79th Air Refueling Squadron


The 79th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 349th Operations Group, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California.

History

World War II

79 ARS was constituted on March 23, 1943, and activated on April 1, 1943, by I Troop Carrier Command. From April 1, 1943 to November 15, 1945, 79 ARS was assigned to 436 Troop Carrier Group. Deployed to England, 79 ARS was assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in early January 1944, during the Allied buildup prior to the invasion of France.
The squadron participated in the D-Day operation, dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops near Cherbourg Naval Base, then carried out re-supply and glider delivery missions the following day.
The squadron's aircraft flew supplies into Normandy as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties to England. On 17 July the air echelon flew to Grosseto airbase in Italy to prepare for operations connected with the invasion of southern France returning to England on 24 August.
Squadron moved to France in July 1944 and for the balance of the Northern France Campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany was engaged in combat resupply of ground forces, operating from Advanced Landing Grounds in northern France. Delivered supplies to rough Resupply and Evacuation airfields near the front lines, returning combat casualties to field hospitals in rear areas. Dropped airborne forces during Operation Market-Garden in September 1944 into the Netherlands; later participated in the airborne invasion of Germany in March 1945. After V-E Day, the squadron evacuated prisoners of war.
Returned to the United States in August 1945, became a transport squadron for Continental Air Command, Inactivated on 15 November 1945.

Reserve operations and Korean War mobilization

Operated in the reserve, 1948–1951 with C-47s, activated during the Korean War. Its personnel and aircraft assigned as fillers for active-duty units, inactivated a few days later as an administrative unit.

Reserve airlift operations

It performed worldwide airlift operations from, 1966–1971, including missions to Southeast Asia.

Early warning for the southern United States

The squadron also flew airborne early warning and control missions in the air defense of the United States, using Lockheed EC-121 Warning Stars from its base at Homestead AFB Florida, 1971–1978.

Reserve associate air refueling

Since 1982 it has trained for and flown worldwide air refueling and strategic airlift missions, including contingency and humanitarian relief operations. Supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle after the 11 September 2001 attack on the U. S.

Campaigns and decorations

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 79th Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 March 1943
  • Activated in the Reserve on 11 April 1948
  • Activated in the Reserve on 18 May 1955
  • Redesignated 79th Military Airlift Squadron and activated in the Reserve on 14 March 1966
  • Redesignated 79th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 21 June 1982

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft