Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.5 inch-115mm
117th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON
Lineage. Constituted 440 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 26 Jun 1942. Redesignated 440 Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 3 Feb 1945. Inactivated on 4 Jan 1946. Redesignated 117 Bombardment Squadron (Light), and allotted to the PA ANG, on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 20 Dec 1948. Redesignated 117 Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 Jan 1953; 117 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 1 Jul 1955. Inactivated on 3 Jan 1957. Allocated to Kansas Air National Guard on 3 Jan 1957. 117 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and activated on 23 Feb 1957. Redesignated: 117 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 Apr 1958; 117 Bombardment Squadron (Tactical) on 12 June 1972; 117 Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron on 6 Apr 1974; 117 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Apr 1978-.
Assignments. 319 Bombardment Group, 26 Jun 1942; VII Bomber Command, 18 Dec 1945-4 Jan 1946. PA ANG, 24 May 1946-3 Jan 1957. 137 Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 23 Feb 1957; 127 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing , 10 Apr 1958. 190 Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 15 Oct 1962; 190 Bombardment Group (Tactical), 12 Jun 1972; 190 Defense Systems Evaluation Group, 6 Apr 1974; 190 Air Refueling Group, 1 Apr 1978; 190 Air Refueling Group, 8 Jun 1978; 190 Air Refueling Group, 15 Mar 1992; 190 Air Refueling Wing, 11 Oct 1995-.
Stations. Barksdale Field, LA, 26 Jun 1942; Harding Field, LA, 8-27 Aug 1942; Shipdham, England, 12 Sep 1942; Horsham St Faith, England, c. 4-21 Oct 1942; Saint-Leu, Algeria, c. 10 Nov 1942; Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria, 18 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, 21 Nov 1942; Telergma, Algeria, 18 Dec 1942; Oujda, French Morocco, 3 Mar 1943; Rabat-Salé, French Morocco, 25 Apr 1943; Sedrata, Algeria, 1 Jun 1943; Djedeida, Tunisia, 26 Jun 1943; Decimomannu, Sardinia, 1 Nov 1943; Serragia, Corsica, c. 21 Sep 1944-c. 9 Jan 1945; Bradley Field, CT, 25 Jan 1945; Columbia AAB, SC, c. 28 Feb-27 Apr 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, 2 Jul 1945; Machinato, Okinawa, 21 Jul-8 Dec 1945; Fort Lawton, WA, 2-4 Jan 1946. Philadelphia MAP, PA, 20 Dec 1948-1 Apr 1951, 1 Jan 1953-Jan 1957; Langley AFB, VA, 1 Apr 1951-1 Jan 1953; NAS Hutchinson, KS, 23 Feb 1957; Forbes AFB (later Forbes ANGB), KS, 11 Aug 1967-.
Aircraft. B-26, 1942-1944; B-25, 1944-1945; A-26, 1945-1946. B-26, 1948-1953; F-80C, 1953-1957, 1957-1958; RB-57A/B, 1958-1972; RB-57G, 1972-1973; RB-57B/E, 1973-1978; KC-135A, 1978-1984; KC-135E, 1984-2006; KC-135R, 2006-.
Operations. Ground echelon in assault landing at Arzeu, Algeria, 8 Nov 1942. Combat in MTO, c.19 Jan-c. 13 Feb 1943; withdrawn for reorganization and re-equipment, 27 Feb-31 May 1943; combat in MTO, c. 6 Jun 1943-30 Dec 1944; returned to the US for reorganization and re-equipment, 25 JAN-27 Apr 1945; combat in Western Pacific, 17 Jul-12 Aug 1945. Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up on 1 Apr 1951. Air Defense of Midwestern US, 1957-1958. Bomb damage survey and photo reconnaissance, 1958-1972. Night bombardment force, armed with the only B-57Gs in the world. As a Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, COLLEGE DROP-OUT, a test of Nite Hawks radar and computers. SAGA, which was a test of a Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons. VIGILANT OVERVIEW was a multi-region test of Air Defense Command. MUTE was an evaluation of a single Air Defense Region and BRAVE SERIES exercises were non-evaluation practice exercises. Global Aerial Refueling, 1978-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Algeria-French Morocco, with Arrowhead: Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Japan, Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Rome, Italy, 2 Mar 1944; Florence, Italy, 11 Mar 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr, May and Jun 1944.