42d Air Refueling Squadron

42d Air Refueling Squadron
Emblem of the 42d Air Refueling Squadron
Active 1955-1991
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Air Refueling
Role Aerial Refueling
KC-97 era emblem

The 42d Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 42d Bombardment Wing, stationed at Loring Air Force Base, Maine. It was inactivated on 1 September 1991.

History

Squadron activated in late 1942 as a B-17 Flying Fortress Operational Training Unit for pilots and aircrews. Transitioned in April 1943 to a B-24 Liberator Replacement Training Unit. Inactivated in April 1944 when heavy bombardment training was discontinued.

Reactivated at Limestone (later Loring) AFB on 18 January 1955 to support the 42d Bombardment Wing.

On 5 September 1983, members of the 42d escorted a crippled F-4E Phantom II over the Atlantic Ocean after it experienced the loss of an engine. For its actions, crew E-113 received the Mackay Trophy for refueling it four times and towing it with its refueling boom.[1][2][3]

Remained assigned to the 42d BMW until its inactivation as part of the drawdown after the end of the Cold War on 1 September 1991.

Operations and Decorations

  • Combat Operations: American Theater, 1943–1944
  • Campaigns: None
  • Decorations: None

Lineage

  • Constituted as 542d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 October 1942
Activated on 3 November 1942
Inactivated on 1 April 1944.
  • Re-designated as 42d Air Refueling Squadron, and activated 1 September 1955
Consolidated with 542d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, 19 September 1985
Inactivated on 1 September 1991

Assignments

Stations

Deployed to: Thule AFB, Greenland 2 Nov - 28 Dec 1955
Deployed to: Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco, 6-19 Mar 1956
Deployed to: Thule AFB, Greenland, 28 Dec 1956 – 7 Mar 1957
Deployed to: Goose AB, Labrador, 1 Jul - 5 Oct 1959

Aircraft

References

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

  1. ↑ Bayly, Julia (21 July 2013). "Fort Kent brothers recall years spent keeping planes flying at Loring". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Mackay 1980-1989 Recipients". National Aeronautic Association. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  3. ↑ White, J. Terry. "Remarkable Airmanship". J. Terry White. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  • 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.
  • APD 091217-166 (PDF) USAFHRA FORM 5
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