97th Air Refueling Squadron
97th Air Refueling Squadron | |
---|---|
Part of | Air Mobility Command |
Garrison/HQ | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Insignia | |
97th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 9 December 1994)[1] | |
97th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 10 September 1965)[1] | |
97th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 2 November 1955)[1] | |
97th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 9 August 1944)[2] |
The 97th Air Refueling Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. It was most recently activated on 1 October 2019 and assigned to the 92nd Operations Group, 92nd Air Refueling Wing.
The
The 97th Air Refueling Squadron was one of the Air Force's first
The squadron was soon activated with
The squadron was again activated a few months later, returning to Malmstrom as part of Air Mobility Command's tanker fleet. It moved to Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington two years later and remained there until its inactivation in 2004.
History
World War II
The
After the
In November 1942, the 97th deployed to French Morocco as part of
In February 1943, the
The squadron remained active in combat, but also trained for medium altitude bombing missions in April and May. In June 1943 it participated in the reduction of the islands of
In August and September 1944, the unit provided support for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France.
The squadron then returned to Italy, where it attacked German communications and other targets, including tanks, bivouac areas, supply dumps, troop concentrations, roads, bridges,
The 97th upgraded to Douglas A-26 Invaders in early 1945. In April 1945, the squadron and the rest of the 47th group maintained attacks on enemy transportation in the Po River Valley for sixty consecutive hours despite bad weather and adverse terrain. The attacks prevented the orderly withdrawal of German forces from northern Italy. For this action, the squadron earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation.[3]
The squadron returned to the United States in July 1945, and was initially stationed at
The unit remained active until March 1946, when the 47th group reduced from four to three squadrons.[3]
Air Refueling
Propeller-driven tankers in Texas and Montana
The 97th Air Refueling Squadron was activated in March 1949 and assigned to the
On 1 September 1950, the squadron was the first to receive the improved KB-29P, which was equipped with a boom and used pumps to deliver the fuel more rapidly.[6] However, the squadron remained below strength until 1952.[7]
The squadron upgraded to Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters in 1954. The unit frequently deployed from Biggs to England, Newfoundland and Labrador, completing its last unit deployment as it was moving to Montana.[1] In the mid-1950s, Strategic Air Command (SAC) began to move its KC-97 refueling strength to the northern United States.[8] The move to Montana-based the squadron ahead of the faster Boeing B-47 Stratojets it would refuel, and on their programmed route.[9]
In 1957, the squadron moved to
Jet tankers in Arkansas
The 97th ARS was redesignated as a heavy unit and organized on 8 October 1964 at
In addition to its alert commitment, the squadron deployed aircraft and aircrews to support Tanker Task Forces in Europe, the Pacific and Alaska.
The squadron returned to Malmstrom Air Force Base when it was reactivated in October 1992. At Malmstrom, it was equipped with the re-engined KC-135R tankers.
The squadron activated at Fairchild AFB on 18 October 2019 with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.[21]
Lineage
97th Bombardment Squadron
- Constituted as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (Light) on 20 November 1940
- Activated on 15 January 1941
- Redesignated 97th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 14 August 1941
- Redesignated 97th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 20 August 1943
- Inactivated on 31 March 1946
- Consolidated with the 97th Air Refueling Squadron as the 97th Air Refueling Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
97th Air Refueling Squadron
- Constituted as the 97th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium on 2 February 1949
- Activated on 1 March 1949
- Discontinued and inactivated on 15 March 1964
- Redesignated 97th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy and activated on 8 October 1964 (not organized)
- Organized on 23 October 1964
- Consolidated with the 97th Bombardment Squadron on 19 September 1985
- Redesignated 97th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 September 1991
- Inactivated on 1 April 1992
- Activated on 1 October 1992
- Inactivated on 30 September 2004
- Activated on 1 October 2019[1]
Assignments
- 47th Bombardment Group)
- 47th Bombardment Group, 14 August 1941 – 31 March 1946
- 97th Bombardment Wingafter 12 July 1950)
- 97th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 (attached to Fifteenth Air Force, c. 31 May 1955 – 10 July 1955)
- 4061st Air Refueling Wing, 1 September 1957
- 9th Bombardment Wing(later 9th Strategic Aerospace Wing) (attached to 341st Combat Support Group), 15 July 1961
- 28th Bombardment Wing, 1 July 1962 – 15 March 1964
- Strategic Air Command, 8 October 1964 (not organized)
- 97th Bombardment Wing, 23 October 1964
- 97th Operations Group, 1 September 1991 – 1 April 1992
- 43rd Operations Group, 1 October 1992
- 453rd Operations Group, 1 April 1994
- 92nd Operations Group, 1 July 1994 – 30 September 2004
- 92nd Operations Group, 1 October 2019 – present[1]
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
- Douglas B-18 Bolo (1941–1942)
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator (1941–1942)
- Douglas DB-7 Boston (1942)
- Douglas A-20 Havoc (1942–1945)
- Douglas A-26 Invader (1945–1946)
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1950)
- Boeing KB-29 Superfortress (1950–1954)
- Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter (1954–1964)
- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (1964–2004)
- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (2019–present)[23]
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Presidential Unit Citation | 22 February 1942 | North Africa, 97th Bombardment Squadron[4] | |
Presidential Unit Citation | 21 April 1945 – 30 April 1945 | Po Valley, 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2003 – 30 September 2004 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[24] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
1 June 1955 – 1 September 1957 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 2 July 1957 – 3 November 1957 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1975 – 30 June 1977 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1977 – 30 June 1978 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1978 – 30 June 1980 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1980 – 30 June 1982 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1986 – 30 June 1988 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1986 – 30 June 1988 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[24] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1995 – 30 June 1997 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[24] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1998 – 30 June 1999 | 97th Air Refueling Squadron[24] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Antisubmarine | 31 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2][4] | |
Algeria-French Morocco | 8 November 1942 – 11 November 1942 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Tunisia | 12 November 1942 – 13 May 1943 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Sicily | 14 May 1943 – 17 August 1943 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Naples-Foggia | 18 August 1943 – 21 January 1944 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Anzio | 22 January 1944 – 24 May 1944 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Rome-Arno | 22 January 1944 – 9 September 1944 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Southern France | 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
North Apennines | 10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Po Valley | 3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] | |
Air Combat, EAME Theater | 7 November 1942 – 11 May 1945 | 97th Bombardment Squadron[2] |
See also
- List of MAJCOM wings of the United States Air Force
- List of United States Air Force air refueling squadrons
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Some or all of the B-24s may have been LB-30s. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 323
- Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Musser, James M. (26 September 2022). "97 Air Refueling Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 322–323
- ^ a b c d e f g Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 104–106
- ^ a b c AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, p. 270
- ^ "Abstract, History 97 Bombardment Squadron Sep 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ Knaack, pp. 490–492
- ^ Smith, pp. 30–31
- ^ See Smith, p. 46
- ^ See Smith, p. 39
- ^ "Abstract, History 4061 Air Refueling Wing". Air Force History Index. 1 December 1957. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ "Abstract, History 4061 Air Refueling Wing Jul–Aug 1958". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ Mueller, p. 355
- ^ See Mueller, p. 38
- ^ Hartley, Jillian. "Eaker Air Force Base". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Little Rock. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Abstract, Vol. I, History 97 Bombardment Wing Jul–Sep 1983". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ Ravenstein, p. 138
- ^ a b "Abstract, Vol. I, History 97 Bombardment Wing Jul–Dec 1990". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Abstract, Vol. I, History 97 Bombardment Wing Jan–Jun 1991". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Abstract, Vol. I, History 43 Air Refueling Wing Jun–Dec 1992". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. January 2020. p. 16.
- ^ Station number in Johnson
- ^ Musser, James M. (1 October 2019). "97 Air Refueling Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c d "Air Force Recognition Programs". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- 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 4 March 2016.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). 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.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- Smith, Richard K. (1998). Seventy-Five Years of Inflight Refueling: Highlights, 1923–1998 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- "AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits" (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force Index. 15 June 1971. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
External links
- "97th Bombardment Wing". Strategic-Air-Command.com. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- Bossie, Clifford (12 December 2012). "97th Bomb Wing at Biggs". Retrieved 10 October 2014.