The earliest predecessor of the squadron was the 468th Bombardment Squadron, which served as a heavy bomber training unit until it was inactivated in a reorganization of United States Army Air Forces units in the United States designed to conserve manpower needed in the overseas theaters.
The 68th Air Refueling Squadron served with Strategic Air Command to extend the range of bombers assigned to the command as needed to perform their worldwide mission. It was discontinued in 1965 and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 305th Air Refueling Squadron. In 1985 the squadron was consolidated with the 468th Bombardment Squadron, but has not been active since then.
History
World War II
Convair B-24 Liberator
The 468th Bombardment Squadron was activated on 15 July 1942 at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah as one of the four original squadrons of the 333d Bombardment Group.[1][2][3][a] In August, it began operating as an Operational Training Unit (OTU) for Consolidated B-24 Liberator units at Topeka Army Air Base. The OTU program involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres to "satellite groups"[4] The OTU program was patterned after the unit training system of the Royal Air Force. The parent assumed responsibility for satellite unit training and oversaw their expansion with graduates of Army Air Forces Training Command schools to become effective combat units.[5][6] Phase I training concentrated on individual training in crewmember specialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit.[7]
In February 1943, the squadron moved to Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas. However, many of the Army Air Forces' (AAF) bomber units had been activated. With the exception of special programs, like forming Boeing B-29 Superfortress units, training “fillers” for existing units became more important than unit training.[8] The squadron mission changed to becoming a Replacement Training Unit (RTU). RTUs were also oversized units, but their mission was to train individual pilots or aircrews.[9] It continued this mission through November 1943.[1]
The AAF was finding that standard military units like the 468th, whose manning was based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving not well adapted to the training mission, even more so to the replacement mission. Accordingly, the Army Air Forces adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[10] The 467th and its parent group were inactivated in 1944 and replaced by the 232d Army Air Forces Base Unit (Development, Heavy) as Dalhart Army Air Field prepared to transition to Boeing B-29 Superfortress training.[11]
On 19 September 1985 the 68th Air Refueling Squadron was consolidated with the 468th Bombardment Squadron. The consolidated unit retains the designation of 68th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy.[16]
Lineage
468th Bombardment Squadron
Constituted as 468th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 9 July 1942
↑Maurer indicates the squadrons of the 333rd Group were activated at Salt Lake, then moved to Topeka in August. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 573-575. However, the 333rd Group was activated at Topeka, and the Air Force Historical Research Agency Factsheet for the only original squadron of the 333rd, currently the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron, gives Topeka as its activation station. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 213-14; "Factsheet 966 Airborne Air Control Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
12See Mueller, p. 213 (end of assignment at Bunker Hill AFB)
123Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
12Strategic Air Command General Order 19, 7 April 1952
↑Strategic Air Command General Order 27, 16 May 1952
↑Strategic Air Command General Order 63, 3 September 1953
↑Strategic Air Command General Order 21, 13 April 1959
↑Strategic Air Command General Order 35, 22 March 1965
Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II(PDF). Vol.VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN48003657. OCLC704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Greer, Thomas H. (1955). "Recruitment and Training, Chapter 18 Combat Crew and Unit Training". In Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II(PDF). Vol.VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN48003657. OCLC704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol.VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN48-3657.
