126th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON

Lineage. Designated 126^th Observation Squadron and allotted to NG on 30 Jul 1940. Activated on 12 Nov 1940. Ordered to active service on 2 Jun 1941. Redesignated: 126^th Observation Squadron (Light) on 13 Jan 1942; 126^th Observation Squadron on 4 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 18 Oct 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1943. Redesignated: 126^th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 Apr 1943. 34^th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 22 Nov 1945. Redesignated: 126^th Fighter Squadron, and allotted to Wisconsin ANG, on 24 May 1946. 126^th Fighter Squadron extended federal recognition on 25 Jun 1947. Redesignated: 126^th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Nov 1950; 126^th Air Refueling Squadron in Aug 1961-present.

Assignments. Wisconsin National Guard, 12 Nov 1940; II Army Corps, 2 Jun 1941; 59^th Observation Group, 1 Sep 1941-18 Oct 1942. 59^th Observation (later Reconnaissance) Group, 1 Mar 1943; III Reconnaissance Command, 11 Aug 1943; 8^th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 9 Oct 1943; III Reconnaissance Command, 15 Jan 1944; 10^th Photographic Group, 31 Mar 1944; XII Tactical Air Command, 3 Oct 1944 (attached to Provisional Reconnaissance Group, 16 Oct 1944); 69^th Tactical Reconnaissance (later Reconnaissance) Group, 20 Apr 1945; 10^th Reconnaissance Group, 11 Jul-22 Nov 1945. 128^th Fighter Group, 29 Jun 1948; 128^th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Nov 1950; 128th Air Refueling Group, Aug 1961-15 Mar 1992; 128^th Air Refueling Wing, 16 Oct 1995-present.

Stations. Milwaukee, WI, 12 Nov 1940; Fort Dix, NJ, 10 Jun 1941; Hyannis Airport, MA, 27 Aug 1941; Birmingham, AL, 18 Oct 1942. Ft Myers, FL, 1 Mar 1943; Thomasville AAFld, GA, 12 Apr 1943; Peterson Field, CO, 29 Aug 1943; Will Rogers Field, OK, 16 Oct 1943-12 Mar 1944; Chalgrove, England, 29 Mar 1944; Rennes, France, 11 Aug 1944; Chateaudun, France, 25 Aug 1944;  St-Dizier, France, 12 Sep 1944; Dijon Airfield, France, 6 Oct 1944; Azelot, France, 3 Nov 1944; Haguenau, France, 3 Apr 1945; Fürth, Germany, 15 Ju1-22 Nov 1945. General Mitchell Field, WI, 25 Jun 1947-present. Operated from Truax Field, WI, Mar 1951-31 Oct 1952.

Aircraft. In addition to O-47, 1940-1942, O-46, 1941-1942, and O-52, 1942, included O-49 and O-59 during period 1941-1942. In addition to P-38/F-5, 1943-1945, included P-38/F-4, 1943-1944, F-10, 1944 and A-20, 1945. F-51D, 1947-1949, 1952-1953; F-80A, 1949-1952; F-86A, 1953-1954; F-89C, 1954-1960; F-89J, 1960-1961; KC-97G, 1962; KC-97F, 1962-1965; KC-97L, 1965-1977; KC-135A, 1977-1983; KC-135E, 1983-1992; KC-135R, 1991-present.

Operations. Antisubmarine patrols, Dec 1941-Oct 1942. Combat in ETO, 19 Apr 1944-7 May 1945. Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up, 1 Feb 1951-31 Oct 1952. Participated in Operation Creek Party at Rheinmain Air Force Base, Germany from 2 Jun 1967-Dec 1976. Participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Dec 1990-May 1991.

Service Streamers. None

Campaigns. Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: France [19]-20 May 1944; Germany, 22-23 Feb 1945.

Emblem. Approved 23 Apr 1954.