903d Air Refueling Squadron

The 903d Air Refueling Squadron was organized on 1 April 1959 by Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Beale Air Force Base, California[1] It was assigned to the 4126th Strategic Wing and equipped with KC-135 Stratotankers. The 4126th wing was established by SAC in a 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. The squadron initially provided air refueling primarily to the B-52s of the 4126th wing. Half of the wing's aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat until the squadron's deployment missions superseded alert requirements. It also deployed tankers to Alaska to support Operation Chrome Dome.[2]

The 903d transferred to 456th Strategic Aerospace Wing in 1963 when SAC replaced its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) strategic wings with wings carrying the honors of World War II organizations.[3] Later that year, the squadron supported Operation Greased Lightning, a speed record flight by B-58 Hustlers from Japan to England.[4]

From the mid 1960s, the squadron concentrated on refueling SR-71 Blackbirds[5] of the 4200th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, and later, the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.[6] Its tankers were modified to carry the PF-1 (later JP-7) fuel used by the SR-71s. The modified aircraft were later designated KC-135Qs. The squadron frequently deployed its aircraft and aircrews and often had its entire resources deployed at various locations.[3] Its deployments included support for Operation Arc Light from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa and deployments to Torrejon Air Base, Spain.[7][8] In 1963 and in 1967 the squadron won the Frank Ellis Trophy from Fifteenth Air Force for outstanding refueling performance.[7][9]

The squadron was reassigned to the 17th Bombardment Wing in 1975 when the 17th replaced the 456th at Beale.[6] The squadron inactivated in 1976 when the 100th Air Refueling Wing replaced the 17th and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 349th Air Refueling Squadron,[1] which moved to Beale without personnel or equipment from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it had been a reconnaissance unit.[10]

• Constituted as the 903d Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 9 March 1959

Activated on 1 April 1959[1]

Inactivated on 30 September 1976[1]

Awards

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964	[12]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1966 – 30 June 1967	[12]

• List of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons

• Smith, Richard K. (1998). Seventy-Five Years of Inflight Refueling: Highlights, 1923–1998 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Retrieved 13 August 2013.