Lineage

Constituted 79 Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 Mar 1943. Activated on 1 Apr 1943. Inactivated on 15 Nov 1945. Activated in the Reserve on 11 Apr 1948. Redesignated 79 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 1 Apr 1951. Inactivated on 16 Apr 1951. Activated in the Reserve on 18 May 1955. Inactivated on 15 May 1958. Redesignated 79 Military Airlift Squadron, and activated in the Reserve, on 14 Mar 1966. Organized on 1 Apr 1966. Redesignated 79 Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 30 Jun 1971. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1978. Redesignated 79 Air Refueling Squadron (Heavy) (Associate) on 21 Jun 1982. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Sep 1982. Redesignated: 79 Air Refueling Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992; 79 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments

436 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Apr 1943-15 Nov 1945. 419 Troop Carrier Group, 11 Apr 1948; 436 Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949-16 Apr 1951. 436 Troop Carrier Group, 18 May 1955-15 May 1958. Continental Air Command, 14 Mar 1966; 915 Military Airlift Group, 1 Apr 1966; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 30 Jul 1971; Tenth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976; 915 Airborne Early Warning and Control Group, 1 Dec 1976-1 Oct 1978. 452 Air Refueling Wing, 1 Sep 1982; 452 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992; 349 Operations Group, 1 Apr 1995-.

Stations

Baer Field, IN, 1 Apr 1943; Alliance AAFld, NE, 2 May 1943; Laurinburg-Maxton AAB, NC, 4 Aug 1943; Baer Field, IN, 16-28 Dec 1943; Bottesford, England, 6 Jan 1944; Membury, England, 2 Mar 1944-Feb 1945 (operated from Voltone Airfield, Italy, 20 Jul-23 Aug 1944); Melun, France, 21 Feb-15 Jul 1945; Baer Field, IN, 7 Aug 1945; Malden AAFld, MO, 8 Sep-15 Nov 1945. Norfolk Muni Aprt, VA, 11 Apr 1948; Godman AFB, KY, 27 Jun 1949; Standiford Field, KY, 20 Oct 1950-16 Apr 1951. New York Naval Air Station (later, U.S. Naval Air Station, New York), NY, 18 May 1955-15 May 1958. Homestead AFB, FL, 1 Apr 1966-1 Oct 1978. March AFB, CA, 1 Sep 1982; Travis AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1995-.

Commanders

None (not manned), 1-3 Apr 1943; Lt Col John D. Kreyssler, 4 Apr 1943; Capt Silas P. Lee, 18 Jul 1944; 2d Lt Nellis E. Hill, c. 2 Aug 1944; 2d Lt John O. Dorr, 6 Aug 1944; 2d Lt William R. Bryant, 9 Aug 1944; Capt Silas P. Lee, 19 Aug 1944; Lt Col John D. Kreyssler, 24 Aug 1944; Lt Col Hollis B. Tara, 8 Mar 1945-unkn. Unkn, 11 Apr 1948-1949; Lt Col Alvin H. Nurre, c. 1 Jul 1949; Maj Garland Hardin, 19 Oct 1949-1950; unkn, 1950-16 Apr 1951. Unkn, 18 May 1955-15 May 1958. Lt Col James P. Friel, 1 Apr 1966; Lt Col Lawrence F. Liberty, 1 Jul 1968; Col David L. Stanford, by Mar 1971; Col William R. Stack, Jr., by Aug 1971; Col David L. Stanford, 6 Jan 1974; Col Leonard P. Voight, 3 Mar 1975; Col Evan E. Clements, by Sep 1976; Lt Col William J. Campbell, Jr., by Mar 1977-1 Oct 1978. Maj Russell T. Olson, 1 Sep 1982; Maj Johnny L. Corbin, by 7 Sep 1984; Lt Col James P. Bronowski, by 4 Feb 1985; Lt Col John J. Batbie, Jr., 13 Aug 1987; Col Kenneth L. McKibban, 10 Apr 1988; Lt Col Robert E. Fields, 15 Jul 1990; unkn, Apr 1994-5 Aug 1995; Maj Louis J. Leli, 6 Aug 1995-.

Aircraft

C-47, 1943-1945. C-47, 1948-1951; T-7, 1948-1951; T-11, 1948-1951. C-46, 1955-1958; C-119, 1957-1958. C-124, 1966-1971; C-121, 1971-1973, 1976-1978; EC-121, 1971-1978. KC-10, 1982-.

Operations

Transported cargo and troops in the ETO and MTO during World War II; dropped relief supplies to Bastogne and took part in airborne assaults on Normandy, southern France, the Netherlands, and Germany in 1944 and 1945. Performed worldwide airlift operations, 1966-1971, including missions to southeast Asia. Flew airborne early warning and control missions in the air defense of the United States, 1971-1978. Since 1982, trained for and flew worldwide air refueling and strategic airlift missions, including contingency and humanitarian relief operations.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern 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 Dec 1976-15 Mar 1978; 1 Apr 1984-31 Mar 1985; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1993; 1 Apr-15 Aug 1995; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jul 1966-29 Jul 1971.

Emblem

Approved on 29 Jul 1996.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 23 Aug 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 1995.