380th ARS:68th AREFG

• Origins in World War II: The 380th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) traces its lineage back to the 580th Bombardment Squadron, which operated B-24 Liberators in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. • Cold War Reactivation: The 380th ARS was reactivated during the Cold War as part of the Strategic Air Command, tasked with providing aerial refueling support for bombers and fighter aircraft. • Affiliation with 68th Air Refueling Group (AREFG): The 68th AREFG, to which the 380th ARS was assigned, was based at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, and played a key role in SAC's global reach. • KC-135 Stratotanker Operations: The 380th ARS operated the KC-135A Stratotanker, a vital asset for in-flight refueling of both bombers and tactical aircraft, greatly extending their operational range. • Support During Vietnam War: The 380th ARS provided critical refueling support for combat aircraft deploying to and from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era. • Exercise Participation: The unit regularly participated in major exercises such as “REFORGER” and “Global Shield,” demonstrating rapid deployment and interoperability with NATO allies. • Operation Creek Party: In the late 1960s and 1970s, the 380th ARS helped support Operation Creek Party, refueling U.S. Air Forces in Europe aircraft without using overseas tankers. • Unit Emblem: The 380th ARS’s emblem featured a winged fuel droplet, symbolizing its air refueling mission and rapid response capabilities. • Deactivation and Legacy: The 380th ARS was inactivated in the early 1990s as part of post-Cold War drawdowns, but its lineage and honors continue in successor units. • Distinguished Alumni: Members of the 380th ARS have gone on to serve in key leadership positions in the U.S. Air Force, carrying forward the squadron’s legacy of excellence and innovation in air mobility.