55th Air Refueling Squadron [55th ARS]
The 55th Air Refueling Squadron traces its lineage to the 55th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was activated on November 1, 1950. The squadron was equipped with KB-29 tankers and was assigned to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. On October 10, 1952 the squadron moved to Forbes AFB, KS, as part of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. On February 16, 1954 the 55 AREFS moved to Lincoln AFB, NE, where it was inactivated two days later.
On October 1, 1955 the 55th Air Refueling Squadron was activated and assigned to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes AFB, KS. The squadron was equipped with KC-97 tankers. These tankers, introduced to the inventory in 1951, could fly fast enough to refuel the B-47 bomber, transforming it into an intercontinental bomber. The squadron quickly became combat ready, and from October 31 to December 27, 1966 it was deployed to Ernest Harmon AB, Newfoundland, in response to the Suez Crisis. There, the squadron participated in giant simulated combat missions involving 1,000 B-47s and KC-97s thus demonstrating the United States' resolve and war fighting capability. This deployment helped the 55th win the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period of July 1956 to November 1957.
During the 1959 Strategic Air Command bombing competition, the largest held to date, the 55th again demonstrated its combat readiness by winning the Saunders Trophy as the best air refueling unit in SAC.
The squadron remained combat ready and continued to support all types of US aircraft until its inactivation on March 15, 1963.
On September 15, 1985 the 55th was consolidated with the 755th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy. The 755th was activated in 1943, and by 1944 it was stationed at Horsham St. Faith, England. During 1944 and 1945, the 755th flew B-24 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. The squadron earned seven campaign streamers during this time. The 55th Air Refueling Squadron inherited the lineage and honors of this World War II combat squadron.
On October 28, 1994 the 55th was activated as part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB.
The 55th Air Refueling Squadron is the Air Education and Training Command's only KC-135 flying training school. The squadron's mission is to train active duty, guard, and reserve KC-135 crewmembers. It is the Air Force's largest tanker squadron and is comprised of 150 selectively manned Combat Crew Training School (CCTS) instructors and over 450 support personnel providing maintenance, scheduling, and launch and recovery support for 24 aircraft.
The Combat Crew Training School was originally stationed at Castle AFB, CA, until its relocation to Altus AFB was completed by March of 1995.
As of August 2001, the 55th was flying over 3,000 sorties and 16,000 hours annually to provide specialized flight training to over 800 students.
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