Formed in April 1943 by I Troop Carrier Command, trained and equipped at various bases in the United States for the balance of the year. Deployed to England, being assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in early January 1944, during the Allied buildup prior to the invasion of France.
The squadron participated in the D-Day operation, dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops near Cherbourg Naval Base, then carried out re-supply and glider delivery missions the following day.
The squadron's aircraft flew supplies into Normandy as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties to England. On 17 July the air echelon flew to Grosseto airbase in Italy to prepare for operations connected with the invasion of southern France returning to England on 24 August.
Squadron moved to France in July 1944 and for the balance of the Northern France Campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany was engaged in combat resupply of ground forces, operating from Advanced Landing Grounds in northern France. Delivered supplies to rough Resupply and Evacuation airfields near the front lines, returning combat casualties to field hospitals in rear areas. Dropped airborne forces during Operation Market-Garden in September 1944 into the Netherlands; later participated in the airborne invasion of Germany in March 1945. After V-E Day, the squadron evacuated prisoners of war. Returned to the United States in August 1945, became a transport squadron for Continental Air Command, Inactivated on 15 November 1945.
Reserve operations and Korean War mobilizationedit
Operated in the reserve, 1948–1951 with C-47s, activated during the Korean War. Its personnel and aircraft assigned as fillers for active-duty units, inactivated a few days later as an administrative unit.
Reserve airlift operationsedit
It performed worldwide airlift operations from, 1966–1971, including missions to Southeast Asia.
Early warning for the southern United Statesedit
The squadron also flew airborne early warning and control missions in the air defense of the United States, using Lockheed EC-121 Warning Stars from its base at Homestead AFB Florida, 1971–1978.
Reserve associate air refuelingedit
Since 1982 it has trained for and flown worldwide air refueling and strategic airlift missions, including contingency and humanitarian relief operations.[1] Supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle after the 11 September 2001 attack on the U. S.
Campaigns and decorationsedit
Campaigns. World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
^ abcdefgRobertson, Patsy (24 January 2011). "Factsheet 79 Air Refueling Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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.
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 linksedit
April 10, 2024
79th, refueling, squadron, united, states, force, reserve, squadron, assigned, 349th, operations, group, stationed, travis, force, base, california, extender, near, travis, force, baseactive1943, 1945, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, presentcountry, . The 79th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron assigned to the 349th Operations Group stationed at Travis Air Force Base California 79th Air Refueling SquadronA 79th Air Refueling Squadron KC 10A Extender near Travis Air Force BaseActive1943 1945 1948 1951 1955 1958 1966 1978 1982 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleAir refuelingPart ofAir Force Reserve CommandGarrison HQTravis Air Force BaseMotto s Deterrence in Vigilance 1971 1978 Excellence in Reserve 1996 2017 In Hunterus Awesomess 2017 present EngagementsOperation Overlord Operation Dragoon Operation Market Garden Operation Varsity 1 DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 1 Insignia79th Air Refueling Squadron emblem Approved 29 July 1996 1 79th Airborne Early Warning amp Control Squadron emblem Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Reserve operations and Korean War mobilization 1 3 Reserve airlift operations 1 4 Early warning for the southern United States 1 5 Reserve associate air refueling 1 6 Campaigns and decorations 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory editWorld War II edit Formed in April 1943 by I Troop Carrier Command trained and equipped at various bases in the United States for the balance of the year Deployed to England being assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in early January 1944 during the Allied buildup prior to the invasion of France The squadron participated in the D Day operation dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops near Cherbourg Naval Base then carried out re supply and glider delivery missions the following day The squadron s aircraft flew supplies into Normandy as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties to England On 17 July the air echelon flew to Grosseto airbase in Italy to prepare for operations connected with the invasion of southern France returning to England on 24 August Squadron moved to France in July 1944 and for the balance of the Northern France Campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany was engaged in combat resupply of ground forces operating from Advanced Landing Grounds in northern France Delivered supplies to rough Resupply and Evacuation airfields near the front lines returning combat casualties to field hospitals in rear areas Dropped airborne forces during Operation Market Garden in September 1944 into the Netherlands later participated in the airborne invasion of Germany in March 1945 After V E Day the squadron evacuated prisoners of war Returned to the United States in August 1945 became a transport squadron for Continental Air Command Inactivated on 15 November 1945 Reserve operations and Korean War mobilization edit Operated in the reserve 1948 1951 with C 47s activated during the Korean War Its personnel and aircraft assigned as fillers for active duty units inactivated a few days later as an administrative unit Reserve airlift operations edit It performed worldwide airlift operations from 1966 1971 including missions to Southeast Asia Early warning for the southern United States edit The squadron also flew airborne early warning and control missions in the air defense of the United States using Lockheed EC 121 Warning Stars from its base at Homestead AFB Florida 1971 1978 Reserve associate air refueling edit Since 1982 it has trained for and flown worldwide air refueling and strategic airlift missions including contingency and humanitarian relief operations 1 Supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle after the 11 September 2001 attack on the U S Campaigns and decorations edit Campaigns World War II Rome Arno Normandy Northern France Southern France Rhineland Ardennes Alsace Central Europe Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation France 6 7 June 1944 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V Device 1 August 2002 15 August 2003 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards 1 December 1976 15 March 1978 1 April 1984 31 March 1985 1 July 1991 30 June 1993 1 April 15 August 1995 1 July 1996 30 June 1998 1 August 2000 31 July 2002 16 August 2003 17 August 2004 18 August 2004 17 August 2005 18 August 2005 17 August 2006 18 August 2006 17 August 2007 18 August 2007 17 August 2008 18 August 2008 17 August 2009 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 1 July 1966 29 July 1971 Lineage editConstituted as the 79th Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 March 1943Activated on 1 April 1943 Inactivated on 15 November 1945Activated in the Reserve on 11 April 1948Redesignated 79th Troop Carrier Squadron Medium on 27 June 1949 Ordered to active service on 1 April 1951 Inactivated on 16 April 1951Activated in the Reserve on 18 May 1955Inactivated on 15 May 1958Redesignated 79th Military Airlift Squadron and activated in the Reserve on 14 March 1966Organized on 1 April 1966 Redesignated 79th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 30 June 1971 Inactivated on 1 October 1978Redesignated 79th Air Refueling Squadron Heavy Associate on 21 June 1982Activated in the Reserve on 1 September 1982 Redesignated 79th Air Refueling Squadron Associate on 1 February 1992 Redesignated 79th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 October 1994 1 Assignments edit 436th Troop Carrier Group 1 April 1943 15 November 1945 419th Troop Carrier Group 11 April 1948 436th Troop Carrier Group 27 June 1949 16 April 1951 436th Troop Carrier Group 18 May 1955 15 May 1958 Continental Air Command 14 March 1966 915th Military Airlift Group 1 April 1966 Eastern Air Force Reserve Region 30 July 1971 Tenth Air Force 8 October 1976 915th Airborne Early Warning and Control Group 1 December 1976 1 October 1978 452d Air Refueling Wing 1 September 1982 452d Operations Group 1 August 1992 349th Operations Group 1 April 1995 present 1 Stations edit Baer Field Indiana 1 April 1943 Alliance Army Air Field Nebraska 2 May 1943 Laurinburg Maxton Army Air Base North Carolina 4 August 1943 Baer Field Indiana 16 28 December 1943 RAF Bottesford AAF 481 England January 1944 RAF Membury AAF 466 England 3 March 1944 February 1945Operated from Voltone Airfield Italy 20 July 23 August 1944Mourmelon le Grand Airfield A 80 France February July 1945 Baer Field Indiana 13 August 1945 Malden Army Air Field Missouri 8 September 15 November 1945 Norfolk Municipal Airport Virginia 11 April 1948 Godman Air Force Base Kentucky 27 June 1949 Standiford Field Kentucky 20 October 1950 16 April 195 Floyd Bennett Field later U S Naval Air Station New York New York 18 May 1955 15 May 1958 Homestead Air Force Base Florida 1 April 1966 1 October 1978 March Air Force Base California 1 September 1982 Travis Air Force Base California 1 April 1995 present 1 Aircraft edit C 47 Skytrain 1943 1945 1948 1951 T 7 Navigator 1948 1951 Beechcraft T 11 Kansan 1948 1951 C 46 Commando 1955 1958 C 119 Flying Boxcar 1957 1958 C 124 Globemaster II 1966 1971 C 121 Constellation 1971 1973 1976 1978 EC 121 Warning Star 1971 1978 KC 10 Extender 1982 present References editNotes edit a b c d e f g Robertson Patsy 24 January 2011 Factsheet 79 Air Refueling Squadron AFRC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 25 February 2016 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency 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 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 edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 79th Air Refueling Squadron amp oldid 1205394258, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
