Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
173rd AIR REFUELING SQUADRON
Lineage. Constituted 401st Fighter Squadron on 25 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jul 1943. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated 173d Fighter Squadron, and allotted to NE ANG, on 24 May 1946. 173rd Fighter Squadron (SE) extended federal recognition on 26 Jul 1946. Redesignated: 173rd Fighter Squadron (Jet) in Spring 1948; 173rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 1 Jan 1953; 173rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in Fall 1953; 173rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 May 1964; 173rd Reconnaissance Squadron on 15 Mar 1992; 173rd Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Oct 1995-.
Assignments. 370th Fighter Group, 1 Jul 1943-7 Nov 1945. 132nd Fighter Group, 26 Jul 1946; 132nd Fighter-Bomber Group on 1 Jan 1953; 132nd Fighter-Interceptor Group, Fall 1953; 155th Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1 Jul 1960; 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 May 1964; 155th Reconnaissance Group, 15 Mar 1992; 155th Air Refueling Wing, 1 Oct 1995-.
Stations. Westover Field, MA, 1 Jul 1943; Suffolk AAFld, NY, c. 20 Oct 1943; Groton AAFld, CT, 5 Nov 1943; Bradley Field, CT, 5-20 Jan 1944; Aldermaston, England, 12 Feb 1944; Andover, England, 29 Feb-21 Jul 1944; Cardonville, France, c. 31 Jul 1944; La Vielle, France, 15 Aug 1944; Lonray, France, 6 Sep 1944; Roye/Amy, France, 12 Sep 1944; Florennes/Juxaine, Belgium, 27 Sep 1944; Zwartberg, Belgium, 27 Jan 1945; Gutersloh, Germany, 20 Apr 1945; Sandhofen, Germany, 27 Jun 1945; Fritzlar, Germany, 6 Aug-Sep 1945; Camp Myles Standish, MA, c. 6-7 Nov 1945. Lincoln MAP (later, ANGB), NE, 26 Jul 1946-. (operated from: Bangor AFB, ME, Spring, 1951; Alexandria AFB, LA, Nov 1951-1 Jan 1953)
Aircraft. P-47, 1943-1944; P-38, 1944-1945; P-51, 1945. F-51D, 1946-1948, 1951-1953; F-80C, 1948-1951, 1953-1957; F-86D, 1957-1959; F-86L, 1959-1964; RF-84F, 1964-1972; RF-4C, 1972-1993; KC-135R, 1993-.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 1 May 1944-25 Apr 1945. Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up, 1 Apr 1951-1 Jan 1953. Air defense of Midwestern US, 1953-1964. Tactical reconnaissance mission, 1964-1993. Worldwide aerial refueling, 1995-. Participated in Operation Allied Force, Serbia/Kosovo, 1999.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhine-land; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Hurtgen Forest, Germany, 2 Dec 1944. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944; 16 Dec 1944-25 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere.