72d Air Refueling Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 72d Air Refueling Squadron


caption= 72d Air Refueling Squadron Patch
dates= 9 February 1943 - 31 July 1946
1 August 1947 - 1 October 1973
1 July 1978 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Aerial refueling
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
4th Air Force
434th Air Refueling Wing
434th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Grissom Joint Air Reserve Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Overlord
Operation Market Garden
Battle of the Bulge
Operation Plunder
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 72d Air Refueling Squadron (72 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.

Mission

History

The 72d participated in airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany, assisted in the relief of Bastogne, and conducted aerial transportation of passengers and cargo in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. The squadron performed troop carrier and transport duties from 1947-1969, forward air control training from 1969-1971, special operations training from 1971-1973, and worldwide air refueling missions since 1973. Personnel and aircraft deployed from the 72d to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, performing air refueling duties for allied forces from August 1990-March 1991 and periodically deployed since late 1993 to Italy and other western European locations in support of NATO operations over Bosnia. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0072ars.html AFHRA 72 ARS Page] ]

=Operations=

*World War II
*Operation Desert Storm

=Lineage=

*72d Troop Carrier Squadron (1943 - 1949)
*72d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1949 - 1967)
*72d Tactical Airlift Squadron (1967 - 1969)
*72d Tactical Air Support Squadron (1969 - 1971)
*72d Special Operations Squadron (1971 - 1977)
*72d Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy (1977 - 1992)
*72d Air Refueling Squadron (1992 - Present)

=Assignments=

*434th Troop Carrier Group (1943 - 1946)
*434th Troop Carrier Wing (1947 - 1963)
*931st Special Operations Group (1963 - 1973)
*931st Air Refueling Group (1978 - 1987)
*434th Air Refueling Wing (1987 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska (1943)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1943)
*RAF Fulbeck, England (1943, 1944)
*RAF Welford, England (1943 - 1944)
*RAF Aldermaston, England (1944 - 1945)
*Mourmelon-le-Grand, France (1945)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1945)
*Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska (1945)
*George Field, Illinois (1945 - 1946)
*Greenville Army Air Base (1946)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1947 - 1949)
*Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana (1949 - 1952)
*Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia (1952 - 1953)
*Bakalar Air Force Base, Indiana (1953 - 1970)
*Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana (1970 - 1973, 1978 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*C-47 Skytrain (1943 - 1946, 1949)
*Horsa glider (1944 - 1945)
*CG-4 (1944 - 1945)
*C-46 Commando (1945 - 1946, 1949 - 1957)
*T-7 Navigator (1949 - 1951)
*T-11 Kansan (1949 - 1953)
*T-6 Texan (1953)
*C-45 Expeditor (1953 - 1957)
*C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957 - 1969)
*O-2 Skymaster (1969 - 1971)
*U-3 Blue Canoe (1969 - 1971)
*A-37 Dragonfly (1971 - 1973)
*KC-135 Stratotanker (1978 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0072ars.html AFHRA 72d Air Refueling Squadron History]
* [http://www.grissom.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2263 434th Air Refueling Wing Fact Sheet]

Also See