[3] However, the Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization, were proving less well adapted to the training mission.

A power-driven reel for the refueling hose was installed in the rear fuselage at the position where the lower aft turret had been located prior to its removal.

Once contact was made, the rate of fuel transfer was slow, and the hoses provided a lot of aerodynamic drag which limited the airspeed.

[citation needed] While flying the KB-29 the squadron deployed to RAF Upper Heyford, England from June to September 1952.

[1] In 1954, the squadron converted to the Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, deploying once again to the United Kingdom with the KC-97 for most of the first four months of 1956, this time to RAF Lakenheath.

The squadron moved to Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire in January 1958, but was not joined there by the rest of the 509th Bombardment Wing until July.

They deployed on temporary duty assignments for terminal approach tactics at Roswell, New Mexico; participated in United States Strategic Command integration at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; certify in special operations air refueling at Hurlburt Field, Florida; and exercise with Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirits at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri; and plan and execute a mission employment exercise from Nellis two weeks before graduation.