RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- On Oct. 9, 1955, the arrival of the 420th Air Refueling Squadron, Fighter-Bomber, at Royal Air Force Sculthorpe marked a turning point in U.S. Air Forces in Europe history. For the first time, USAFE possessed its own organic air refueling capability, one that extended the reach of fighter and bomber aircraft across a rapidly intensifying Cold War theater.
Originally reassigned from Tactical Air Command, the 420th ARS relocated from England Air Force Base, Louisiana, to the United Kingdom to directly support USAFE’s Third Air Force. Its Airmen operated the KB-29P, a modified B-29 Superfortress equipped with the innovative rigid flying boom system. This technology allowed faster, more reliable refueling than earlier hose-and-drogue and grappled-line systems, significantly increasing sortie efficiency and operational range.
During its years in Europe, the 420th ARS primarily supported the 47th Bombardment Wing at RAF Sculthorpe. The squadron’s arrival helped expand Third Air Force’s ability to sustain fighter-bomber operations, a critical mission as USAFE continued its Cold War buildup to deter Soviet aggression and bolster NATO’s defense posture.
The 420th’s time under USAFE was brief but transformative. In 1964, the squadron was inactivated when Strategic Air Command assumed responsibility for global air refueling operations. For nearly three decades, USAFE would rely on stateside tanker support until the activation of the 100th Air Refueling Wing in 1992 restored in-theater capability.
Today, USAFE-AFAFRICA continues to rely heavily on aerial refueling as a cornerstone of its forward-based combat power. With the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall at the center of European tanker operations, KC-135 Stratotankers routinely enable long-range bomber task forces, fighter deployments, NATO exercises, and operations across both the European and African theaters. For example, during Exercise Ocean Sky, the 100th ARW provided critical aerial refueling support, extending the reach of F-16 Fighting Falcons and enabling them to practice integrated air and missile defense with allied nations, enhancing the collective defense capabilities of the region.
Modern operations highlight the mission’s evolution from Cold War endurance to global agility. Recent multinational exercises showcased air-to-air refueling integration with NATO Allies and African partners, strengthening interoperability and enhancing rapid power projection. These missions ensure that U.S. and allied aircraft can operate across vast distances, whether supporting training in Morocco, air defense operations in Eastern Europe, or agile combat employment hubs across the continent.
Eight decades after its earliest tanker operations, USAFE-AFAFRICA continues the legacy established by the 420th ARS: extending reach, strengthening alliances, and enabling U.S. airpower to respond anytime, anywhere.