Fairchild Air Force Base has added a third squadron to its ranks, with the relocation of the 384th Air Refueling Squadron there this month. 

Previously located at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas for the past 43 years, the 384th Air Refueling Squadron is also known as the “Squarepatchers,” a reference to the square patches that flight crew members wear on their shoulders. 

The U.S. Air Force is relocating the nine-aircraft squadron to Fairchild following McConnell’s designation as a new KC-46A Pegasus base. McConnell was chosen three years ago as the first base to receive the new tankers. Two other bases were chosen later to receive the new tankers as well.

Second Lt. Katherine A. Miranda, a spokeswoman for Fairchild, says following the relocation of the squadron, Fairchild is now home to a total of 44 aircraft. 

She says the base is expected to receive about 50 new personnel who will join existing airmen to support the squadron.

“There will be around 90 aircrew members in the 384th. This will be accomplished by pulling personnel from the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron and the 93rd ARS already located at Fairchild, as well as adding an expected 50 new personnel,” she says.

Miranda adds that several of the nine relocated aircraft also have what are known as multipoint refueling systems attached to their wing tips. 

“We call them mipers,” she says. “They can refuel other jets from a boom, but also refuel Navy and NATO aircraft from the assemblies at their wingtips. This gives us added refueling capabilities.”

The base, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, is Spokane County’s largest employer with about 6,000 uniformed and civilian personnel.

A relocation and assumption of command ceremony for the new squadron was held at Fairchild on March 23, a date chosen for its historical significance to the 384th, being the anniversary of its first combat mission in World War II.  

As part of the ceremony, Lt. Col. Sean R. McClune was promoted to commander of the 384th. Previously the 92nd Operations Support Squadron’s director of operations at Fairchild, McClune is the first Fairchild commander assigned to the 384th ARS after its relocation.

“This squadron has an incredible legacy, and I am absolutely looking forward to being a part of continuing that,” says McClune. 

McClune declined to comment on whether similar relocations of aircraft or personnel to Fairchild are likely, as the Air Force looks to replace KC-135s with the new KC-46As. 

However, he did say that Fairchild already has some of its new planes flying refueling missions.

“These aircraft, and this squadron, bring increased capability and capacity to Fairchild Air Force Base,” he says. “Our strategic location in terms of world events makes us vital to national security, and this is just part of the story we’re excited to share.”