History 912th Air Refueling Squadron

1 history

1.1 world war ii

1.1.1 training in united states
1.1.2 combat eighth air force


1.2 air force reserve
1.3 strategic air command
1.4 air mobility command

history
world war ii

unofficial 412th bombardment squadron emblem


training in united states

the squadron constituted in 1942 22d reconnaissance squadron. however, renamed 412th bombardment squadron before activating @ barksdale field, louisiana in june 1 of 4 original squadrons of 95th bombardment group. squadron began training in august @ geiger field, washington, equipped boeing b-17 flying fortresses. unit trained combat operations until moving overseas starting in march.

the air echelon processed @ kearney army air field, nebraska , flew forts via southern route, flying florida, trinidad, northern coast of brazil, dakar, senegal, , marrakesh, morocco raf alconbury in united kingdom. ground echelon moved camp kilmer, sailed on rms queen elizabeth scotland, arriving in may. squadron reunited @ raf framlingham.

combat eighth air force

95th bombardment group b-17 on germany showing square b tail marking

the squadron arrived in england equipped late model b-17f aircraft equipped tokyo tanks , additional fuel cells located outboard in wings gave model additional range. flew first combat mission on 13 may 1943 against airfield near saint-omer, france. next 2 months squadron focused on attacking airfields , v-1 flying bomb launch sites in france.

eighth air force s experience martin b-26 marauders convinced marauders stationed far continent of europe reach selection of targets. determined move them closer target areas, , exchange of bases began. entire 95th group moved raf horham in june, replaced 323d bombardment group, departed previous day. few days later place @ framlingham taken newly arrived 390th bombardment group.

the 412th began strategic bombing operations in july , continued until flying last operation on 20 april 1945. targets included harbors, marshalling yards , other industrial targets along attacks on cities. squadron received first distinguished unit citation (duc) during attack on aircraft factory @ regensburg, germany on 17 august 1943 when maintained defensive formation despite severe attacks enemy interceptor aircraft.

on 10 october, during attack on marshalling yards @ münster, germany, squadron subjected concentrated fighter attacks on approach target , intense flak on objective. despite these obstacles, group s bombs clustered close target. awarded second duc withstanding these attacks bomb objective. 20 25 february 1944 group participated in big week offensive against german aircraft manufacturing industry. few days later, on 4 march, squadron attacked berlin despite adverse weather led other units either abandon operation or attack secondary targets. despite snowstorms , heavy cloud cover, unit struck target while under attack enemy fighters, although cloud cover required group rely on pathfinder 482d bombardment group determine release point. received third duc operation. mission first time unit eighth air force had bombed berlin.

the squadron diverted bombing priority tactical targets during preparation , execution of operation overlord, invasion of normandy in june 1944, attacking communications , coastal defenses. hit enemy troop concentrations facilitate allied breakout @ saint-lô. 412th attacked enemy troop concentrations during battle of bulge december 1944 january 1945 , bombed airfields support operation varsity, airborne assault across rhine in march.

one of unit s more unusual missions flown on 18 september 1944, when led 13th combat bombardment wing warsaw drop ammunition, food , medical supplies polish resistance forces fighting against german occupation forces. squadron had participated in shuttle missions soviet union.

the unit flew last mission on 20 april 1945, when attacked marshalling yards near oranienburg. in first week of may, airdropped food dutch citizens in operation chow hound. v-e day until departing theater in june, transported liberated prisoners of war , displaced persons. air echelon flew planes bradley field, connecticut, while ground echelon sailed once more on queen elizabeth. squadron reunited @ sioux falls army airfield, south dakota, inactivated on 28 august 1945.

air force reserve

the 412th bombardment squadron reactivated reserve unit under air defense command (adc) @ knoxville municipal airport, tennessee in july 1947 boeing b-29 superfortress unit. not clear whether or not squadron staffed or equipped. in 1948 continental air command assumed responsibility managing reserve units adc. 412th inactivated when continental air command reorganized reserve units under wing base organization system in june 1949 , ended reserve flying operations @ knoxville.

strategic air command

the 912th air refueling squadron activated in december 1961 @ robins air force base, georgia, assigned 4137th strategic wing , equipped boeing kc-135 stratotankers. 4137th wing established sac in program disperse boeing b-52 stratofortress bombers on larger number of bases, making more difficult soviet union knock out entire fleet surprise first strike. squadron provided air refueling b-52s of 4137th wing. once squadron became combat ready, 1 third of squadron s aircraft maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fueled , ready combat reduce vulnerability soviet missile strike. increased half squadron s aircraft in 1962. 912th continued maintain alert commitment until end of cold war, except periods deployed aircraft support other operations. squadron conducted world wide air refueling missions.

in february 1963, newly activated 465th bombardment wing assumed aircraft, personnel , equipment of discontinued 4137th wing. 4137th major command controlled (majcon) wing, not carry permanent history or lineage, , sac wanted replace permanent unit. 912th reassigned 465th wing. need refueling support of tactical aircraft in southeast asia increased, squadron deployed crews , aircraft support operation young tiger in thailand.

a little on 5 years later, when sac terminated operations @ homestead air force base, florida , transferred base tactical air command, moved 19th bombardment wing on paper robins, took on assets of 465th wing , became 912th s new parent.

the 912th provided crews , planes support alaskan, european , pacific tanker task forces. supported operation urgent fury, restoration of government of grenada on 23 , 24 october 1983. unit flew ec–135 airborne command post missions 1984 1989 united states central command. these missions included deployed missions flown in middle east. in september 1985 912th air refueling squadron consolidated 412th bombardment squadron.

starting in 1986 squadron began replace kc-135a aircraft had been flying 25 years re-engined kc-135rs. 912th supported operation cause, united states incursion panama replace manuel noriega s government 18 21 december 1989. participated in combat in southwest asia august 1990 until march 1991, crews , tankers operated part of 1701st air refueling wing, provisional.

air mobility command

with inactivation of sac in june 1992, of air refueling assets, including 912th, transferred air mobility command. in 1994 912th moved without personnel or equipment grand forks air force base, north dakota robins prepared replace refueling wing j-stars unit @ grand forks reassigned 319th operations group third tanker squadron of 319th air refueling wing, being transformed super tanker wing.

with 319th squadron deployed kc-135rs , crews support tanker activities in operation deny flight, united nations no-fly zone on bosnia , herzegovina; operation uphold democracy, united nations action remove military junta , restore elected president of haiti; , operation constant vigil howard air force base in panama. in 1995 squadron deployed riyadh, saudi arabia support operation southern watch southwest asia task force operation monitor , control airspace in southern iraq. june through august 2000 squadron moved operations macdill air force base, florida while runways @ grand forks being repaired.

after 11 september 2001 attacks, 912th contributed personnel , aircraft 319th air expeditionary group in support of homeland defense.

the squadron reduced cadre status on 20 march 2009 pursuant base realignment , closure 2005 action directed transition of grand forks afb air refueling mission unmanned reconnaissance aircraft mission rq-4 global hawk.

an advance party arrived @ march air reserve base, california in october 2010, , began organize squadron once again. however, not until december ceremony mark 912th s new status active associate organization, active duty regular air force flying unit operating same aircraft 336th air refueling squadron , operationally controlled 452d air mobility wing, celebrated. 912th under administrative control of active duty 92d air refueling wing @ fairchild air force base, washington.