508th Air Refueling Squadron

508th Air Refueling Squadron
Emblem of the 508th Air Refueling Squadron
Active	1953-1957
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Refueling

The United States Air Force's 508th Air Refueling Squadron was an air refueling unit that operated the Boeing KB-29 at Turner Air Force Base, Georgia. It was last active on 1 July 1957

The squadron was established in 1953 to provide strategic air refueling for the 508th Strategic Fighter Wing. In 1956 the 508th Wing was inactivated and the squadron transferred to SAC's other fighter wing at Turner, the 31st Strategic Fighter Wing. In April 1957, the 31st Wing transferred to Tactical Air Command, which moved the 431st Air Refueling Squadron to Turner. The 508th began transferring its planes to the 431st as it prepared for it inactivation in July.^[1]

Lineage

608th Bombardment Squadron Constituted as the 608th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 15 February 1943 Activated on 1 March 1943 Disbanded on 10 April 1944[2] Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 508th Air Refueling Squadron as the 508th Air Refueling Squadron[3]

508th Air Refueling Squadron Constituted as the 508th Air Refueling Squadron, Strategic Fighter ca 4 November 1953 Activated on 25 November 1953 Inactivated 1 July 1957 Consolidated with the 608th Bombardment Squadron on 19 September 1985 as the 508th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy[3] (remained inactive)

Assignments

• 400th Bombardment Group: 1 March 1943 - 10 April 1944^[2]
• 508th Strategic Fighter Wing: 25 November 1953^[4] (attached to 31st Strategic Fighter Wing 10 February 1954 – 1 June 1954,^[5] unknown 4 July 1954 – 15 October 1954)
• 31st Strategic Fighter Wing: 11 May 1956^[5]
• 4050th Air Refueling Wing: 1 April 1957 – 1 July 1957

Stations

• Pyote Army Air Base, Texas, 1 March 1943
• Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 11 April 1943
• Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado, ca. 2 May 1943
• Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas, 31 July 1943
• Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, 14 September 1943
• Charleston Army Air Base, South Carolina, 15 December 1943 - 10 April 1944^[6]
• Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, 25 November 1953 – 1 July 1957

Aircraft

• Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1943-1944^[2]
• Boeing KB-29 Superfortress, 1953-unknown
• Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker, unknown-1957

References

Notes

1. "Abstract, History 40 Air Division Jan 1957". Air Force History Index. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
2. Maurer, p. 683
3. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
4. Ravenstein, p. 275
5. Ravenstein, pp. 54-57
6. Stations from 1943 to 1944 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 683

Bibliography

• 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.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.