Lineage

Constituted 74 Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 Jan 1943. Activated on 9 Feb 1943. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1946. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Mar 1947. Redesignated 74 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951. Inactivated on 2 May 1951. Redesignated 74 Air Refueling Squadron, and activated in the Reserve, on 1 Aug 1992.

Assignments

434 Troop Carrier Group, 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946. 434 Troop Carrier Group, 15 Mar 1947-2 May 1951. 434 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-.

Stations

Alliance AAFld, NE, 9 Feb 1943; Baer Field, IN, 4-28 Sep 1943; Fulbeck, England, Oct 1943; Welford Park, England, Nov 1943; Fulbeck, England, 10 Jan 1944; Aldermaston, England, 3 Mar 1944; Mourmelon-le-Grand, France, Feb-Jun 1945; Baer Field, IN, 5 Aug 1945; Alliance AAFld, NE, 15 Sep 1945; George Field, IL, 11 Oct 1945; Greenville AAB, SC, 2 Feb-31 Jul 1946. Stout Field, IL, 15 Mar 1947; Atterbury AFB, IN, 1 Jul 1949-2 May 1951. Grissom AFB (later ARB), IN, 1 Aug 1992-.

Commanders

Maj Frank R. Parker Jr., Feb 1943; Lt Col Ralph L. Strean Jr., c. 27 Sep 1943; Maj Edward J. Kominski, 15 Sep 1945; Lt Col Robert G. Johns, 16 Oct 1945; Lt Col Donald W. Morris, Jan 1946-unkn. Unkn, 15 Mar 1947-2 May 1951. Lt Col Mark A. Pillar, 1 Aug 1992; Lt Col Wilburt J. Elliott, 1 Apr 1995; Lt Col John M. Smiley, 3 Aug 1996-.

Aircraft

C-47, 1943-1946; Horsa gliders, 1944-1945; CG-4 gliders, 1944-1945; C-46, 1945-1946. Unkn, 1947-1948; T-7, 1949-1951; T-11, 1949-1951; C-47, 1949; C-46, 1949-1951. KC-135, 1992-.

Operations

Airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany; relief of Bastogne; aerial transportation of passengers and cargo in ETO during World War II. Trained in troop carrier duties, 1947-1951. Performed air refueling missions worldwide since 1992. Since late 1993, periodically deployed to Italy and other western European location in support of NATO operations in the Balkans.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Aug 1992-31 Aug 1993; 1 Sep 1994-31 Aug 1996. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 6-7 Jun 1944; 20-28 Aug 1944. French Fourragere.

Emblem

Approved on 15 May 1995.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 20 Apr 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Sep 1996.