Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-98mm
96th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON (PACAF)
Lineage. Constituted as 6 Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated as: 396 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Apr 1942; 396 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, c. 9 May 1943. Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 96 Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 6 Nov 1953. Activated on 18 Nov 1953. Redesignated as 96 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 8 Mar 1958. Discontinued on 1 Oct 1960. Organized on 15 Dec 1960. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jun 1965. Redesignated as 96 Air Refueling Squadron, and activated, on 1 Apr 1994. Inactivated on 31 Mar 2005. Activated on 23 Jul 2010.
Assignments. 41 Bombardment Group, attached 15 Jan 1941, assigned 25 Feb 1942-27 Jan 1946. 96 Bombardment Wing, 18 Nov 1953 (attached to Northeast Air Command, 5 Oct-20 Nov 1954, 1 Aug-14 Sep 1955, 18-31 Jan 1956; Alaskan Air Command and 303 Bomb Wing [split deployment], 25 Jun-9 Oct 1956; 98 Air Base Group, 10 Jan-7 Apr 1957); 11 Bombardment Wing, 3 Dec 1957-1 Oct 1960. 11 Bombardment (later, 11 Strategic Aerospace) Wing, 15 Dec 1960-25 Jun 1965. 453 Operations Group, 1 Apr 1994; 92 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1994-31 Mar 2005. 15 Operations Group, 23 Jul 2010-.
Stations. March Field, CA, 15 Jan 1941; Tucson, AZ, 16 May 1941; Muroc, CA, 8 Dec 1941; Sacramento, CA, c. 11 Jan 1942; (operated from Alameda, CA, Apr-10 May 1942; a detachment of the air echelon operated from Cherry Point, NC, Jun-Aug 1942); Hammer Field, CA, 24 Aug 1942 (stationed temporarily at Alameda, CA, 1 Dec 1942-Feb 1943; Sacramento, CA, 17 Feb-29 Sep 1943); Hickam Field, TH, 20 Oct 1943; Tarawa, 24 Dec 1943; Makin, 20 Apr 1944; Wheeler Field, TH, 14 Oct 1944-20 May 1945; Okinawa, 7 Jun 1945; Manila, Luzon, Dec 1945-27 Jan 1946; Altus AFB, OK, 18 Nov 1953-1 Oct 1960 (deployed at Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, 5 Oct-20 Nov 1954; Thule AFB, Greenland, 1 Aug-14 Sep 1955 and 18-31 Jan 1956; Elmendorf AFB, AK, and Andersen AFB, Guam [split deployment], 25 Jun-9 Oct 1956). Altus AFB, OK, 15 Dec 1960-25 Jun 1965. Fairchild AFB, WA, 1 Apr 1994-31 Mar 2005. Hickam AFB, HI, 23 Jul 2010-.
Aircraft. PT-17, 1941; B-18, 1941-1942; LB-30, 1941-1942; A-29, 1941-1942; B-25, 1942-1945. KC-97, 1954-1958; KC-135, 1958-1960. KC-135, 1960-1965. KC-135, 1994-2005.
Operations. Antisubmarine patrols, Dec 1941-Aug 1942; Dec 1942-Feb 1943. Combat in Central Pacific, 19 Jan-23 Sep 1944, and Western Pacific, 9 Jul-12 Aug 1945. Air refueling to meet global commitments, Jul 1954-Oct 1960, Dec 1960-Jun 1965 and Apr 1994-Mar 2005.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 4 Apr-14 Jul 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 6 Aug 1954-15 Jul 1957; 27 Oct 1958-16 Sep 1960; 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1997; 1 Jan 1998-30 Jun 1999; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jun 2003-31 Mar 2005.
Emblem. Approved on 19 Jun 1956; modified on 9 Dec 1994.