900th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 900th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (900 EARS) is a provisional United States Air Force
unit. It was last known to be assigned to the 398th Air Expeditionary Group
, stationed at Incirlik Air Base
, Turkey
. The 900 EARS may be activated or inactivated at any time.
on 9 Apr 1962 as the 900th Air Refueling Squadron at Sheppard AFB, Texas
, equipped with KC-135 Stratotanker
s. The squadron provided air refueling primarily to the B-52 Stratofortress
-equipped 4245th Strategic Wing and other USAF units as directed. Reassigned to the 494th Bombardment Wing at Sheppard on 1 Feb 1963 when the 494th replaced the 4245th SW.
Reassigned by SAC to the 509th Bombardment Wing at Pease AFB, New Hampshire
on 2 April 1966 upon inactivation of the 494th BMW. Inactivated on 25 June 1966, most personnel and equipment being assigned to the 509th ARS.
Converted to a provisional squadron sometime in the 1990s; assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe
as a KC-135 refueling organization. Attached to the deployed Kansas Air National Guard
190th Air Refueling Wing
at Incirlik AB, Turkey
in 2001, supporting aircraft operations during Operation Northern Watch
.
Reactivated approximately 2003 and attached to the 398th Air Expeditionary Group
, again at Incirlik AB, supporting operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Inactivated approximately 2008.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It was last known to be assigned to the 398th Air Expeditionary Group
398th Air Expeditionary Group
The 398th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The 398 AEG may be activated or inactivated at any time....
, stationed at Incirlik Air Base
Incirlik Air Base
The Incirlik Air Base is located in İncirlik, five miles east of Adana, Turkey's fifth largest city, and from the Mediterranean Sea.The U.S...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The 900 EARS may be activated or inactivated at any time.
History
Established under Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
on 9 Apr 1962 as the 900th Air Refueling Squadron at Sheppard AFB, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, equipped with KC-135 Stratotanker
KC-135 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
s. The squadron provided air refueling primarily to the B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
-equipped 4245th Strategic Wing and other USAF units as directed. Reassigned to the 494th Bombardment Wing at Sheppard on 1 Feb 1963 when the 494th replaced the 4245th SW.
Reassigned by SAC to the 509th Bombardment Wing at Pease AFB, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
on 2 April 1966 upon inactivation of the 494th BMW. Inactivated on 25 June 1966, most personnel and equipment being assigned to the 509th ARS.
Converted to a provisional squadron sometime in the 1990s; assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
as a KC-135 refueling organization. Attached to the deployed Kansas Air National Guard
Kansas Air National Guard
The Kansas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is, along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state....
190th Air Refueling Wing
190th Air Refueling Wing
The United States Air Force's 190th Air Refueling Wing is an aerial refueling unit located at Forbes Field, Kansas.-History:...
at Incirlik AB, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in 2001, supporting aircraft operations during Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch
Operation Northern Watch, the successor to Operation Provide Comfort, was a US European Command Combined Task Force charged with enforcing its own no-fly zone above the 36th parallel in Iraq...
.
Reactivated approximately 2003 and attached to the 398th Air Expeditionary Group
398th Air Expeditionary Group
The 398th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. The 398 AEG may be activated or inactivated at any time....
, again at Incirlik AB, supporting operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Inactivated approximately 2008.