Lineage

Constituted 470 Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 9 Jul 1942. Activated on 16 Jul 1942. Disbanded on 1 May 1944. Reconstituted, and consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 70 Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 3 Jun 1955. Activated on 1 Aug 1955. Redesignated: 70 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 1 Nov 1963; 70 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Sep 1991. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1993. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Sep 1994.

Assignments

334 Bombardment Group, 16 Jul 1942-1 May 1944. 70 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Aug 1955; 384 Bombardment Wing, 1 Aug 1961; 43 Bombardment Wing, 1 Sep 1964; 305 Air Refueling Wing, 1 Jan 1970; 305 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1993. 349 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1994-.

Stations

Greenville AAB, SC, 16 Jul 1942-1 May 1944. Little Rock AFB, AR, 1 Aug 1955 (deployed at Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, 26 Jun-15 Aug 1945 and 24 Jun-24 Sep 1957; Lajes Field [later, AB], Azores, 3 Sep 1958-12 Jan 1959, 5 Oct 1960-11 Jan 1961, and 31 Jul-28 Sep 1962); Grissom AFB, IN, 1 Jan 1970-1 Apr 1993. Travis AFB, CA, 1 Sep 1994-.

Commanders

2d Lt Michael DeFeo, by Aug 1942; Maj Elmer H. Epperson, 5 Aug 1942; Maj Austin J. Russell, 7 Jul 1943; Capt Robert A. Price, c. 24 Jan-1 May 1944. Unkn, 1 Aug-1 Oct 1955; Lt Col Donald A. Broaddus, c. Oct 1955; Lt Col Robert M. Gorham, 22 Dec 1956; Lt Col Wilson W. Howard, 16 Jul 1959; Lt Col Samuel E. Dyke, 14 Feb 1964; Lt Col Donal B. Cunningham, 4 Aug 1965; Lt Col John C. Sunderland, c. Nov 1966; Lt Col Ralph H. Herman, 1968; Lt Col Caleb G. Pendley, c. Jan 1970; Lt Col Jimmy L. Cornwell, 10 Sep 1971; Lt Col Marvin L. Craig, 1973; Lt Col Gordon E. Smith, by Jun 1974; Lt Col Donald B. Lyall, by Sep 1975; Col Bobby G. Graham, 15 May 1977; Lt Col Anthony L. StAmant, 17 Aug 1979; Lt Col Robert L. Rathburn, 26 Oct 1980; Lt Col Gary W. Shuck, 24 May 1982; Lt Col Joseph E. Latt, 9 Jan 1984; Lt Col James E. Andrews, 17 Dec 1984; Lt Col Thomas S. Kasych, 9 Jun 1986; Lt Col Michael G. Reeves, 30 Mar 1987; Lt Col Ronald F. Sams, 12 Jun 1989; Lt Col James A. Studer, 30 Nov 1990; Lt Col Basil S. Norris, 1 Jun 1992-1 Apr 1993. Maj James D. Lynd, 1 Sep 1994-.

Aircraft

B-25, 1942-1944. KC-97, 1955-1963; KC-135, 1964-1969, 1970-1993; EC-135, 1976-1993. KC-10, 1994-.

Operations

Trained B-25 replacement aircrews, Sep 1942-Apr 1944. Worldwide air refueling, 1955-1993 and 1994-. Supported the National Emergency Airborne Command Post from 1970 to 1993. Deployed aircrews and aircraft to Europe and the Arabian peninsula during the Persian Gulf war, 1990-1991.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 15 Feb-30 Dec 1957; 1 Jul 1972-30 Jun 1973; 1 Jul 1973-30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1975-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1979-30 Jun 1980; 1 Jun 1990-31 May 1992; 1 Jul 1994-15 Aug 1995; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998.

Emblem

Approved on 8 May 1958, modified on 8 Aug 1996.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 18 Aug 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 31 Dec 1995.