928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
	KC-135A Stratotanker of the 28th Bombardment Wing
Active	1943–1946; 1959–1960
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air refueling
Engagements	Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
Insignia
928th Air Refueling Squadron emblem
28 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem

The 928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed for contingency operations.

The squadron was first active during World War II as the 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. After training in the United States the unit moved to the Pacific. Although squadron headquarters remained in Hawaii until the invasion of Okinawa, it deployed detachments to support combat operations in the Pacific. Its last wartime assignment was with the 316th Bombardment Wing at Yontan Airfield, Okinawa where it was inactivated on 29 May 1946.

The 928th Air Refueling Squadron was active from 1959 to 1960 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota as the 28th Bombardment Wing converted to Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. The squadrons were consolidated on 19 September 1985 and converted to provisional status as the 928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in 2003.

History

World War II

28th Squadron F-5B Lightning^[c]

The squadron was first activated at Peterson Field, Colorado in the spring of 1943 as one of the original four squadrons of the 7th Photographic Group. It was transferred to the Third Air Force Photographic Unit Training Center a month later in preparation for the 7th group's transfer on paper to the European Theater of Operations.^[1]^[2] Although the 28th was assigned other aircraft at times, its primary equipment was the Lockheed F-5 Lightning.^[1]

The squadron was attached to the 2d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group and moved with the group to Will Rogers Field in October 1943. The 2d group acted as an Operational Training Unit and as a Replacement Training Unit while the squadron was attached to it.^[3] It was an oversized unit that provided cadres to "satellite groups" and at the same time trained individual pilots and aircrews.^[4] The squadron continued to train with the F-5 until shipping overseas.^[1]

In January 1944 the unit arrived in the Central Pacific Area. Although squadron headquarters remained in Hawaii until Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa in May 1945, it deployed elements that saw combat in the Central and Western Pacific from late June 1944. After arriving in Okinawa the 28th continued in combat until the Japanese surrender in August 1945. It remained on Okinawa as part of the occupation forces until it was inactivated in 1946.^[1]

Post war operations

The 928th Air Refueling Squadron was activated at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota in 1959 as the refueling element of the 28th Bombardment Wing in 1959 as the wing converted from Convair B-36 Peacemakers to Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses.^[5]^[6] The conversion of the 28th wing to "Buffs" and move of two of its bombardment squadrons to other bases was part of SAC's program to disperse its Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.^[7] SAC bases with large concentrations of bombers made attractive targets. SAC's response was to break up its wings and scatter their aircraft over a larger number of bases.^[8]

In July 1960 the squadron deployed eight of its tankers to Grand Forks Air Force Base, South Dakota to test the ability of the 4133d Strategic Wing at Grand Forks to maintain an air refueling alert force.^[9] Two months after the return of these planes to Ellsworth, the squadron was inactivated and its mission, personnel, and equipment were transferred to the 28th Air Refueling Squadron.^[6]

In 1985 the 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron and the 928th Air Refueling Squadron were consolidated into a single unit. In 2003 the consolidated squadron was converted to provisional status as the 928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.^[10]

Lineage

28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron

Constituted as: 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 5 February 1943

Redesignated as: 28th Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 February 1943

Activated on 1 May 1943

Redesignated as: 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943

Inactivated on 29 May 1946^[11]

Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 928th Air Refueling Squadron as the 928th Air Refueling Squadron^[10]

928th Air Refueling Squadron

Constituted as the 928th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 5 January 1959

Activated on 8 February 1959^[12]

Inactivated on 1 October 1960^[12]

Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron^[10]

Redesignated 928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and converted to provisional status on 20 March 2003

Assignments

7th Photographic Group (later 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group) 1 May 1943
Third Air Force Photographic Unit Training Center, (attached to 2d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group) 21 June 1943
III Reconnaissance Command, 15 August 1943
89th Reconnaissance Training Wing, 27 September 1943 (attached to 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Group after 16 November 1943)
Seventh Air Force, c. 16 January 1944 (attached to VII Fighter Command 24 January 1944
VI Air Service Area Command (remained attached to VII Fighter Command, 12 December 1944
Seventh Air Force, 23 April 1945
Eighth Air Force, 31 August 1945
316th Bombardment Wing, 15 May 1946 – 29 May 1946^[11]
28th Bombardment Wing, 8 February 1959 – 1 October 1960^[6]

Stations

Peterson Field, Colorado, 1 May 1943
Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, 13 October 1943 – 1 January 1944
Kipapa Airfield, Hawaii, 16 January 1944
Kualoa Airfield, Hawaii, 9 October 1944 (detachments of the squadron operated from:

Kwajalein Airfield, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, 30 June 1944 – 24 September 1944,

East Field (Saipan), Mariana Islands, 11 July 1944 – May 1945.

Peleliu Airfield, Peleliu, Palau Islands, 5 October 1944 – April 1945, and

Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, 23 April 1945 – 21 June 1945)

Yontan Airfield, Okinawa, 8 May 1945 – 29 May 1946^[11]
Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, 8 February 1959 – 1 October 1960^[5]

Aircraft

Lockheed F-5 Lightning, 1943–1946
Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 1943
North American F-4 Mustang, 1943
Douglas A-24 Skyraider, 1944^[11]
Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, 1959–1960^[9]

Campaigns

Campaign	Dates	Notes
American Theater without inscription	1 May 1943 – 1 January 1944	28th Photographic Squadron (later 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron)
Eastern Mandates	30 June 1944 – 14 April 1944	28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron^[1]
Western Pacific	17 April 1944 – 2 September 1945	28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron^[1]
Ryukus	26 March 1945 – 2 July 1945	28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron^[1]
Air Offensive, Japan	30 June 1944 – 2 September 1945	28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron^[1]
China Offensive	5 May 1945 – 2 September 1945	28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron^[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

^ Approved 31 July 1959.
^ Approved 2 August 1944. Description: Over and through a light pastel blue disc, border black, a caricatured red wolf holding and focusing a black aerial camera, while riding a light gray winged comet, leaving curved yellow speed trail toward sinister chief, and diving toward small yellow sphere marked with blue land indications in sinister base, breaking through rim of disc, all between a yellow star and decrescent moon in dexter chief and a star of like color in sinister base.
^ Aircraft is Lockheed F-5B-1-LO Lightning, serial 42-68225. Photo taken at East Field, Saipan, Mariana Islands, July 1944.

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 143–144
^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 45–46
^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 28–29
^ Craven & Cate, Vol. VI, Men and Planes, p. xxxvi
^ ^a ^b Mueller, p. 155
^ ^a ^b ^c Ravenstein, p. 52
^ "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
^ Knaack, p. 252
^ ^a ^b "Abstract, History 4133 Strategic Wing Jul 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Lineage information, including assignments, stations, and aircraft to 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons', pp. 143–144, except as noted
^ ^a ^b See Mueller, p. 155

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158.
Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.