| 54th Air Refueling Squadron | |
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54th Air Refueling Squadron Patch |
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| Active | 1 July 1942 - 5 March 1949 20 September 1949 - 25 June 1965 1 October 1972 - 1 April 1997 16 January 1998 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Aerial refueling |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command 19th Air Force 97th Air Mobility Wing 97th Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Altus Air Force Base |
| Nickname | Jesters |
| Decorations | AFOUA |
The 54th Air Refueling Squadron (54 ARS) is part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling training.
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The 54th Transport Squadron was activated at Hamilton Field, California, but moved to Bowman Field, Kentucky, in June 1942, as the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron. Successive reassignments were to Florence, South Carolina, in August 1942, and to Elmendorf Field, Alaska, until deactivation on 5 March 1949. That deactivation lasted only six months and on 20 September 1949, the unit was activated again at Elmendorf and again moved to Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, in July 1956, remaining in service until 25 June 1965. While there the 54th deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, to support the Berlin Airlift.[1]
On 14 April 1972, the 54th received a new mission and name. It became the 54th Flying Training Squadron, and was reassigned to Reese Air Force Base, Texas, with an official activation date of 1 October. Here personnel trained new pilots in the T-38 Talon until the 54th was once again deactivated in April 1997.[1]
The 54th Air Refueling Squadron was reactivated at its current home of Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma on 16 January 1998. The 54th Air Refueling Squadron the only KC-135R flying training squadron in AETC. The 54th Air Refueling Squadron provides KC-135R initial and advanced flight qualification. The squadron's mission continues to encompass the training of all active duty, guard, reserve and international KC-135 crewmembers. Over 70 instructors train 450 pilot and boom operator students annually for the Department of Defense and international customers.[1]
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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