 2003