912th Air Refueling Squadron

The 912th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron assigned to the 92d Operations Group and stationed at March Air Reserve Base, California. The squadron is an active duty associate unit of the reserve 336th Air Refueling Squadron of the 452d Operations Group.

912th Air Refueling Squadron
452d Air Mobility Wing KC-135 Stratotanker. The 912th is an active duty associate of the 452d
Active1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1961 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir Refueling
SizeApproximately 30 aircrew and 130 maintainers[1]
Part ofAir Mobility Command
4th Air Force
452d Air Mobility Wing
452d Operations Group
Garrison/HQMarch Air Reserve Base
EngagementsEuropean Theater of World War II
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
912th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 28 September 1964, slightly modified 27 August 2007)[2]
412th Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II)[3]
World War II Squadron fuselage code[4][5]QW
World War II 95th group tail code[4]Square B
Aircraft flown
TankerBoeing KC-135 Stratotanker

The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 412th Bombardment Squadron. It saw combat in the European Theater of World War II, where it was assigned to the 95th Bombardment Group, the only group in Eighth Air Force to earn three Distinguished Unit Citations.[6]

The 912th Air Refueling Squadron was activated in late 1961 as the air refueling element of the 4137th Strategic Wing and has been active since then. During the Cold War the squadron maintained a portion of its strength on alert. It also supported airborne alert operations during the 1980s.

In 1985 the 412th Bombardment Squadron was consolidated with the 912th Air Refueling Squadron, making them a single unit. The consolidated squadron has supported contingency operations, including Operation Urgent Fury and Operation Just Cause. It participated in combat in Southeast Asia from 1990 to 1991.

Overview

The squadron operates Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to Air Force Reserve Command at March Air Force Base, California along with air reservists, conducting air refueling and other air mobility missions. Its personnel also augment maintainers in the reserve 452d Maintenance Group and augment the reserve 452d Air Mobility Wing life support, intelligence, supply, command post, crew communications, medical and support staff.[1]

History

World War II

Training in the United States

The squadron was constituted in early 1942 as the 22d Reconnaissance Squadron. However, it was renamed the 412th Bombardment Squadron before activating at Barksdale Field, Louisiana in June as one of the four original squadrons of the 95th Bombardment Group.[7][8] The squadron began training in August at Geiger Field, Washington,[6] where it was equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. The unit trained for combat operations until moving overseas starting in March.[8]

The air echelon processed at Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska and flew its Forts via the southern route, flying to Florida, Trinidad, the northern coast of Brazil, Dakar, Senegal, and Marrakesh, Morocco to RAF Alconbury in the United Kingdom. The ground echelon moved to Camp Kilmer, then sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth to Scotland, arriving in May. The squadron then reunited at RAF Framlingham.[6]

Combat with Eighth Air Force
95th Bombardment Group B-17 over Germany showing Square B tail marking

The squadron arrived in England equipped with late model B-17F aircraft equipped with "Tokyo Tanks", additional fuel cells located outboard in the wings that gave this model additional range.[9] It flew its first combat mission on 13 May 1943 against an airfield near Saint-Omer, France. For the next two months the squadron focused on attacking airfields and V-1 flying bomb launch sites in France.[8]

Eighth Air Force's early experience with its Martin B-26 Marauders convinced it that the Marauders were stationed too far from the continent of Europe to reach a selection of targets.[10] It determined to move them closer to the target areas, and an exchange of bases began. The entire 95th group moved to RAF Horham in June, where they replaced the 323d Bombardment Group, which departed the previous day.[8][11] A few days later their place at Framlingham was taken by the newly arrived 390th Bombardment Group.[8][12]

The 412th began strategic bombing operations in July and continued until flying its last operation on 20 April 1945. Its targets included harbors, marshalling yards and other industrial targets along with attacks on cities. The squadron received its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) during an attack on an aircraft factory at Regensburg, Germany on 17 August 1943 when it maintained its defensive formation despite severe attacks by enemy interceptor aircraft.[8]

On 10 October, during an attack on marshalling yards at Münster, Germany, the squadron was subjected to concentrated fighter attacks on the approach to the target and intense flak over the objective.[8] Despite these obstacles, the group's bombs were clustered close to the target.[13] It was awarded a second DUC for withstanding these attacks to bomb its objective. From 20 to 25 February 1944 the group participated in the Big Week offensive against the German aircraft manufacturing industry. A few days later, on 4 March, the squadron attacked Berlin despite adverse weather that led other units to either abandon the operation or attack secondary targets. Despite snowstorms and heavy cloud cover, the unit struck its target while under attack from enemy fighters,[8] although the cloud cover required the group to rely on a pathfinder from the 482d Bombardment Group to determine the release point.[14] It received its third DUC for this operation.[8] This mission was the first time any unit from Eighth Air Force had bombed Berlin.[6]

The squadron was diverted to bombing priority tactical targets during the preparation for and execution of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, attacking communications and coastal defenses. It hit enemy troop concentrations to facilitate the Allied breakout at Saint-Lô. The 412th attacked enemy troop concentrations during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945 and bombed airfields to support Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March.[8]

One of the unit's more unusual missions was flown on 18 September 1944, when it led the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing[15] to Warsaw to drop ammunition, food and medical supplies to Polish Resistance forces fighting against German occupation forces.[8] The squadron had previously participated in shuttle missions to the Soviet Union.[16]

The unit flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, when it attacked marshalling yards near Oranienburg. In the first week of May, it airdropped food to Dutch citizens in Operation Chow Hound. From V-E Day until departing the theater in June, it transported liberated prisoners of war and displaced persons.[8][17] The air echelon flew their planes back to Bradley Field, Connecticut, while the ground echelon sailed once more on the Queen Elizabeth.[6] The squadron was reunited at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 28 August 1945.[8]

Air Force Reserve

The 412th Bombardment Squadron was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) at Knoxville Municipal Airport, Tennessee in July 1947[7] as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit. It is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped. In 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve units from ADC.[18] The 412th was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949 and ended its reserve flying operations at Knoxville.[7]

Strategic Air Command

The 912th Air Refueling Squadron was activated in December 1961 at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, where it was assigned to the 4137th Strategic Wing and equipped with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The 4137th wing was established by SAC in a program to disperse its Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.[19] The squadron provided air refueling primarily to the B-52s of the 4137th wing. Once the squadron became combat ready, 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.[20] 912th continued to maintain an alert commitment until the end of the Cold War, except for periods it deployed aircraft to support other operations. The squadron also conducted world wide air refueling missions.[2]

In February 1963, The newly activated 465th Bombardment Wing assumed the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4137th wing. The 4137th was a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing, which could not carry a permanent history or lineage,[21] and SAC wanted to replace it with a permanent unit. The 912th was reassigned to the 465th wing.[2][22] As the need for refueling support of tactical aircraft in Southeast Asia increased, the squadron deployed crews and aircraft to support Operation Young Tiger in Thailand.[23]

A little over five years later, when SAC terminated operations at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida and transferred the base to Tactical Air Command,[24] it moved the 19th Bombardment Wing on paper to Robins, where it took over the assets of the 465th wing[22] and became the 912th's new parent.[25]

The 912th provided crews and planes to support the Alaskan, European and Pacific Tanker Task Forces.[26][27] It supported Operation Urgent Fury, the restoration of the government of Grenada on 23 and 24 October 1983. The unit also flew EC–135 airborne command post missions from 1984 to 1989 for United States Central Command.[2][28] These missions included deployed missions flown in the Middle East.[29] In September 1985 the 912th Air Refueling Squadron was consolidated with the 412th Bombardment Squadron.[2]

Starting in 1986 the squadron began to replace the KC-135A aircraft it had been flying for 25 years with re-engined KC-135Rs.[28] The 912th supported Operation Just Cause, the United States incursion into Panama to replace Manuel Noriega's government from 18 to 21 December 1989. It participated in combat in Southwest Asia from August 1990 until March 1991, where its crews and tankers operated primarily as part of the 1701st Air Refueling Wing, Provisional.[2][30]

Air Mobility Command

With the inactivation of SAC in June 1992, most of its air refueling assets, including the 912th, were transferred to Air Mobility Command. In 1994 the 912th moved without personnel or equipment to Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota as Robins prepared to replace its refueling wing with a J-STARS unit[31] At Grand Forks it was reassigned to the 319th Operations Group as the third tanker squadron of the 319th Air Refueling Wing, which was being transformed into a "super tanker wing."[32]

With the 319th the squadron deployed KC-135Rs and crews to support tanker activities in Operation Deny Flight, the United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina; Operation Uphold Democracy, the United Nations action to remove the military junta and restore the elected president of Haiti; and Operation Constant Vigil from Howard Air Force Base in Panama. In 1995 the squadron deployed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to support Operation Southern Watch the Southwest Asia Task Force operation to monitor and control airspace in southern Iraq. From June through August 2000 the squadron moved its operations to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida while the runways at Grand Forks were being repaired.[33]

After the 11 September 2001 attacks, the 912th contributed personnel and aircraft to the 319th Air Expeditionary Group in support of homeland defense.[2]

The squadron was reduced to cadre status on 20 March 2009 pursuant to Base Realignment and Closure 2005 action which directed the transition of Grand Forks AFB from an air refueling mission to an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft mission with the RQ-4 Global Hawk.[34]

An advance party arrived at March Air Reserve Base, California in October 2010,[2][35] and began to organize the squadron once again. However, it was not until December that the ceremony to mark the 912th's new status as an active associate organization, an active duty Regular Air Force flying unit operating the same aircraft as the 336th Air Refueling Squadron and operationally controlled by the 452d Air Mobility Wing, was celebrated. The 912th is under the administrative control of the active duty 92d Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.[1]

Lineage

412th Bombardment Squadron

  • Constituted as the 22d Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Redesignated 412th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 April 1942
  • Activated on 15 June 1942
Redesignated 412th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
  • Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Redesignated 412th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 9 July 1947
  • Activated in the Reserve on 16 July 1947
  • Inactivated on 27 June 1949
  • Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 912th Air Refueling Squadron as the 912th Air Refueling Squadron[36]

912th Air Refueling Squadron

  • Constituted as the 912th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 3 August 1961 and activated (not organized)
  • Organized on 1 December 1961
  • Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 412th Bombardment Squadron
Redesignated 912th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 September 1991[36]

Assignments
  • 95th Bombardment Group, 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945
  • 95th Bombardment Group, 16 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • Strategic Air Command, 3 August 1961 (not organized)
  • 4137th Strategic Wing, 1 December 1961
  • 465th Bombardment Wing, 1 February 1963
  • 19th Bombardment Wing (later 19th Air Refueling) Wing]], 25 July 1968
  • 19th Operations Group, 1 September 1991
  • 319th Operations Group, 1 April 1994
  • 92d Operations Group, 1 October 2010 – Present[36]

Stations

Aircraft
  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
  • Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1962 – present
  • Boeing EC-135, 1984–1989[36]

Awards and campaigns
Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Distinguished Unit Citation, Regensburg, Germany17 August 1943412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Distinguished Unit Citation, Münster, Germany10 October 1943412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Distinguished Unit Citation, Berlin, Germany4 March 1944412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1 December] 1961-31 March 1962912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1976 – 30 June 1978912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1982 – 30 June 1984912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1984 – 30 June 1986912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 October 1993 – 30 June 1995912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1995 – 30 June 1997912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2000 – 30 June 2002912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2002 – 30 June 2004912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2004 – 30 June 2005912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2005 – 30 June 2006912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 2007 – 20 March 2009912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 August 2011 – 31 August 2012912th Air Refueling Squadron[38]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 September 2012 – 31 August 2013912th Air Refueling Squadron[38]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Air Offensive, Europe11 May 1943 – 5 June 1944412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Central Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Air Combat, EAME Theater11 May 1943 – 11 May 1945412th Bombardment Squadron[7]
Defense of Saudi Arabia2 August 1990 – 16 January 1991912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait17 January 1991 – 11 April 1991912th Air Refueling Squadron[2]
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See also

References

Notes
  1. Stannard, SRA Natasha (15 December 2010). "912th Air Refueling Squadron reactivates [sic]". 452d Air Mobility Wing public affairs office. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  2. Robertson, Patsy (26 April 2011). "Factsheet 912 Air Refueling Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  3. "95th Bomb Group, Horham: Squadrons". 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association. 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. Watkins, pp. 42–43
  5. After December 1944, squadrons of the 95th Bombardment Group no longer displayed their fuselage codes. Watkins, p. 42
  6. Freeman, p. 245
  7. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 504
  8. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 163–165
  9. Freeman, p. 47
  10. Freeman, p. 50
  11. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 203–204
  12. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 277–278
  13. Freeman, p. 77
  14. Freeman, p. 113
  15. Freeman, pp. 175–176
  16. Freeman, p. 174
  17. Freeman, p. 230
  18. "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  19. "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  20. "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.
  21. Ravenstein, Guide to Air Force Lineage, p. 12
  22. Ravenstein, Combat Wings, pp. 260–261
  23. "Abstract, History 465 Bombardment Wing Oct–Dec 1967". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  24. Mueller, p. 255
  25. Ravenstein, pp. 36–38
  26. "Abstract (Unclassified), Volume 1, History 19 Air Refueling Wing Jan–Jun 1988 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  27. "Abstract (Unclassified), Volume 1, History 19 Air Refueling Wing Jan–Mar 1985 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  28. "Abstract (Unclassified), Volume 1, History 19 Air Refueling Wing Jul 1991 – Jun 1992 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  29. "Abstract (Unclassified), Volume 1, History 19 Air Refueling Wing Jan–Mar 1987 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  30. "Abstract (Unclassified), History 19 Air Refueling Wing Sep–Oct 1990 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  31. "Abstract, Volume 1, History 19 Air Refueling Wing Calendar Year 1994". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  32. History of Grand Forks Air Force Base and the 319th Air Refueling Wing, p. 15
  33. History of Grand Forks, pp. 20–22
  34. "912th Air Refueling Squadron deactivates [sic]". 319th Air Refueling Wing public affairs office. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014. This article refers to the squadron inactivating; however, it remained at Grand Forks until moving to March ARB in 2010.
  35. "Active Duty Refueling Squadron Joins the March Team". 452d Air Mobility Wing public affairs office. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  36. Lineage, including assignments, stations and aircraft in Robertson, AFHRA Factsheet, except as noted
  37. Station number in Anderson
  38. "Air Force Recognition Programs". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 10 April 2014. (search)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Further reading
  • Andrews, Paul M. (1990). Operational Record of the 95th Bomb Group World War II. Bellevue, WA: 95th Bomb Group (H) Association.
  • Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946–1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6.
  • Dwyer, John P., ed. (1945). The 95th Bombardment Group H, United States Army Air Forces. Cincinnati, OH: A.H. Pugh Printing Co.
  • Hawkins, Dan (1990). B-17s Over Berlin: Personal Stories from the 95th Bomb Group (H). Washington, DC: Brassey's (U.S.).
  • Hawkins, Dan (1987). Courage, Honor, Victory: A First Person History of the 95th Bomb Group (H). Bellevue, WA: 95th Bomb Group (H) Association.
  • 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.
  • Seventy Years of Strategic Air Refueling, 1918–1988: A Chronology. Offutt AFB, NE: Strategic Air Command Office of the Historian. 1990. OCLC 21460930.
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