914th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

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914th Air Refueling Squadron
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
14 Tow Target Sq emblem (approved 6 February 1944)[1]

The first predecessor of the 914th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron was organized in 1942 as the 8th Observation Squadron. It trained in the

South West Pacific Theater of World War II and was inactivated in the Philippines
in February 1946.

The 914th Air Refueling Squadron was activated by the

97th Bombardment Wing. The squadron flew Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft to support the Strategic Air Command. It was inactivated in 1964, when its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 97th Air Refueling Squadron
.

The two squadrons were consolidated in September 1985 but the consolidated squadron was not activated. In 2003 it was redesignated the 914th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, converted to provisional status, and assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed.

History

World War II

O-47 as flown by the 8th Observation Squadron

The first predecessor of the

Camp Davis Army Air Field, North Carolina a month later and by the end of the year was redesignated the 14th Tow Target Squadron.[1] While at Camp Davis the squadron was assigned several Women Airforce Service Pilots.[2]

B-25 as flown by 14 Tow Target Squadron

However, by 1944 the

Camp Davis, being disbanded in the spring of 1944[1] and being replaced by an AAF Base Unit which absorbed the squadron's mission, personnel, and equipment.[note 1][5]

The squadron was reconstituted in the fall of 1944 at

Clark Field on Luzon in the Philippines, where it continued its mission until December 1945.[6] It was inactivated on 1 February 1946.[1]

Cold War

The 914th Air Refueling Squadron was organized in October 1961 by

USAF units as directed. One-third of the squadron's aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. This was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962 for the Cuban Missile Crisis.[9] The 914th ARS received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its work during and after the crisis.[10] The squadron trained for this mission until inactivation.[11] The 914th ARS was inactivated in October 1964 to make way for the 97th Air Refueling Squadron, which was transferred from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana to take over refueling duties for the 97th Wing.[12]

The 14th Tow Target Squadron was consolidated with the 914th Air Refueling Squadron in September 1985 but the consolidated squadron has not been active since.[13]

On 27 March 2003 the squadron was converted to provisional status as the 914th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed for contingency operations.[13]

Lineage

14th Tow Target Squadron

  • Constituted as the 8th Observation Squadron (Special) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 3 February 1942
Redesignated the 14th Tow Target Squadron on 12 December 1942
Disbanded on 10 April 1944
Reconstituted on 26 September 1944
  • Activated on 6 October 1944
Inactivated on 1 February 1946[1]
  • Consolidated with the 914th Air Refueling Squadron as the 914th Air Refueling Squadron on 19 September 1985[13]

914th Air Refueling Squadron

  • Constituted as the 914th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 17 May 1961 and activated (not organized)
Organized on 1 October 1961
Discontinued and inactivated on 23 October 1964
  • Consolidated with the 14th Tow Target Squadron on 19 September 1985 (remained inactive)
  • Redesignated 914th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and converted to provisional status on 27 March 2003[13]

Assignments

  • Office of the Chief of Air Corps
    , 3 February 1942
  • Third Air Force, 12 December 1942
  • I Air Support Command
    (later I Tactical Air Division), 17 December 1942
  • First Air Force, 4 November 1943 – 1 April 1944
  • Fourth Air Force, 6 October 1944
  • 360th Service Group, c. 9 January 1945
  • XIII Bomber Command, c. November 1945
  • Thirteenth Air Force
    , 27 December 1945 – 1 February 1946
  • 97th Bombardment Wing, 1 October 1961 – 23 October 1964[13]

Stations

  • Pope Field, North Carolina, 3 February 1942
  • Langley Field, Virginia, 4 April 1942
  • Camp Davis Army Air Field, North Carolina, 8 May 1942 – 10 April 1944
  • McChord Field, Washington, 6 October 1944 – 17 November 1944
  • Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea (now
    West Papua
    ), 9 January 1945
  • Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, c. 17 July 1945 – 1 February 1946
  • Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas, 1 October 1961 – 23 October 1964[14]

Aircraft

  • Douglas A-20 and P-70 Havoc, 1945
  • Douglas A-24 Banshee
    , 1942–1944
  • Martin B-10, 1942–1944
  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1945
  • Lockheed B-34 Lexington
    , 1942–1944
  • Stinson L-1 Vigilant, 1942–1944
  • Piper L-4 Grasshopper
    , 1942–1944
  • North American O-47, 1942–1944
  • O-52, 1942–1944
  • Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1942–1944
  • Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, 1961–1964[13]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
 23 October 1962-22 November 1962 914th Air Refueling Squadron[15]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 3 February 1942 – 1 April 1944
6 October 1944 – 17 November 1944		 8th Observation Squadron
(later 14th Tow Target Squadron)[1]
Asiatic-Pacific Theater without inscription 9 January 1945 – 1 February 1946 14th Tow Target Squadron[1]

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory Notes

  1. Bluethenthal Field. where the 130th AAF Base Unit was organized. "Abstract, History Bluethenthal Field. Apr 1944 – Aug 1945"
    . Air Force History Index. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  2. ^ During World War II, this section of New Guinea was part of the Dutch East Indies.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 80–81
  2. ^ a b c "Abstract, History 14 Tow Target Squadron Activation-Oct 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  3. ^ Goss, p. 75
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 7
  5. ^ "Abstract, History Bluethenthal Field, NC Apr 1942 – Feb 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Abstract, History 14 Tow Target Squadron Oct 1944 – Dec 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  8. ^ "First KC-135 at BAFB". The Courier News. 19 January 1962. p. 1. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. 1 April 1975. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  10. ^ DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON DC (1 July 1989). Final Environmental Impact Statement. Second KC-135R Air Refueling Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana (Report). Fort Belvoir, VA: Defense Technical Information Center.
  11. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 136–138
  12. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
    .
  13. ^ a b c d e f Robertson, Patsy (8 November 2011). "Factsheet 914 Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  14. ^ Mueller, p. 38
  15. ^ AF Pamphlet 900-2, 15 June 1971, p. 477

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Further reading

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