56th Air Refueling Squadron

The 56th Air Refueling Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit assigned to the 97th Operations Group at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Its present mission is to provide initial and advanced aircrew instruction for Boeing KC-46A Pegasus air-refueling operations. The squadron is part of the Air Force’s formal training system rather than a commercial brand, and its activities are directed toward preparing military aircrews for operational assignments. The unit has a long and repeatedly transformed history. It was constituted in November 1942 and activated on 18 November of that year as the 56th Troop Carrier Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater during the Second World War. The squadron conducted tactical airlift missions in New Guinea and participated in the airborne assault on Nadzab on 5 September 1943. Following Japan’s surrender, it moved to Tachikawa Airfield and supported the occupation of Japan before being inactivated in March 1946. The squadron returned in the United States Air Force Reserve in August 1947 at Greater Pittsburgh Airport. It was redesignated the 56th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, in 1949 and was ordered to active service in October 1950 during the Korean War. It served at Greenville Air Force Base until July 1952, when it was inactivated and its personnel and aircraft were transferred to the simultaneously activated 18th Troop Carrier Squadron. On the same date, the 56th resumed reserve service at Pittsburgh. It continued reserve training until its inactivation in November 1957. The unit was reactivated in the major postwar airlift-training reorganization. In December 1965 it was redesignated the 56th Military Airlift Squadron, Training, and organized at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in January 1966. It replaced the 1740th Air Transport Squadron and initially trained crews for the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. When the C-5 Galaxy entered Air Force service in 1969, the squadron became the service’s first operational C-5 squadron and subsequently provided initial, transition, and qualification training for C-5 aircrews. It also supported United States forces in Southeast Asia from 1972 through 1974. Redesignated the 56th Airlift Squadron in August 1991, the unit joined the 97th Operations Group at Altus. It served as the Air Force’s formal C-5 Galaxy airland qualification school for many years. The squadron’s C-5 aircraft were transferred in 2007, including its last aircraft, which departed Altus on 20 July 2007 for the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. The squadron itself was inactivated on 30 September 2008. After eight years of inactivity, the unit was redesignated the 56th Air Refueling Squadron in June 2016 and reactivated on 1 August 2016. Its new role was to operate as the Air Force’s Boeing KC-46A Pegasus formal training unit. The first KC-46A was delivered to the squadron on 8 February 2019, followed by a second aircraft two days later. The squadron’s current identity therefore combines a historic combat-airlift lineage with a contemporary air-refueling training mission.

The 56th Air Refueling Squadron traces its lineage to the 56th Troop Carrier Squadron, constituted on 12 November 1942 and activated six days later at Bowman Field, Kentucky. Assigned to the 375th Troop Carrier Group, it trained in the United States before deploying to the Southwest Pacific Theater. During World War II, the squadron performed tactical airlift in New Guinea and took part in the airborne operation at Nadzab on 5 September 1943. After Japan surrendered, the unit moved to Tachikawa Airfield and supported the occupation of Japan. It was inactivated on 25 March 1946. The squadron was activated again in the Air Force Reserve at Greater Pittsburgh Airport on 3 August 1947. It received the designation 56th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, in June 1949. The unit was ordered to active duty on 15 October 1950 for the Korean War and moved to Greenville Air Force Base. Its active-duty period ended on 14 July 1952, when it was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were used to activate the 18th Troop Carrier Squadron. The 56th returned to reserve service at Pittsburgh on the same day and remained there until its inactivation on 16 November 1957. A new phase began during the Military Air Transport Service and Military Airlift Command reorganization of the 1960s. The squadron was redesignated the 56th Military Airlift Squadron, Training, on 27 December 1965 and organized at Tinker Air Force Base on 8 January 1966. It replaced the 1740th Air Transport Squadron and inherited a training role involving the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. With the introduction of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, the squadron became the Air Force’s first operational C-5 squadron in December 1969. From 1969 to 2007, it trained and transitioned C-5 aircrews, including crews preparing for airlift and related operational missions. It also supported American forces in Southeast Asia between April 1972 and December 1974. The unit became the 56th Airlift Squadron on 27 August 1991. It was attached to the 97th Operations Group at Altus Air Force Base and served as the Air Force’s formal C-5 Galaxy airland qualification school. Although its aircraft were transferred in 2007, the squadron remained on the rolls until 30 September 2008. The Air Force revived the unit for the KC-46A program. It was redesignated the 56th Air Refueling Squadron on 23 June 2016 and activated at Altus on 1 August 2016 under the 97th Operations Group. The squadron received its first KC-46A Pegasus on 8 February 2019 and another two days later. It now conducts formal initial and advanced training for air-refueling aircrews, supporting the Air Force’s transition to the KC-46A and continuing the squadron’s broader tradition of specialized transport and tanker instruction.

1. 2019First KC-46A deliveries

   The squadron received its first KC-46A Pegasus on 8 February and a second aircraft two days later.

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2. 2016Reactivated for KC-46A training

   The unit was redesignated the 56th Air Refueling Squadron on 23 June and reactivated at Altus on 1 August as a KC-46A formal training unit.

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3. 2008Inactivated after the C-5 training era

   The 56th Airlift Squadron was inactivated on 30 September.

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4. 2007C-5 aircraft transferred

   The squadron’s final C-5, aircraft 0462, departed Altus on 20 July for the 167th Airlift Wing.

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5. 1991Redesignated 56th Airlift Squadron

   The unit received its airlift designation on 27 August and later became part of the 97th Operations Group at Altus.

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6. 1969First operational C-5 squadron

   Following the arrival of the Air Force’s first C-5 Galaxy, the squadron became the service’s first operational C-5 squadron and began C-5 crew training.

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7. 1966Reestablished as a formal airlift training unit

   The 56th Military Airlift Squadron, Training, was organized at Tinker Air Force Base and began training C-124 crews.

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8. 1950Korean War active service

   The reserve squadron was ordered to active duty on 15 October and served from Greenville Air Force Base.

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9. 1947Return to the Air Force Reserve

   The squadron was activated at Greater Pittsburgh Airport on 3 August as a reserve troop carrier unit.

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10. 1946Postwar inactivation

    After wartime airlift and occupation duties in Japan, the squadron was inactivated on 25 March.

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11. 1943Nadzab airborne operation

    The squadron participated in the airborne assault on Nadzab, New Guinea, on 5 September during World War II.

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12. 1942Activated as a troop carrier squadron

    The unit was constituted on 12 November and activated on 18 November at Bowman Field, Kentucky, as the 56th Troop Carrier Squadron.

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A United States Air Force formal training unit focused on producing qualified KC-46A Pegasus air-refueling crews, while preserving a lineage that includes World War II tactical airlift, Korean War-era service, C-124 training, and C-5 Galaxy qualification instruction.

• Boeing KC-46A Pegasus formal trainingMilitary air-refueling training2016

  The squadron’s current principal offering is formal instruction for KC-46A Pegasus aircrews. Training covers initial qualification and advanced preparation for air-refueling operations, supporting the United States Air Force’s tanker workforce and the operational introduction of the KC-46A.

• Lockheed C-5 Galaxy aircrew trainingMilitary airlift training1969

  From 1969 through the transfer of its aircraft in 2007, the squadron provided initial, transition, and qualification training for C-5 Galaxy crews. It served as the Air Force’s formal school for C-5 airland qualification.

• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II crew trainingMilitary airlift training1966

  After its reorganization at Tinker Air Force Base in 1966, the squadron trained aircrews for the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II as part of the Air Force’s strategic airlift training structure.

1. 56th Air Refueling Squadron