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==History==
==History==
Activated in June 1942 under [[First Air Force]], being formed at [[Patterson Field]], Ohio. Trained at various stationd in the southeast and Texas with [[C-47 Skytrain]] transports. Deployed to Egypt in November 1942 as part of President Roosevelt's decision to aid the [[Royal Air Force]] [[Western Desert Air Force]], assigned to the newly-established [[Ninth Air Force]], headquartered in [[Cairo]]. Provided supplies and equipment to the [[British Eighth Army]], operating from desert airfields in Egypt and Libya. Reassigned in May 1943 to the USAAF [[Twelfth Air Force]] in [[Algeria]], supporting Fifth Army forces in the Tunisian Campaign. Participated in [[Operation Husky]], the airborne invasion of Sicily in August 1943. Remained in the MTO until Feburary 1944 until being reassigned back to Ninth Air Force in England, IX Troop Carrier Command to participate in the buildup of forces prior to the Allied landings in France during D-Day in June 1944.
Activated in June 1942 under [[First Air Force]], being formed at [[Patterson Field]], Ohio. Trained at various stationd in the southeast and Texas with [[C-47 Skytrain]] transports. Deployed to Egypt in November 1942 as part of President Roosevelt's decision to aid the [[Royal Air Force]] [[Western Desert Air Force]], assigned to the newly-established [[Ninth Air Force]], headquartered in [[Cairo]].


Transported supplies and evacuated casualties in support of the [[British Eighth Army]], operating from desert airfields in Egypt and Libya. Reassigned in May 1943 to the USAAF [[Twelfth Air Force]] in [[Algeria]], supporting Fifth Army forces in the Tunisian Campaign. Began training for the invasion of Sicily; dropped paratroops over the assault area on the night of 9 July. Carried reinforcements to Sicily on 11 July and received a DUC for carrying out that mission although severely attacked by ground and naval forces; dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 Sep 1943. Remained in the MTO until Feburary 1944 until being reassigned back to Ninth Air Force in England, 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 [[Military operation|operations]] by dropping [[paratroop]]s into [[Normandy]] on [[Normandy Landings|D-Day]] (6 June 1944) and releasing [[Military glider|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 [[Operation Market Garden|airborne attack on Holland]]. In December, it participated in the [[Battle of the Bulge]] by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near [[Bastogne]].
Engaged in combat [[Military operation|operations]] by dropping [[paratroop]]s into [[Normandy]] near Ste-Mere-Eglise on [[Normandy Landings|D-Day]] (6 June 1944) and releasing [[Military glider|gliders]] with reinforcements on the following day. The unit received a third [[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 [[Operation Market Garden|airborne attack on Holland]]. In December, it participated in the [[Battle of the Bulge]] by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near [[Bastogne]].


Returned to the United States in May, 1945, becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces. Reassigned to Seventh Air Force in Hawaii in September 1945, operating until being inactivated in early 1946.
Returned to the United States in May, 1945, becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces. Reassigned to Seventh Air Force in Hawaii in September 1945, operating until being inactivated in early 1946.

Revision as of 19:47, 21 February 2012

44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
Emblem of the 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
Active1953-1963
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeAir Refueling
RoleAerial Refueling
SAC 44th Air Refueling Squadron emblem

The 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, attached to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command. It was last known to be stationed at Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar engaged in air refueling operations in support of United States Air Forces Central.

History

Activated in June 1942 under First Air Force, being formed at Patterson Field, Ohio. Trained at various stationd in the southeast and Texas with C-47 Skytrain transports. Deployed to Egypt in November 1942 as part of President Roosevelt's decision to aid the Royal Air Force Western Desert Air Force, assigned to the newly-established Ninth Air Force, headquartered in Cairo.

Transported supplies and evacuated casualties in support of the British Eighth Army, operating from desert airfields in Egypt and Libya. Reassigned in May 1943 to the USAAF Twelfth Air Force in Algeria, supporting Fifth Army forces in the Tunisian Campaign. Began training for the invasion of Sicily; dropped paratroops over the assault area on the night of 9 July. Carried reinforcements to Sicily on 11 July and received a DUC for carrying out that mission although severely attacked by ground and naval forces; dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 Sep 1943. Remained in the MTO until Feburary 1944 until being reassigned back to Ninth Air Force in England, 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 near Ste-Mere-Eglise on D-Day (6 June 1944) and releasing gliders with reinforcements on the following day. The unit received a third 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 Holland. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne.

Returned to the United States in May, 1945, becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces. Reassigned to Seventh Air Force in Hawaii in September 1945, operating until being inactivated in early 1946.

Established as a Strategic Air Command KC-97 Stratotanker squadron, providing aerial refueling for B-47 Stratojets of the 44th Bombardment Wing. With retirement of B-47 at Chennault AFB in 1960, moved to Selfridge AFB as part of SAC provisional 4045th (later 500th) ARW. Inactivated in 1964.

Reactivated as a provisional Air Combat Command KC-10 air refueling squadron in 2002 as part of the Global War on Terrorism.

Lineage

  • Constituted 44th Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942
Activated on 15 Jun 1942
Redesignated 44th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
Inactivated on 25 Mar 1946
  • Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 44th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium
Constituted on 13 Feb 1953
Activated on 20 Apr 1953
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 Dec 1964
  • Redesignated: 44th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 19 Sep 1985 (Remained inactive)
  • Redesignated: 44th Air Refueling Squadron on 9 Sep 1994 (Remained inactive)
  • Redesignated 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, and converted to provisional status, on 25 Jan 2002.

Assignments

Attached to 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

Stations

Aircraft

References

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

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