384th Air Refueling Squadron

384th Air Refueling Squadron
Active 1943–1946; 1955–1966; 1973–2016; 2017–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Air Refueling
Part of Air Mobility Command
Nickname(s) Squarepatchers[1]
Colors Maroon/Silver
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Insignia
384th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 5 February 1960)[2]
384th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 30 June 1959)[3][note 1]
Patch with 584th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 31 December 1943)[4]

The 384th Air Refueling Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where it is assigned to the 92d Operations Group and operates the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.

History

Loading bombs on Martin B-26G-1-MA Marauder Serial 43-34194 of the 584th Bomb Squadron.

World War II

The squadron flew combat missions in the European Theater of Operations from, 23 March 1944 – 20 April 1945.[2]

Air refueling operations

It conducted aerial refueling for Strategic Air Command bombers in North Atlantic area from, 1955–1965 and has flown worldwide aerial refueling sorties since 1973 including support to operations in Panama from, 18–20 December 1989 and Southwest Asia from, August 1990–March 1991.[2]

The squadron was activated on 23 March, 2017 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The activation date was chosen because it was the 73d anniversary of the squadron's first combat mission during World War II.[5]

Operations

Lineage

584th Bombardment Squadron
  • Constituted as the 584th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 15 February 1943
  • Activated on 5 March 1943
  • Redesignated 584th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 9 October 1944
  • Redesignated 584th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 December 1945
  • Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946
  • Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 384th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was[2]
384th Air Refueling Squadron
  • Constituted on 3 March 1955
  • Activated on 1 April 1955
  • Discontinued, and inactivated on 25 June 1966
  • Redesignated 384th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 19 June 1973
  • Activated on 30 September 1973
  • Redesignated 384th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 September 1991[2]
Inactivated 30 September 2016[1]
  • Activated on 23 March 2017[5]

Assignments

Stations

Deployed to Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland (27 April - 27 June 1956, 21 May - 25 June 1957)
Deployedto Lajes Air Base, Azores (28 September - c. 28 December 1963)

Aircraft

References

Notes
  1. ↑ This patch has continued to be used by the squadron, despite the official design being placed on a disc to comply with Air Force regulations. This usage is the basis for the nickname "Squarepatchers", even though it is more rectangular than square. Thornbury, 384th ARS deactivates [sic]
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Thornbury, A1C Christopher (September 23, 2016). "384th ARS deactivates, makes room for KC-46". 22d Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Robertson, Patsy (January 29, 2008). "Factsheet 384 Air Refueling Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ Endicott, p. 769
  4. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 673
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Richardson, SRA Mackenzie (March 14, 2017). "Team Fairchild welcomes the 'Squarepatchers'". Air Force History Index. Retrieved August 15, 2017.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

See also

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