Motto(s) Anytime - Anyplace | Role Air refueling | |
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Active 1943-1946; 1947-1951; 1994-1996 Part of United States Air Forces Europe | ||
The 712th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 19th Operations Group at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, where it was inactivated on 1 July 1996. In February 2001, the squadron was converted to provisional status as the 712th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.
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The squadron was first activated during World War II and served in combat with the 448th Bombardment Group in Europe. It was active in the reserve from 1947 until 1951, when it was called to active duty for the Korean War and inactivated after its personnel were used to man other units.
World War II
Media related to 448th Bombardment Group at Wikimedia Commons
Activated in mid-1943 as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron, trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to the United Kingdom in Europe during November 1943, assigned to the 448th Bombardment Group as a strategic bombardment squadron. Participated in the air offensive over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until German capitulation in May 1945. Personnel demobilized in the United Kingdom and returned to the United States; squadron reassigned to Second Air Force and re-equipped with B-29 Superfortresses, being trained for deployment to the Pacific Theater. Japanese capitulation canceled deployment and was assigned to Fort Worth AAF, Texas as Continental Air Forces, later Strategic Air Command squadron. Budget and personnel shortages led to the squadron's inactivation in August 1946.
Air Force reserve
Activated in the postwar reserve as a B-29 squadron. Trained for proficiency as part of Strategic Air Command reserve forces. Activated as a result of Korean War in 1951, squadron's aircraft and personnel reassigned to Far East Air Force Bomber Command, inactivated as a paper unit.
Air refueling operations
Reactivated in 1994 as a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling squadron. Inactivated in 1996 as part of realignment of host 19th Operations Group. Emblem for the 712th was designed by SSgt Rob Crotts.
Converted to a provisional unit in February 2001, and later activated in February-March 2008 in Budapest, possibly for the NATO Summit.