407th Air Refueling Squadron

History

Activated as a B-17 Flying Fortress reconnaissance squadron in early 1942; trained by Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. Performed antisubmarine duty while training in Florida, March–July 1942.

Deployed to European Theater of Operations (ETO), being assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England, one of the first squadrons being assigned to the command. In the ETO, the squadron initially trained replacement crews for combat at RAF Bovingdon. Upon completion of its training mission, the 407th moved to RAF Alconbury on 6 January 1943 where it and its parent 92d Bombardment Group underwent reorganization. When they emerged in May 1943, the 92 BG and 407 BS were ready for combat. The group's B-17s, flew their first post-reorganization combat mission on 15 May 1943, and participated in the air offensive over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until German capitulation in May 1945.

Reassigned to Air Transport Command in June 1945 as part of Operation Green. Used B-17s as transports, flying demobilized personnel to ATC sites in Morocco and Azores from France. Aircraft turrets were removed and re-skinned, the bomb racks removed, flooring and seating installed to accommodate 30 passengers. The flight crew was reduced to pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer and radio operator. In addition the engineer and radio operator would act as stewards, to assist and calm the many first time flyers. Inactivated in February 1946.

Reactivated and redesignated by Strategic Air Command as an air refueling squadron in November 1953. From Activation in 1953 until summer of 1957, the 407th Air Refueling Squadron deployed KB-29 aircraft and crews on air refueling missions to many parts of the world, participating in a continuing series of strategic exercises as required by Strategic Air Command. The unit conducted similar operations with the KC-97 aircraft between Jul 1957 and Jul 1961, and with the KC-135 aircraft after Jul 1962, providing air refueling support for various kinds of aircraft from several commands on missions ranging from regional movements to intercontinental flights. Inactivated in October 1990.

Lineage

Constituted as 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 1 March 1942. Redesignated as 407th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 April 1942 Inactivated on 28 February 1946

Consolidated with the 407th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 15 September 1985

Constituted as 407th Air Refueling Squadron, Strategic Fighter, on 13 Nov 1953 Activated on 18 Dec 1953 Redesignated as 407th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, on 15 Sep 1958 Discontinued and inactivated on 15 Jul 1961

Redesignated as 407th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, and activated, on 26 Jan 1962

Organized on 1 Apr 1962 Inactivated on 1 Oct 1990.

Assignments

92d Bombardment Group, 1 March 1942 – 28 February 1946

407th Strategic Fighter Wing, 18 Dec 1953

4061st Air Refueling Wing, 1 Jul 1957 – 15 Jul 1961

Strategic Air Command, 26 Jan 1962

19th Bombardment Wing, 1 Apr 1962

42d Bombardment Wing, 2 Jul 1968 – 1 Oct 1990

Stations

Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 1 March 1942

MacDill Field, Florida, 26 March 1942

Sarasota Army Airfield, Florida, 18 May – July 1942

RAF Bovingdon (AAF-112), England, August 1942

RAF Alconbury (AAF-102), England, January 1943

RAF Podington (AAF-109), England, 15 September 1943

Istres Air Base, France, June 1945 – 28 February 1946

Great Falls (later, Malmstrom) AFB, Montana, 18 December 1953 – 15 July 1961

Homestead AFB, Florida, 1 Apr 1962

Loring AFB, Maine, 2 Jul 1968 – 1 Oct 1990

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1946

KB-29 Superfortress (Tanker), 1953–1957

KC-97 Stratotanker, 1957–1961

KC-135 Stratotanker, 1962–1990