Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
72nd AIR REFUELING SQUADRON (AFRC)
Lineage. Constituted 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 Jan 1943. Activated on 9 Feb 1943. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1946. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1947. Redesignated 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951. Inactivated on 1 Feb 1953. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Feb 1953. Ordered to Active Service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from Active Duty on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated: 72nd Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1967; 72nd Tactical Air Support Squadron on 25 Jun 1969; 72nd Special Operations Squadron on 1 Mar 1971. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1973. Redesignated 72nd Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 18 May 1977. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jul 1978. Redesignated 72nd Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Feb 1992.
Assignments. 434th Troop Carrier Group, 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946. 434th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Aug 1947-1 Feb 1953. 434th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Feb 1953; 434th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 931st Troop Carrier (later, 931st Tactical Airlift; 931st Tactical Air Support; 931st Special Operations) Group, 11 Feb 1963-1 Oct 1973. 931st Air Refueling Group, 1 Jul 1978; 434th Air Refueling Wing, 1 Jul 1987; 434th Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-.
Stations. Alliance AAFld, NE, 9 Feb 1943; Baer Field, IN, 3-24 Sep 1943; Fulbeck, England, 7 Oct 1943; Welford Park, England, 10 Dec 1943; Fulbeck, England, 10 Jan 1944; Aldermaston, England, 3 Mar 1944-Feb 1945; Mourmelon-le-Grand, France, Feb-Jun 1945; Baer Field, IN, 5 Aug 1945; Alliance AAFld, NE, 15 Sep 1945; George Field, IL, 11 Oct 1945; Greenville AAB, SC, 2 Feb-31 Jul 1946. Baer Field, IN, 1 Aug 1947; Atterbury AFB, IN, 1 Jul 1949; Lawson AFB, GA, 23 Jan 1952-1 Feb 1953. Atterbury (later, Bakalar) AFB, IN, 1 Feb 1953; Grissom AFB, IN 15 Jan 1970-1 Oct 1973. Grissom AFB (later, ARB), IN, 1 Jul 1978-.
Aircraft. C-47, 1943-1946; Horsa gliders, 1944-1945; CG-4 gliders, 1944-1945; C-46, 1945-1946. Unkn, 1947-1948; T-7, 1949-1951; T-11, 1949-1952; C-47, 1949; C-46, 1949-1953. T-6, 1953; T-11, 1953; C-45, 1953-1957; C-46, 1953-1957; C-119, 1957-1969; O-2, 1969-1971; U-3, 1969-1971; A-37, 1971-1973. KC-135, 1978-.
Operations. Airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany; relief of Bastogne; aerial transportation of passengers and cargo in ETO during World War II. Except for a brief period of inactivation, served in the Reserve since 1947. Trained for and performed troop carrier and transport duties, 1947-1969. Called to active duty during the Korean War and the Cuban Crisis. Trained in forward air control duties, 1969-1971 and special operations, 1971-1973. Performed air refueling missions worldwide since 1973. Personnel and aircraft deployed to Saudia Arabia during the Gulf War, performing air refueling duties for allied forces, Aug 1990-Mar 1991 and periodically deployed since late 1993 to Italy and other western European locations in support of NATO operations over Bosnia.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudia Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1978-31 Dec 1979; 1 May 1985-31 Aug 1986; 1 Sep 1988-31 Aug 1990; 1 Jun 1992-31 Aug 1993; 1 Sep 1994-31 Aug 1996. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 6-7 Jun 1944; 20-28 Aug 1944. French Fourragere. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb-14 Jun 1968.
Emblem. Approved on 26 Feb 1960; modified on 1 Feb 1989.