28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

Emblem of the 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
Active 1960-1994; 2002-Undetermined
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Air Refueling
Role Aerial Refueling

The 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (28 EARS) is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It was last known to be assigned to the 40th Air Expeditionary Group. Diego Garcia Air Base, British Indian Ocean Territory. Its current status is undetermined.

During the Cold War, the 28th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the 43d Operations Group, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. It was inactivated on 1 July 1994. The squadron was formed as the 928th ARS on 1 Feb 1959 at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; inactivating with the 28th ARS absorbing it's aircraft and personnel on 1 October 1960. The 28th ARS supported the 28th Bombardment Wing providing refueling to its B-52 Stratofortress aircraft with KC-135 Stratotankers between 1960 and the retirement of its strategic bombers in 1990.

The 28th ARS continued its air refueling mission as part of the 28th Operations Group between 1991-1992 at Ellsworth AFB, then being reassigned to the 43d Operations Group at Malmstrom AFB until aircraft operations ended at Malmstrom and the base was converted to a non-flying installation supporting ICBMs.

Reactivated as a provisional KC-135 Stratofortress 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.

References

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.