Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
2d AIR REFUELING SQUADRON (AMC)
Lineage. Organized as 1 Company, 2 Aero Squadron, on 1 Dec 1915. Redesignated as: 2 Aero Squadron on 20 Jul 1917; Squadron A, Kelly Field, TX, on 23 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 18 Nov 1918. Reconstituted, and consolidated (8 Apr 1924) with 2 Observation Squadron, which was organized as 2 Aero Squadron (Observation) on 5 Jun 1919. Redesignated as: 2 Squadron on 14 Mar 1921; 2 Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 2 Observation Squadron (Medium) on 26 Feb 1942. Inactivated on 2 Apr 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 2 Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 27 Oct 1948. Activated on 1 Jan 1949. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Apr 1963. Redesignated as 2 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 19 Sep 1985. Activated on 3 Jan 1989. Redesignated as 2 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.
Assignments. Unkn, 1 Dec 1915-Feb 1916; Philippine Department, Feb 1916-Oct 1917; unkn, Oct 1917-18 Nov 1918. Unkn, 5 Jun-24 Dec 1919; Philippine Department, 24 Dec 1919; 1 Observation (later, 4 Observation; 4 Composite) Group, 10 Mar 1920; Far East (later, Fifth) Air Force, 28 Oct 1941-2 Apr 1946. 2 Bombardment Group, 1 Jan 1949 (attached to 2 Bombardment Wing, 10 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952); 2 Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1963. 2 Bombardment Wing, 3 Jan 1989; 2 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991; 458 Operations Group, 1 Jun 1992; 305 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1995-.
Stations. San Diego, CA, 1 Dec 1915-2 Jan 1916; Fort McKinley, Luzon, 3 Feb 1916; Fort Mills, Corregidor, 14 Feb 1916-c. 15 Oct 1917; Kelly Field, TX, Nov 1917-18 Nov 1918. Rockwell Field, CA, 5 Jun-29 Nov 1919; Fort Mills, Corregidor, 24 Dec 1919; Kindley Field, Corregidor, 15 Oct 1920; Nichols Field, Luzon, Jun 1929; Clark Field, Luzon, c. 1 Nov 1940; Nichols Field, Luzon, c. Nov-Dec 1941. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1 Jan 1949; Chatham AFB, GA, 16 Sep 1950; Hunter Field (later, AFB), GA, 28 Sep 1950-1 Apr 1963 (deployed at Lakenheath RAF Station, England, 4 May-30 Aug 1951 and 4 Sep-3 Dec 1952; Benguerir AB, French Morocco, 12 Aug-20 Sep 1954; and Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 6 Jul-24 Aug 1956). Barksdale AFB, LA, 3 Jan 1989; McGuire AFB, NJ, 1 Oct 1994-.
Aircraft. Martin S-Hydro, 1916-1917; apparently JN-4, 1917-1918. HS2L, N-9, HS1L, S-1, and apparently DH-4, 1919-1925; DH-4, O-2, O-5, OA-1, S-1, and COA-1, 1925-1931; O-19, C-6, OA-3, 1931-1938; O-46, and apparently OA-4 and OA-9, 1938-1941; O-52, 1941. Unkn, 1949; KB-29, 1950-1953; KC-97, 1953-1963. KC-10, 1989-.
Operations. The 1 Company, 2 Aero Squadron, moved to the Philippine Islands in Jan and Feb 1916 but, after redesignation to the 2 Aero Squadron, returned to the United States in Oct and Nov 1917. Redesignated as Squadron A, Kelly Field, Texas, it evidently served as a flying training unit from late 1917 to 18 Nov 1918. In Oct 1941, the squadron returned to the Philippines and saw combat in Dec 1941, when Japanese attacks destroyed its aircraft. The surviving personnel were absorbed by other units. The Army Air Force maintained the unit as an active unit without personnel from Dec 1941 until 2 Apr 1946 when it was inactivated. From 1949 to 1963 and 1989 to the present, the squadron conducted worldwide aerial refueling operations in support of the Strategic Air Command and other Air Force major commands and US military services. The squadron deployed to bases in England and Morocco in the 1950s and supported aerial refueling of aircraft in Southwest Asia, Aug 1990-Apr 1991. Deployed personnel and tankers to support combat operations in Afghanistan (2001-) and Iraq (2003-).
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Philippine Islands. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941-[Dec 1941]; Philippine Islands, 8-22 Dec 1941. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1956-1 Apr 1957; [3 Jan 1989]-30 Jun 1989; 1 Apr 1992-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2002-30 June 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 June 2006; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).
Emblem. Approved on 7 Mar 1989; modified on 13 Apr 1995.