921st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

Last updated

921st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
Air Mobility Command.svg
911 Air Refueling Squadron Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker 58-0029.jpg
KC-135A in SAC markings of the 1960s
Active1942–1946; 1947–1949; 1960; unknown −2011
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Air refueling
Part of Air Mobility Command
Engagements China Burma India Theater
Insignia
21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem [lower-alpha 1] [1] 21stphotoreconsquadron-emblem.jpg

The 921st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. Its last known active period ended on 12 November 2011 at Moron Air Base, Spain.

Contents

The squadron was first activated in 1942 as the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron in 1942 at Peterson Field, Colorado. It served in combat in the China Burma India Theater as part of the Fourteenth Air Force. After the war, the squadron served as the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron with the Air Force Reserve at Stewart Air Force Base, New York from 1947 until 1949, but does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped.

The 921st Air Refueling Squadron was activated in 1960 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma to serve as an air refueling squadron for dispersed Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses. However, the decision to activate the squadron was reversed shortly thereafter and its personnel and equipment were returned to the squadron that had provided its cadre.

In September 1985, the 921st Air Refueling Squadron and the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron were consolidated into a single unit. The squadron was subsequently converted to provisional status and designated the 921st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.

History

World War II

F-5 Lightning 28th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron - F-5 Lightning.jpg
F-5 Lightning
F-6 Mustang in post-war storage North American RF-6C-10-NT (6900638189).jpg
F-6 Mustang in post-war storage

The squadron was first activated as the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron in September 1942 at Peterson Field, Colorado, but apparently was not fully manned until December. [2] It trained there until April 1943, when the squadron was reassigned from the 5th Photographic Group and began its overseas movement. [1] The squadron arrived in India in June and began deploying flights to China the following month. [1] It served as an umbrella organization for Fourteenth Air Force reconnaissance operations in China. The squadron deployed detached flights of reconnaissance aircraft, (mostly specially equipped Lockheed F-5 Lightnings] and North American F-4 and F-6 Mustangs), which flew combat reconnaissance missions over Japanese-held territory from numerous forward airstrips. Squadron detachments flew missions over India, Burma, Thailand, French Indochina, Hainan Island, Formosa, Shanghai, China, the Philippines, Japan and Korea. [2] [3] Flight A of the squadron also performed mapping missions over Thailand and Burma. [4] The squadron redeployed from China at the end of 1945 and was inactivated at Fort Lawton, Washington, at the beginning of 1946. [1]

Air Force reserve

The squadron was redesignated the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron and reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) on 1 October 1947 at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. [1] In 1948 Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC. [5] At Stewart, the squadron trained under ConAC's 2232d Air Force Reserve Training Center, but does not appear to have been fully equipped. [6] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget also required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force, [7] and the 21st was inactivated in June 1949 and not replaced as reserve flying operations at Stewart ceased. [1]

Strategic Air Command

The 921st Air Refueling Squadron was one of two air refueling squadrons activated in 1960 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma [8] for movement to other bases to provide Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker support to dispersed Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Cadre and aircraft for the squadron was drawn from the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, which was inactivated [9] The decision to organize squadrons at Altus for movement elsewhere was reversed shortly after the 921st was organized, and the squadron was inactivated and its personnel and aircraft were returned to the 96th, which was reactivated. [9] [10]

The 921st Air Refueling Squadron and the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron were consolidated in September 1985. [11] The consolidated squadron was redesignated the 921st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and converted to provisional status. [12]

Expeditionary operations

In 2011, the 921st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron was deployed in support of Operation Unified Protector, serving at Moron Air Base, Spain, until November 2011. [13] The squadron was NATO's largest tanker squadron composed of active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command KC-135 and KC-10 aircrews. The squadron executed over 1,000 combat missions to enforce the United Nations No Fly Zone over Libya. [14]

The AMC wing at Moron was the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing and it appears that the 921 EARS served under this wing. James B. Dermer served as squadron commander for a period in 2011 at Moron, [15] who was then succeeded by Lt. Col. Phil Heseltine who was squadron commander from August to October 2011. [14]

Lineage

21st Reconnaissance Squadron

Activated on 2 September 1942
Redesignated 21st Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 February 1943
Redesignated 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 November 1943
Inactivated on 6 January 1946
Activated on 1 October 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949 [16]

921st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron

Activated on 1 October 1960
Inactivated on 15 December 1960
Activated by August 2011
Inactivated on 12 November 2011 [13]

Assignments

Unknown August 2011 – 12 November 2011

Stations

Flights at Kunming Airport, China, 12 July 1943 – 22 August 1943 and Kweilin Airfield, China, 12 July 1943 – 12 September 1944)
Flights at Suichwan Airfield, China, 26 October 1943 – 26 June 1944 and ca. 12 November 1944 – 22 January 1945, Liangshan Airfield, China, April 1944 – 18 October 1944, Kanchow Airfield, China, August 1944 – 20 November 1944, Liuchow Airfield, China,, 10 September 1944 – 6 November 1944, Hanchung Airfield, China, 18 October 1944 – 13 August 1945, Luliang Airfield, China, ca. 26 November 1944 – 13 May 1945, Hsian Airfield, China, 5 February 1945 – ca. 5 October 1945, Laifeng Airfield, China, 7 May 1945 – 16 August 1945, Shwangliu Airfield, China, 14 May 1945, Ankang Airfield, China, 25 June 1945 – ca. 5 October 1945, and Chihkiang Airfield, China, 16 August 2045 – ca. 15 October 1945

Aircraft

  • North American F-4 (P-51 Mustang), 1943–1945
  • Lockheed F-5 (P-38 Lighting), 1943–1945
  • North American F-6 (P-51 Mustang), 1943–1945
  • Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1943–1944
  • North American B-25 Mitchell, 1945
  • Boeing KC-135A Stratoranker, 1960

Campaigns

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer APC.PNG Central Pacific27 June 1943 – 6 December 194321st Photographic Squadron (later 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron) [1]
Streamer APC.PNG India-Burma27 June 1943 – 28 January 194521st Photographic Squadron (later 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron) [1]
Streamer APC.PNG China Defensive27 June 1943 – 4 May 194521st Photographic Squadron (later 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron) [1]
Streamer APC.PNG New Guinea27 June 1943 – 31 December 194421st Photographic Squadron (later 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron) [1]
Streamer APC.PNG Air Offensive, Japan27 June 1943 – 2 September 194521st Photographic Squadron (later 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron) [1]
Streamer APC.PNG Western Pacific17 April 1944 – 2 September 194521st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron [1]
Streamer APC.PNG Central Burma29 January 1945 – 15 July 194521st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron [1]
Streamer APC.PNG China Offensive5 May 1945 – 2 September 194521st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">26th Information Operations Wing</span> Military unit

The 26th Information Operations Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with United States Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where it was inactivated on 5 July 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Unit of the US Air Force, part of the 60th Operations Group

The 9th Air Refueling Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California, where it operates the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender as part of the 60th Operations Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">56th Air Refueling Squadron</span> US Air Force unit part of Air Education and Training Command

The 56th Air Refueling Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 97th Operations Group at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aircraft, conducting initial and advanced aircrew training for air refueling operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">126th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 126th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard stationed at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. The 126th is equipped with the KC-135R Stratotanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron</span> Military unit

The 19th Electronic Warfare Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, stationed in Bann, Germany as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe Warrior Preparation Center. It was first activated during World War II as the 19th Photographic Mapping Squadron. During the war, the squadron remained in the United States and mapped areas of North America. However, starting in 1944, the air echelon of the squadron deployed to North Africa to map that area. After V-E Day, the squadron moved to England and mapped large areas of Europe until October 1945, when it began to stand down for inactivation. It was briefly active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949 as the 19th Reconnaissance Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">96th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 96th Air Refueling Squadron was a unit of PACAF's 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii in partnership with the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron and 154th Maintenance Group of the Hawaii Air National Guard. It was inactivated on 3 September 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">349th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 349th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the US Air Force, part of the 22d Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. It operates the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd Intelligence Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 23d Intelligence Squadron is a military intelligence unit located at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Its first predecessor was organized during World War II as the 23rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. After training in the United States, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, until V-E Day, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and French Croix de Guerre. It inactivated in theater in September 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Intelligence Support Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 10th Intelligence Support Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">11th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 11th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma. It was inactivated on 1 October 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd Electronic Warfare Group</span> Military unit

The 53rd Electronic Warfare Group was a component of the 53rd Wing of the Air Force Warfare Center, Air Combat Command, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">91st Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 91st Operations Group is the operational component of the 91st Missile Wing, assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command Twentieth Air Force. It is stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Troop Carrier Squadron</span> Military unit

The 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active in the reserve with the 65th Troop Carrier Group at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York where it was training with Curtiss C-46 Commandos. It was replaced by another unit, which absorbed its resources on 1 April 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. It has supported combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria from this location.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">26th Intelligence Squadron</span> Military unit

The 26th Intelligence Squadron is an intelligence organization of the United States Air Force, located at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">622d Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 622d Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. The squadron was first established during World War II as the 22d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. It served in the European Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its actions in combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron</span> Military unit

The 21st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. Its last known location was at Souda Bay, Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">918th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 918th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 11th Bombardment Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Tactical Air Support Squadron</span> Military unit

The 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron was a ground attack squadron of the United States Air Force. It was last active at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, prior to being inactivated during December 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 928th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed for contingency operations.

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. Approved 19 April 1944. Description: Over and through a dark red disc, a demisphere in base light gray, marked with lines of latitude and longitude dark gray, encompassed by a pair of gold dividers, all surmounted by a peregrine falcon in flight, grasping a gold aerial camera in the talons.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 111–112
  2. 1 2 "Abstract, History 21 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Dec 1942 – Aug 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  3. "Abstract, History 21 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Jul [sic] 1942 – May 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  4. "Abstract, History 21 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Jan–Apr 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  5. "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  6. See Maurer, pp. 111–112, listing no assigned aircraft for the period 1947–1949.
  7. Knaack, p. 25
  8. 1 2 Mueller, pp. 1–4
  9. 1 2 Robertson, Patsy (3 April 2014). "Factsheet 96 Air Refueling Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  10. "Abstract, History 816 Air Division". Air Force History Index. 1 December 1960. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  12. USAF expeditionary units are, by definition, provisional in nature. "History of U.S. Air Force Organization". Military.com. 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  13. 1 2 Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Report, November 2011
  14. 1 2 "Phil Hesseltine, Student NATO Defense College". LinkedIn. 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  15. 1 2 See "Biography, Colonel James B. Dermer" (PDF). Bedford Chamber of Commerce. 23 March 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2013. (Col. Dermer was squadron commander in 2011).
  16. 1 2 3 Lineage, station, and assignment information prior to 1949 from Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 111–112
  17. 1 2 Department of the Air Force/XPM Letter 303s, 12 June 2002, Subject: Air Mobility Command Expeditionary Units
  18. Ravenstein, pp. 26–27

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Further reading