915th Air Refueling Squadron
The 915th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 72d Bombardment Wing at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico where it was inactivated on 30 June 1971 when the Air Force transferred Ramey to Military Airlift Command.
| 915th Air Refueling Squadron | |
|---|---|
Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker as flown by the 915th Air Refueling Squadron | |
| Active | 1940–1943; 1958–1971 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Air refueling |
| Engagements | American Theater of World War II European Theater of World War II |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| Patch with 915th Air Refueling Squadron emblem | |
| 15th Bombardment Squadron emblem | |
The squadron was first activated as the 15th Bombardment Squadron in 1940. When the United States entered World War II it engaged in antisubmarine patrols off the Atlantic coast. It was designated the 1st Pursuit Squadron (Night Fighter) and shipped to the European theater to be trained with Royal Air Force Turbinlite fighters, but development of those aircraft terminated and the squadron returned to its original designation. It participated in the first Army Air Forces attack on Occupied Europe before moving to North Africa, where it was disbanded on 1 October 1943.
In 1958 the 915th Air Refueling Squadron was activated and assigned to the 72d Bombardment Wing when the wing converted from Convair B-36 Peacemaker to Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Until it was inactivated in 1971, its crews stood alert and deployed aircraft to support various contingency operations.
The two squadrons were consolidated into a single unit in 1985 but remained in inactive status.