11th Air Refueling Squadron

History

During World War II the squadron trained crews and technicians for photographic reconnaissance and mapping, 1942-1944.

Reactivated in 1955 under Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a KC-97 air refueling squadron, it participated in SAC tests, exercises, and air refueling operations and other Air Force commands in North America, Europe, and the Pacific Far East, and Southeast Asia, from 1955 onward. It won numerous wards for its operational performance, including the Saunders Trophy for Outstanding Air Refueling Unit in 1970 and 1971.

It was upgraded in 1965 to the KC-135 Stratotanker jet. In 1972 the 11th supported two large-scale aircraft movements to Southeast Asia, 5-6 and 8–9 April, and on 12 May and over the next three days it deployed all available tankers and crews at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. About one-half of squadron personnel formed a rear echelon at Altus AFB. The forward echelon manned the 4101st Air Refueling Squadron, Provisional. Some 11th ARS personnel were returning to Altus AFB on 4 November 1972, but some of the squadron remained on temporary duty in SEA. By January 1973 about half of the 11th’s KC-135s had returned and by June 1973 all aircraft and crews had returned. The 11th continued its normal SEA support as well as its many other global commitments. The squadron refueled its first C-5 Galaxy on 1 May 1974.

The squadron's resources were divided on 1 July 1977, a part being retained by the 11th, the remainder used to man the new 340th Air Refueling Group, Heavy, and the 340th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The new group was assigned to the 19th Air Division and the 11th to the group.

On 19 September 1985 the 11th Air Refueling Squadron was consolidated with the 11th Combat Mapping Squadron, a unit that was last active 1 May 1944. This action was directed by Department of the Air Force Letter DAF/MPM 662q Attachment 1 (Active Units), 19 September 1985. The Consolidated Unit will retain the Designation of 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy.

The squadron was inactivated in 1994 as part of the drawdown of the USAF after the end of the Cold War.

Lineage

Constituted as the 5th Mapping Squadron on 1 May 1942

Activated on 7 May 1942 Redesignated the 11th Photographic Mapping Squadron on 9 June 1942 Redesignated the 11th Photographic Squadron (Heavy) on 6 February 1943 Redesignated the 11th Combat Mapping Squadron on 11 August 1943 Disbanded on 1 May 1944

Reconstituted, and constituted (19 Sep 1985) with 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy

Constituted as the 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 10 August 1955 Activated on 1 December 1955 Redesignated the 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, on 15 September 1958 Redesignated the 11th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 25 June 1965 Redesignated the 11th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 September 1991 Inactivated on 1 October 1994

Assignments

2d Photographic (later Photographic and Mapping; Photographic Reconnaissance) Group, 7 May 1942 – 1 May 1944

11th Bombardment Wing, 10 August 1955

341st Bombardment Wing, 1 December 1955

4050th Air Refueling Wing, 1 June 1960

499th Air Refueling Wing, 1 January 1963

820th Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 July 1964

11th Strategic Aerospace Wing (later 11th Air Refueling Wing), 25 June 1965

19th Air Division, 25 March 1969

17th Strategic Aerospace Division, 2 July 1969

47th Air Division, 31 March 1970

19th Air Division, 30 June 1971

340th Air Refueling Group (later Wing), 1 July 1977

340th Operations Group, 1 September 1991

97th Operations Group, 1 October 1992

457th Operations Group, 1 July 1993 – 1 October 1994

Stations

Bradley Field, Connecticut, 7 May 1942

Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colorado, 13 May 1942

Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, 14 October 1943 – 1 May 1944

Abilene Air Force Base (later Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, 10 August 1955 – 1 June 1960

Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 1 June 1960 – 25 June 1965

Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 25 June 1965 – 1 October 1994

Aircraft

Primarily B-17/F-7 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator, 1942–1943

KC-97 Stratotanker, 1956–1965

KC-135 Stratotanker, 1965–1994

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

1 Jul 1980 – 30 June 1982

1 Jul 1971 – 30 Jun 1973

1 Jan 1963 – 31 December 1974

1 Sep 1956 – 11 Apr 1957