Photo By Staff Sgt. Cody Dowell | The 54th ARS has been at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma since January 16, 1998. Today,...... read more read more
The 54th ARS has been at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma since January 16, 1998. Today, the 54th ARS is responsible for training all active duty, guardsmen, reservists, and international aircrew members on the U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker. Over 100 aircrew instructors and support staff execute an $80 million, 7,700 hour flying program to train nearly 900 pilot and boom operator students annually for the U.S. Air Force and international customers.
“The air-refueling expertise that KC-135 aircrew members bring to Altus AFB enables the United States and our international allies to extend combat and humanitarian operations anywhere around the world,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alton White, 54th ARS commander.
Time-critical missions would not be as effective if aircraft had to land in the middle of their flights to refuel and that is why training KC-135 aircrew is vital. Before the squadron was educating Airmen about the KC-135 or stationed at Altus AFB a vast amount of history was made for the 54th ARS.
“During the winter of 1942 through the summer of 1943, while based at Elmendorf Field, Alaska, the then 54th Troop Carrier Squadron played a crucial role in the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II,” said White. “In 1948, the 54th TCS deployed a detachment for five months from Alaska to Germany. During this time, the squadron supported Operation Vittles, known as the Berlin Airlift, delivering food and coal by air to sustain the people of West Berlin.
Even though a majority of the 54th ARS heritage was at other installations there is still plenty of room to make history at Altus AFB.
“The 54th’s mission will continue to be extremely important throughout the KC-135’s projected service life to 2040,” said White. “As the U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender nears retirement and the U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus comes online, the KC-135 will remain the backbone of the military’s tanker fleet and the 54th will continue to train world-class pilots and boom operators.”
The 54th ARS has accomplished a variety of objectives in its time at Altus AFB. Since January 1998 when the 54th ARS became an air refueling squadron and began flying the KC-135 at Altus AFB, the unit has graduated over 9,500 pilots, navigators and boom operators.
The squadron not only has trained students since being at Altus AFB, but also has helped the U.S. in its time of need.
“From September 2001 to November 2001, the 54th ARS flew 17 sorties from Altus AFB in support of Operation Noble Eagle,” said White. “Offloading nearly 700,000 pounds of fuel to keep multiple fighter aircraft airborne in continuous combat air patrols over the Midwest, safeguarding the skies after 9/11. In September 2005, the 54th ARS flew 12 missions from Altus AFB in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”
From historically delivering critical cargo in the Pacific and European theaters, to training tanker aircrews for worldwide air refueling operations today. With its 75th anniversary, the 54th ARS will continue with its 100 plus aircrew instructors and support staff to train the next generation of KC-135 crew members. They stand ready to carry on its proud heritage of service, enabling combat and humanitarian operations across the globe.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2017 10:38 |
| Story ID: | 232551 |
| Location: | ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA , OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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