321st Air Refueling Squadron

World War II

The 321st Transport Squadron was one of five squadrons activated in November 1943 and assigned to the 27th Air Transport Group. It was located Northern Ireland and operated a courier service in the British Isles. In 1944 it moved to France and conducted the same duties on the European continent until it was disbanded in November 1945.

Cold War

Strategic Air Command (SAC) activated the 321st Air Refueling Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in late 1953 as a Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker squadron. At Sheppard, the squadron was a tenant of Air Training Command's 3750th Air Base Group, the host organization at Sheppard, but was attached to the 96th Bombardment Wing at Biggs Air Force Base after July 1954. Four months later, it was assigned to the 321st Bombardment Wing at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida, but remained a tenant organization, moving to Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama as a tenant of the 3800th Air Base Wing of Air University. It was not until August 1956, when the squadron moved to Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, that it was stationed with its parent wing.

The squadron flew the KC-97 Stratotanker, providing air refueling to USAF units, from 1953 until 1963. The squadron converted to Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers that year and was inactivated in 1965 and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 32d Air Refueling Squadron.

The 321st Transport Squadron and the 321st Air Refueling Squadron were consolidated into a single unit on 19 September 1985

Lineage

321st Transport Squadron

Constituted as the 321st Transport Squadron (Cargo and Mail) c. 26 October 1943

Activated 1 November 1943

Disbanded 15 November 1945

Reconstituted 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 321st Air Refueling Squadron as the 321st Air Refueling Squadron

321st Air Refueling Squadron

Constituted as the 321st Air Refueling Squadron, Medium on 17 September 1953

Activated on 8 December 1953

Redesignated 321st Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 1 April 1963

Discontinued and inactivated on 15 March 1965

Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 321st Transport Squadron

Assignments

27th Air Transport Group, 1 November 1943

Unknown, 11 November 1944 – 15 November 1945

Eighth Air Force, 8 Dec 1953 (attached to 96th Bombardment Wing after 3 July 1954)

321st Bombardment Wing, 8 Nov 1954 (attached to 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing after 16 August 1956)

26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 10 September 1956

301st Bombardment Wing (later 301st Air Refueling Wing), 15 April 1958 – 15 March 1965 (detached 11 April 1960 – 13 July 1960, 3 October 1961 - January 1962)

Stations

Maghaberry (Station 239), Northern Ireland, 1 November 1943

Langford Lodge (Station 597), Northern Ireland, May 1944

RAF Grove, England (Station 519), September 1944

Le Bourget Airport (Station 385, A-54), France, September 1944

Villacoublay Airfield (A-42), March 1945 - 15 November 1945

Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, 8 December 1953

Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 8 November 1954

Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, 18 August 1956 – 15 March 1965

Aircraft

Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1943-1945

Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker, 1954-1963

Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, 1963-1965