54th Air Refueling Squadron [54th ARS]
The 54th Air Refueling Squadron activated under the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB on 16 January 1998.
The unit's heritage began when, as a Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS), the 54th saw action during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. After World War II, the 54th TCS served in the Berlin Airlift. The unit flew missions from Rhein-Mein AB and Fassberg RAF in Germany. Most recently the 54th Flying Training Squadron was assigned to Reese AFB, TX. From October 1972 until it's deactivation in April 1997, the personnel of the unit trained new pilots in the T-38. The 54th is the only unit at Altus with a history of service in the Berlin Airlift.
The 54th inherited half of it's training mission from the 97th Training Squadron. Although the 97th's history is relatively short, it's mission dates back to the early 1960s when the Central Flight Instructor School (CFIS) was established at Castle AFB, CA. The school successfully reduced the KC-135 and B-52 instructor pilot mishap rate. The Central Flight Instructor Course (CFIC) became part of Air Education and Training Command in July 1993. In November 1993, CFIC starting moving to Altus AFB and was activated as the 97th Training Squadron on 20 January 1994 and continued until it's deactivation on 16 January 1998.
Upon activation, the 54th Air Refueling Squadron doubled in size and added the second half of it's mission. It integrated the mission of the Combat Crew Training School (CCTS) with that of the Central Flight Instructor Course. CCTS provides initial qualification in the KC-135. The 54th has 82 aircrew instructors and five support personnel assigned to train over 600 C/KC-135 students annually. The 54th trains crewmembers for active duty Air Force units, the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve, and friendly foreign nations.
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