76th Air Refueling Squadron
| 76th Air Refueling Squadron
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] | |
|---|---|
| Insignia | |
| 76th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 17 April 1996)[1] |  |
| 76th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (approved 30 April 1944)[2] |  |
The 76th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the
air refueling missions as a reserve associate unit of the 305th Air Mobility Wing
.
The unit was first activated during as a
Distinguished Unit Citation
for its actions during the Normandy invasion.
The squadron was activated in the reserve in 1947. It was called to active duty in March 1951 for the
435th Troop Carrier Wing in a reorganization of Continental Air Command
reserve units.
History
World War II
The
435th Troop Carrier Group. The group used Douglas C-47 Skytrains and Douglas C-53 Skytrooopers in preparing for duty overseas with Ninth Air Force.[1][3]
The 76th left the United States in October 1943, arriving at
Distinguished Unit Citation for its part in Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion.[3]
The squadron began transport services following the landings in France and intermittently engaged in missions of this type until
V-E Day In these operations the 76th hauled supplies such as serum, blood plasma, radar sets, clothing, rations, and ammunition. It also evacuated wounded personnel to Allied hospitals.[3]
The squadron interrupted these supply and evacuation missions to train for and participate in three major airborne assaults. It was part of a detachment of three squadrons from the 435th Group that moved to Tarquinia Airfield, Italy in July 1944 for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France.[4] The detachment dropped paratroopers over the assault area on 15 August and also released gliders carrying troops and equipment such as jeeps, guns, and ammunition. The following day it flew a resupply mission over France, then transported supplies to bases in Italy before returning to England at the end of the month.[3]
In September 1944 the squadron participated in
82d and 101st Airborne Divisions and releasing gliders carrying reinforcements.[3] During the Battle of the Bulge, the unit delivered supplies to isolated combat positions of the 101st Airborne and 7th Armored Divisions in Bastogne and Marcouray, Belgium.[5]
The unit moved to
Rhine River. Each squadron aircraft participating in this operation towed two gliders transporting troops and equipment to the east bank of the Rhine near Wesel on 24 March. The unit then flew resupply missions to Germany in support of ground forces.[3]
The squadron transported supplies to occupation forces in Germany and evacuated Allied prisoners of war after V-E Day. The squadron and the 435th Group returned to the United States in August and the group was inactivated on 15 November 1945.[1][3]
Air Force Reserve
Troop carrier operations
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The squadron was once again activated as a reserve unit under
Orlando Air Force Base, Florida on 15 July 1947. It was again assigned to the 435th Troop Carrier Group, located at Morrison Field, Florida. The squadron was nominally a Curtiss C-46 Commando unit, but it is not clear to what extent it was equipped with tactical aircraft while at Orlando.[1][3]
In June 1949,
100th Bombardment Group. Air Force flying operations at Orlando came to a temporary end. The squadron was manned at only 25% of the strength of a regular unit.[1][7][8]
At Miami, the squadron trained with C-46s under the supervision of the active duty 2585th Air Force Reserve Training Center.
The squadron was activated as a reserve unit the same day at the same station, but with the personnel and equipment of the inactivating
812th Troop Carrier Squadron.[14] In the reserve, the squadron once again flew the Curtiss Commandos.[12] By 1956, the unit was flying overseas missions, particularly in the Caribbean area and in Central America. In addition, for the first time as a reserve unit, its flying was performed in unit tactical aircraft, rather than in trainers.[15]
In 1957, the squadron once again received C-119s.[12]
Strategic airlift and air refueling
The squadron began strategic airlift operations in 1966, and global air refueling and airlift since 1994.[1]
Operations and decorations
- Campaigns. World War II: Normandy; Rome-Arno; Southern France; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
- Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 October 1995 – 30 September 1997.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 76th Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 January 1943
- Activated on 25 February 1943
- Inactivated on 15 November 1945
- Activated in the reserve on 15 July 1947
- Redesignated 76th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 26 June 1949
- Ordered to active service on 1 March 1951
- Relieved from active duty on 15 October 1952
- Inactivated on 1 December 1952
- Activated in the reserve on 1 December 1952
- Discontinued and inactivated, on 1 April 1966
- Redesignated 76th Air Refueling Squadron on 9 September 1994
- Activated in the reserve on 1 October 1994[1]
Assignments
- 435th Troop Carrier Group, 25 February 1943 – 15 November 1945
- 435th Troop Carrier Group, 15 July 1947 – 1 December 1952
- 435th Troop Carrier Group, 1 December 1952
- 435th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
- 445th Troop Carrier Wing; 1 October 1961
- 435th Troop Carrier Wing, 27 August 1962
- 915th Troop Carrier Group, 17 January 1963 – 1 April 1966
- 514th Operations Group, 1 October 1994 – present[1]
Stations
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Aircraft
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References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Robertson, Patsy (20 February 2015). "Factsheet 76 Air Refueling Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 276
- ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 306–307
- ^ Citus et Certus. p. 25
- ^ Citus et Certus, p. 26
- ^ Knaack, p. 25
- ^ Cantwell, p. 74
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 230–231
- ^ "Abstract, History 2585 Air Force Reserve Training Center Jan–Mar 1951". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ Citus et Certus, p. 8
- ^ Citus et Certus, p. 28
- ^ a b c Robertson, Patsy (19 October 2015). "Factsheet 435 Air Ground Operations Wing (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 251–252
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 267–268
- ^ Cantwell, p. 146
- ^ a b Station number in Anderson
- ^ Station number in Johnson
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- 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 1 October 2014.
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. 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. OCLC 72556.
- Citus et Certus: Swift and Sure. Ramstein AB, Germany: 435th Air Base Wing History Office. 2006.
External links
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