USAF Patch Air Refueling b 32 AREFS Squadron d Heavy KC 10 1980s

USAF Patch 32 AREFS Air Refuelling Squadron Heavy Patch 1980s KC 10 Extender Barksdale AFB Fully embroidered cut edge 114mm by 102mm four and one half inches by four inches.

Free Shipping

Squadron History 

32 Air Refueling Squadron Heavy was activated on 15 March 1965 at Lockbourne Air Force Base Ohio equipped with KC 135 Stratotanker for Strategic Air Command SAC aerial refueling operations worldwide under 301 Air Refueling Wing. The Squadrons main commitment was in support of SACs operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and kept some of its KC 135 tanker force deployed to Goose Bay Air Base Canada until 1968 and afterwards supported SACs tanker task forces in the Far East Europe and Alaska. From June to October 1972 all personnel and aircraft were loaned to units in the Pacific or other Strategic Air Command units leaving the squadron unmanned and then deployed most aircraft and personnel to Southeast Asia between October and December 1972 in support of Operation Linebacker II over Vietnam. The squadron continued to provide worldwide aerial refueling of US military and allied aircraft assuming the primary role of supporting strategic nuclear bomber and later the Post Attack Command and Control Communications relay. 32 AREFS H was inactivated on 30 September 1979. 

32 Air Refueling Squadron Heavy was reactivated on 1 November 1981 at Barksdale Air Force Base assigned to 2 Bombardment Wing equipped with the new KC 10A Extender tanker aircraft after completion of the KC 10 Follow on Test and Evaluation to carry out global air refueling missions. 32 AREF H deployed tankers to various locations in the Gulf in 1990 1991 and played a key role in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm winning a campaign streamer. The Squadron was redesignated 32 Air Refueling Squadron and was reassigned to 2 Operations group on 1 September 1991. The Squadron was reassigned to 458 Operations Group on 1 June 1992 and continued worldwide operations and supported Operations Southern Watch Restore Hope and Provide Comfort. 32 ARS relocated to McGuire AFB on 1 September 1994 and was reassigned to 305 Operations Group under 305 Air Mobility Wing on 1 July 1995. The Squadron participated in Operations Deliberate Force Allied Force and Decisive Endeavour over the former Yugoslavia and Phoenix Scorpion and Desert Strike over Iraq. Following the attacks on 11 September 2001 the Squadron has continued global support for Operations Noble Eagle Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan. 

This patch dates from the 1980s

Thanks to Rob Robbins for KC 10 identification with 3 hole airframe at botton of the triangle.