Active 1943-1944: 1956-1994 Role Air Refueling | Country United States | |
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Branch United States Air Force Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | ||
The 380th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York where it was inactivated on 30 September 1995.
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The squadron was first active during World War II as the 580th Bombardment Squadron, which served as an Operational Training Unit and Replacement Training Unit during World War II.
The 380th Air Refueling Squadron was activated at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska in November 1954. In 1956 it moved to Plattsburgh where it served with Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft until inactivating. In September 1985, the two squadrons were consolidated into a single unit.
World War II
The earliest predecessor of the squadron was the 580th Bombardment Squadron, which was activated in early 1943 as one of the original squadrons of the 393d Bombardment Group. The squadron served as a training unit until it was disbanded in 1944.
Strategic Air Command refueling operations
The 380th Air Refueling Squadron was first activated in the summer of 1954 at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska. It moved to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York in 1956 with Boeing KC-97 Stratotankers providing air refueling to SAC B-47s and other USAF aircraft as directed. It converted to jet-powered Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers in 1964. In 1985 the two squadrons were consolidated. The squadron deployed aircraft and personnel to forward SAC provisional units in Western Pacific during the Vietnam War. The unit deployed aircraft and personnel to 1703d Air Refueling Wing, Provisional at King Khalid Air Base, Saudi Arabia between October 1990 and March 1991 during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The squadron remained on duty until shutdown of Plattsburgh and inactivation of parent 380th Bombardment Wing in 1994.