page_title: 97th Air Refueling Squadron
section_title: Propeller-driven tankers
hierarchical_section_title: 97th Air Refueling Squadron / History / Air Refueling / Propeller-driven tankers
caption_attribution_description: English: Boeing KC-97G-21-BO Stratofreighter "City of Great Falls" (52-838) of the 97th Air Refueling Squadron
context_page_description: The 97th Air Refueling Squadron is a currently active United States Air Force unit. It was assigned to the 92d Operations Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where it was inactivated on 30 September 2004. It was reactivated on 1 October 2019 following reception of 12 additional Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers at Fairchild AFB.
  The squadron was first activated in January 1941 as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron. Seven months after activation, it was renamed the 97th Bombardment Squadron and assigned to the 47th Bombardment Group. It performed antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific coast following the entry of the United States into World War II. Three months later, it began training for light bomber operations, and in November 1942 it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The squadron engaged in combat in northern Africa, Italy and France until V-E Day, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions there. The 97th returned to the United States in the summer of 1945 and was inactivated at Lake Charles Army Air Field, Louisiana in March 1946.
  The 97th Air Refueling Squadron was one of the Air Force's first air refueling units, activated in 1949.
context_section_description: The 97th Air Refueling Squadron was activated in March 1949 and assigned to the 97th Bombardment Group at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas.  The squadron was initially equipped with the Boeing KB-29M Superfortress.  The KB-29M was equipped with a hose system developed by the British in which the tanker trailed a hose to the receiver and fuel was gravity-fed.  The tanker trailed a "hauling line" which was trapped by the receiver, reeled in and attached to the receiver fuel system.  The system was perilous and the KB-29Ms were retired in a few years.
  On 1 September 1950, the squadron was the first to receive the improved KB-29P, which was equipped with a boom and used pumps to deliver the fuel more rapidly. However, the squadron remained below strength until 1952.
  The squadron upgraded to Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters in 1954.  The unit frequently deployed from Biggs to England, Newfoundland and Labrador, completing its last unit deployment as it was moving to Montana. In the mid-1950s, Strategic Air Command (SAC) began to move its KC-97 refueling strength to the northern United States. The move to Montana-based the squadron ahead of the faster Boeing B-47 Stratojets it would refuel, and on their programmed route.
  In 1957, the squadron moved to Malmstrom Air Force Base to fill out the 4061st Air Refueling Wing, which had been formed the previous month with the 407th Air Refueling Squadron. During the 1958 Lebanon Crisis, the squadron provided support for the 92d Bombardment Wing. In July 1961, the 4061st wing was inactivated and the 97th was assigned to the 9th Bombardment Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, although it remained at Malmstrom and was attached to the host 341st Combat Support Group there. It was discontinued in March 1964 as part of the phaseout of KC-97 aircraft from the active duty force.
caption: KC-97 of the 97th Air Refueling Squadron at Malmstrom AFB
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