74th Air Refueling Squadron: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Established in early 1943 as a [[C-47 Skytrain]] transport squadron under [[First Air Force]], later trained under [[I Troop Carrier Command]] in the eastern United States. Deployed to England in late 1943, being assigned 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. |
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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. |
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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]]. |
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Moved to France in early 1945, and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany, participating in the air assault across the [[Rhine River]] in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the [[17th Airborne Division (United States)|17th Airborne Division]] and released them near [[Wesel]]. |
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Returned to the United States in August, 1945, becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces, inactivated July 1946. |
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⚫ | The squadron trained in troop carrier duties from, 1947-1951. It has performed air refueling missions worldwide since 1992. Since late 1993 the 74th periodically deployed to [[Italy]] and other western [[Europe]]an locations in support of [[NATO]] operations in the [[Balkans]].<ref name="AFHRA 74 ARS Page">[http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0074ars.html AFHRA 74 ARS Page]</ref> |
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===Lineage=== |
===Lineage=== |
Revision as of 14:44, 23 February 2012
74thAir Refueling Squadron | |
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Active | 9 February 1943 - 31 July 1946 15 March 1947 - 2 May 1951 1 August 1992 - Present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Aerial refueling |
Part of | Air Force Reserve Command 4th Air Force 434th Air Refueling Wing 434th Operations Group |
Garrison/HQ | Grissom Joint Air Reserve Base |
Engagements | Operation Overlord Operation Market Garden Battle of the Bulge Operation Plunder |
Decorations | DUC AFOUA French CdG w/ Palm French Fourragère |
Aircraft flown | |
Tanker | KC-135 Stratotanker |
The 74th Air Refueling Squadron (74 ARS) is part of the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Joint Air Reserve Base, Indiana. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.
History
Established in early 1943 as a C-47 Skytrain transport squadron under First Air Force, later trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the eastern United States. Deployed to England in late 1943, being assigned 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 on D-Day (6 June 1944) and releasing 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 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.
Moved to France in early 1945, and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany, participating in the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel.
Returned to the United States in August, 1945, becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces, inactivated July 1946.
The squadron trained in troop carrier duties from, 1947-1951. It has performed air refueling missions worldwide since 1992. Since late 1993 the 74th periodically deployed to Italy and other western European locations in support of NATO operations in the Balkans.[1]
Lineage
- Constituted 74th Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 Jan 1943
- Activated on 9 Feb 1943
- Inactivated on 31 Jul 1946
- Activated in the Reserve on 15 Mar 1947
- Re-designated: 74th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1949
- Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951
- Inactivated on 2 May 1951
- Re-designated: 74th Air Refueling Squadron, and activated in the Reserve, on 1 Aug 1992.
Assignments
- 434th Troop Carrier Group, 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946; 15 Mar 1947-2 May 1951
- 434th Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-Present
Stations
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Aircraft
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References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
External links