History
of the 420th Air Refueling Squadron
Constituted 42Oth Night Fighter Squadron on 25 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Disbanded on 31 Mar 1944, Reconstituted, and consolidated (19 Sep 1945)
420th Air Refueling Squadron, Fighter-Bomber, which was constituted on 8 Dec 1953. Activated on 18 Mar 1954. Redesigned 420th Air Refueling Squadron, Tactical, on 8 Aug 1958. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Mar 1964.
Consolidated (1 Oct 1992) with the 6520th Test Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 10 Mar 1989. Redesigned: 420th Test Squadron on 2 Oct 1992;
42Oth Flight Test Squadron on 1 Mar 1994.
Assignments. Air Defense Department, AAF School of Applied Tactics, 1 Jun 1943 (attached to 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group, 17-25 Jul 1943) Stations. Orlando AB, FL, 1 Jun 1943; Kissimmee, AAFld, FL, 1 Jun 1943; Dunnellon AAFld, FL, 20 Aug 1943; 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group, 26 Jul 1943-31 Mar 1944.
Hammer Field, Fresno,CA, 18 Jan-31 Mar 1944.
Ninth Air Force, 18 Mar 1954 (attached to 366th Fighter-Bomber wing, 18 Mar 1954-22 Sep 1955);
Third Air Force, 9 Oct 1955 (Attached to 47th Bombardment Wing, 15 Mar 1960-1 Jul 1961);
Seventeenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1961 (Attached to 47th Bombardment Wing, 1 Jul-7 Nov 1961); 47th Bombardment Wing, 8 Nov 1961;
Seventeenth Air Force, 22 Jun 1962 (attached to 7375th Combat Support Group, unk:n-30 Sep 1962);
7375th Combat Support Group, 1 Oct 1962-25 Mar 1964. 651Oth (later, 412th) Test Group, 10 Mar1989-.
Alexandria LA, (later, England) AFB,18 Mar 1954-22 Sep1955; The first Tactical Air Commanded refueling squadron and first to be deployed to refuel F-84's fighter aircraft on the Great Britain, European and South Africa continent, Sculthorpe RAF Station (later, RAF Sculthorpe), England, 9 Oct 1955-25 Mar 1964.
Edwards
AFB, CA, 10 Mar 1989-. 420 flight test squadron, Edwards A.F.B. Edwards,
California. Flight testing of aircraft
Aircraft. In addition to AT-il, A-20, and P-70 during 1943-1944, and PIYP-61, 1944, included BT-13 and C-78, 1943-1944. KB-29, 1954-1959; KB-5O, 1956-1964.
Emblem.: 13 Apr 1944 (27299 A.C.) Sable above a demi globe issuant from base of the like gridlinedAzure a pair of falcon feet displayed Or talons Argent surmounted in sinister by a mullet of four of the last below a pair of eyes affionty Gules, pupils Black, all within a diminished bordure Red. Replaced emblems approved on 20 Sep 1955 (153318 A.C.)
In accordance with AFF 900-3, 14 September 1955, the following emblem is approved for the 420TH Air Refueling Squadron:
SQUADRON
EMBLEM:
Over
an Air Force blue disc, with white cloud and star, a caricatured gray
elephant, with large outstretched ears, lined pink, resembling and
aircraft's wings, on his body. The national aircraft marking in its
proper colors; his mouth red, eyeballs white, with blue eyes: holding
upward in his trunk a baby's bottle. Refueling a caricatured tiger
standing on the elephant's head: the design encircled with a border
white; all outlines black.
SIGNIFICANCE
The emblem whimsically portrays the squadron's primary mission of air refueling fighter aircraft, with a caricatured elephant feeding a tiger. The clouds, stars, and blue sky relate to accomplishment of the mission, in all weather, day or night.
WILD BLUE YONDER
420th Air Refueling Squadron
Written By Bill Dietzel
7 June 1998
The 420th Air Refueling Squadron was formed 18 March 1954. The squadron personnel were shipped in from around the United States. All of the personnel were experience on many types of aircraft. I was transferred from George AFB, Victorville, California were I had been Crew Chief on A-26s in the 4th Tow Target squadron.
Going from the dry climate of the California Mojave desert were temperance's climbed everyday over 110 degrees to the swamps of Louisiana. September is the hottest time in the south and the humidity was almost unbearable. Sleeping on a army cot in an old wood barracks was a hold new experience for all of us. Nights you sleep between two sheets, in the morning you could ring them out from sweating all night long.
The 420th Air Refueling Squadron which conceded of ten KB-29 air refueling tankers Aircraft and 120 personnel were preparing to move from Alexandria Air Force Base to Sculthorpe, England
The order of the day was to pack all the equipment necessary to support 165 members of the squadron and Ten KB-29s Air Refueling Tankers. We built crates, packed them and loaded them on four C-124s. With all the equipment packed the 420th Air Refueling Squadron was ready to go to England. This is the last night before the entire 420th Air Refueling Squadron would departed the United States Of American for Sculthorpe, England .
Party Time 19:00 Hours
Uncle Sam's Bar
Alexandria, La.
" We all had one helluva of good time "
The following morning after the BIG GOING AWAY PARTY
0700 Hours Ground crews Pre-Flighted and prepared their aircraft for a 1100 Hours take off, The ground crews had their aircraft in the best running condition possible. The fuel tanks filled to the maximum for the trip to England. I was assign as part of the ground crew on Captain Lightner's aircraft KB-29 44-69674
0900 Hours The flight crew arrives and pre-flights the airplane. The crew lines up for parachute inspection . Captain Lightner briefs the flight crew on the route and weather conditions: Alexandria AFB, LA to Goose Bay, Labrador, Newfoundland across the North Atlantic ocean to Scheluthorpe RAF Station, England.
1100 hours: The fire guards stood by for the pilots to start they engines, Captain Gerald Lightner looks out of the cockpit window, moving his fingers in a circle motion. The big propeller on number one begins to turn, faster and faster, and then the roar of the R-3350 engine coming a live. Then the other three engine are started, The noise level is intensified and then it turns into a continence HUMMMM. Looking down the flight line you now can see all ten KB-29s props turning and ready to roll out from their parking places.
1115 Hours. . Captain James L Brewer is aircraft commander. of the lead KB-29 aircraft which has the Squadron Commander of the 420th Air refueling Squadron Colonel Sheffield on board..
"Alexandria tower this is KB-29 Command Ship 68700 " requesting taxi instruction to the active runway for take off " The tower came back with " You are cleaned to active runway 36 Altitude setting 2990 winds north by north west at 10 knots, " You are cleared to the active for take off 68700"
The KB-29s lined up one after other in position for take off. With great pride one of the pilots window slides open and a Confederate Flag shows proudly out the cockpit window. With the Confederate flag flying high it taxis in front of the other KB-29s. Wonder who that was? following the lead aircraft the squadron of KB-29s moved out and formed in line for the active runway for take off.
" Alexandria Tower" this is KB-29 niner six seven four, ready for take off. Captain Lightner said as he called the tower at Alexandria AFB on the radio microphone
" Aircraft niner six seven four" you are next in line for take off, winds 10 knots North North West , Altimeter setting at two niner niner niner, KB-29 six seven four you are cleared to taxi onto run way 36 and hold your position.
Roger that tower, niner six seven four, holding on active. Captain Lightner replied.
The command KB-29 with Captain Brewer at the controls pulled into position on the runway. The giant aircraft engines went to full power, You could feel the prop wash moving across the aircraft surface as the R-3350 s producing 2200 horse turned the 16' propellers which moved the aircraft down the runway.
" Niner six seven four you are cleared for take off and cleared for a left hand turn out. Captain Lightner replied "Niner six seven four rolling".
Captain Lightner calls over the intercom to the flight engineer " Sgt. Sunden take her to full power", Yes Sir" Sunden replies, turning the booster pumps to high, moves the mixture controls to full rich, places his hand on the throttles and opens the engine to full power, Captain Lightner pushes on all four throttles as the KB-29 begins to roll down the runway. 50 75 100 120 miles per hour. Captain Lightner feels the aircraft become light and lifts the KB-29 Air Refueling Tanker from the runway and 9674 became airborne.
"Gear up" Captain Lightner calls to the Co-pilot. Climbing out to 2500 feet . At 2500 feet of altitude Captain Lightner levels the aircraft out and after a short time makes a tight turn to the left and levels off. One after the other the 420th Air Refueling Squadron KB-29s take off, climbing out to 2500 feet of altitude and flying out about 20 miles before making a turn back to the base.
Captain Brewer turned to Colonel Sheffield smiled and asked." Permission to put her on the deck Sir". Colonel Sheffield looked at Captain Brewer, " Granted " " Put her on the deck" Colonel Sheffield replied.. Captain Brewer said "Yes Sir" " Alexandria Tower this is 68700" permission to make a low pass fly by over the field. The tower came back "68700 you are cleared for fly by"
The Command pilot Captain James Brewer , dropped the nose of the KB-29 down into a 30 degree dive, pushing forward on the throttles. His face lite up with a big smile. " Hang on boys were going to go say "good-bye" to the England AFB he said into the intercom.
KB-29 68700 command ship descended and made the approach across the field at 100 feet.
A C-124 transport aircraft was setting on the ramp , so I make a bee line for it. Climbing up into the cockpit, I opened the hatch to the roof and climbed out of top of the aircraft " This my friend was the best seat in town. Far off in the distance you can hear the roar of the engines of KB-29s dropping in altitude in a single file. The mixture controls in full rich, throttles wide open the flight of KB-29s of the 420 Air Refueling Squadron start their low altitude pass, waving they wings in a farewell to the ground crew and squardron members below as they make their pass across the field.
Then off in the distance I spotted KB-29 44-69674 with Captain Lightner at the controls, lower and lower he made his approach to the ramp, still lower he placed the nose down. when the aircraft passed in front of the C-124 the KB-29 was at about 40 feet above the deck traveling well over 300 miles per hour. The KB-29 flashed across in front of the C-124, Captain Gerald Lightner was smiling from ear to ear, waving from the window as he pulled the aircraft up and made a sharp turn to the left and headed off to Scheluthorpe, England.
1500 Hours.
Alexandria LA to New York, City The Ground Crew, and other personnel of the 420 Air Refueling Squadron were loaded onto two C-124s and flew from England AFB, Alexandria , LA to McGuire AFB, New Jersey. That night it was "Hell-o New York City" the 420th Fly Boys are in town for a little fun... " Boy did we have fun"
0700 Hours
McGuire Air Force Base A blue Air Force bus picked up the squardron and hauled us to Sheep's Head Bay in New York City. We unloaded in front of this huge ship named the USS DARBY. This is the first time this Nebraska farm boy had ever seen a ship this size.
0900 Hours USS DARBY. United States Navy Ship Troop Carrier The squardron personnel were placed on board the USS DARBY for the trip across the Atlantic ocean and to dock 8 days later at South Hampton England. Once we were loaded on board the ship we were assigned sleeping quarters. After that it was back to the deck to wave good-by to who ever waved back.
01100 Hours The ship moved away from the dock and crossed Sheep's Head Bay on to the Atlantic ocean.
Walking around the deck I came upon a couple of guys playing guitars, I sat down with them and before you knew it we had a band. I checked with one of the Navy officers in charge of entertainment and found out their needed a band. We got the Job. While stationed at George Air Force Base Victorville, California I played a up right Kay base in a country western band The Navy officer issused me an up right KAY base from supply.
2100 Hours The band begins to play on board for the first class passages, Captain of the ship and military personnel and their dependents. The band played until 0100 hours in the morning, Good-Duly..
0130 Hours When the dance was over the whole band which consisted of Five People; Army, Navy, Marine and Two Air Force guys would go down in lower deck of the ship to the Navy gallery, Eating steak and playing card with the Navy boys until 0300 hours and then off to bed. This happened every night for next eight days. We docked at South Hampton, England and was transported to Sculthorpe RAF Station by bus.
The story continues.....