Established in early 1943 as a Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport squadron under First Air Force, later trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the eastern United States. Deployed to England in late 1943, being assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command to participate in the buildup of forces prior to the Allied landings in France during D-Day in June 1944.
After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It dropped paratroops near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne attack on the Netherlands. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne.
Moved to France in early 1945, and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany, participating in the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel.
Returned to the United States in August, 1945, becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces, inactivated July 1946.
Reserve flying and Korean War mobilization
The squadron trained in troop carrier duties from 1947-1951.
Air refueling operations
It has performed air refueling missions worldwide since 1992. Since late 1993 the 74th periodically deployed to Italy and other western European locations in support of NATO operations in the Balkans.[1]
Campaigns and decorations
Campaigns. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
^ abcdefgEndicott, Judy G. (20 December 2007). "Factsheet 74 Air Refueling Sqiadrpm (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
^Station information in Endicott, except as noted.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
External links
August 24, 2023
74th, refueling, squadron, united, states, force, reserve, squadron, assigned, 434th, operations, group, stationed, grissom, joint, reserve, base, indiana, 135r, stratotanker, from, grissom, refuels, from, langley, afbactive1943, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1992, presen. The 74th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron assigned to the 434th Operations Group stationed at Grissom Joint Air Reserve Base Indiana 74th Air Refueling SquadronA KC 135R Stratotanker from Grissom ARB refuels an F 22A from Langley AFBActive1943 1946 1947 1951 1992 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleAir RefuelingPart ofAir Force Reserve CommandGarrison HQGrissom Air Reserve BaseEngagementsOperation Overlord Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Operation Plunder 1 DecorationsDistinguished Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardFrench Croix de Guerre with Palm French Fourragere 1 Insignia74th Air Refueling Squadron emblem approved 15 May 1995 1 74th Air Refueling Squadron emblem 1992 1995 Aircraft flownTankerKC 135 Stratotanker Contents 1 Overview 2 History 2 1 World War II 2 2 Reserve flying and Korean War mobilization 2 3 Air refueling operations 2 4 Campaigns and decorations 3 Lineage 3 1 Assignments 3 2 Stations 3 3 Aircraft 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksOverview Edit Douglas C 47 of the 74th Troop Carrier Squadron The 74th ARS operates the KC 135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions History EditWorld War II Edit Established in early 1943 as a Douglas C 47 Skytrain transport squadron under First Air Force later trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the eastern United States Deployed to England in late 1943 being assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command to participate in the buildup of forces prior to the Allied landings in France during D Day in June 1944 Engaged in combat operations by dropping paratroops into Normandy on D Day 6 June 1944 and releasing gliders with reinforcements on the following day The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French citation for these missions After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom The squadron also hauled food clothing medicine gasoline ordnance equipment and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals It dropped paratroops near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne attack on the Netherlands In December it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne Moved to France in early 1945 and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany participating in the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945 each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel Returned to the United States in August 1945 becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces inactivated July 1946 Reserve flying and Korean War mobilization Edit The squadron trained in troop carrier duties from 1947 1951 Air refueling operations Edit It has performed air refueling missions worldwide since 1992 Since late 1993 the 74th periodically deployed to Italy and other western European locations in support of NATO operations in the Balkans 1 Campaigns and decorations Edit Campaigns World War II Egypt Libya Tunisia Sicily Naples Foggia Rome Arno Normandy Northern France Rhineland Central Europe Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation France 6 7 Jun 1944 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards 1 Aug 1992 31 Aug 1993 1 Sep 1994 31 Aug 1996 French Croix de Guerre with Palm 6 7 Jun 1944 20 28 Aug 1944 French Fourragere Lineage EditConstituted as the 74th Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 January 1943Activated on 9 February 1943 Inactivated on 31 July 1946Activated in the reserve on 15 March 1947Redesignated 74th Troop Carrier Squadron Medium on 1 July 1949 Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951 Inactivated on 2 May 1951Redesignated 74th Air Refueling Squadron and activated in the reserve on 1 August 1992 1 Assignments Edit 434th Troop Carrier Group 9 February 1943 31 July 1946 434th Troop Carrier Group 15 March 1947 2 May 1951 434th Operations Group 1 Aug 1992 present 1 Stations Edit Alliance Army Air Field Nebraska 9 February 1943 Baer Field Indiana 4 28 September 1943 RAF Fulbeck AAF 488 2 England October 1943 RAF Welford AAF 474 2 England November 1943 RAF Fulbeck AAF 488 England 2 10 January 1944 RAF Aldermaston AAF 467 2 England 3 March 1944 Mourmelon le Grand Airfield A 80 3 France February June 1945 Baer Field Indiana 5 August 1945 Alliance Army Air Field Nebraska 15 September 1945 George Field Illinois 11 October 1945 Greenville Army Air Base South Carolina 2 February 31 July 1946 Stout Field Indiana 15 March 1947 Atterbury Air Force Base Indiana 1 July 1949 2 May 1951 Grissom Air Force Base later Grissom Air Reserve Base Indiana 1 August 1992 present 4 Aircraft Edit Douglas C 47 Skytrain 1943 1946 1949 Airspeed Horsa 1944 1945 Waco CG 4 1944 1945 Curtiss C 46 Commando 1945 1946 1949 1951 Beechcraft T 7 Navigator 1949 1951 Beechcraft T 11 Kansan 1949 1951 Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker 1992 present 1 References Edit World War II portalNotes Edit a b c d e f g Endicott Judy G 20 December 2007 Factsheet 74 Air Refueling Sqiadrpm AFRC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 21 September 2017 a b c d Station number in Anderson Station number in Johnson Station information in Endicott except as noted Bibliography Edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Cantwell Gerald T 1997 Citizen Airmen a History of the Air Force Reserve 1946 1994 Washington D C Air Force History and Museums Program ISBN 0 16049 269 6 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 External links Edit434th Air Refueling Wing Fact Sheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 74th Air Refueling Squadron amp oldid 1134873327, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
