Lineage

Organized as 16th Aero Squadron, c. 15 May 1917. Redesignated 21st Aero Squadron on 13 Jun 1917. Demobilized on 14 Apr 1919. Reconstituted, and redesignated 21st Observation Squadron, on 24 Mar 1923. Disbanded on 1 Oct 1933. Reconstituted, and consolidated (2 Dec 1936) with 21st Reconnaissance Squadron which was constituted as 21st Observation Squadron (Long Range, Amphibian), and activated, on 1 Mar 1935. Redesignated: 21st Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Sep 1936; 21st Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range) on 6 Dec 1939; 21st Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940; 411th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942; 411th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 28 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Activated on 1 Apr 1944. Inactivated on 10 May 1944. Activated on 1 Jun 1944. Inactivated on 15 Apr 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 911th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, which was constituted on 28 May 1958. Activated on 1 Dec 1958. Redesignated 911th Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Jul 1992.

Assignments

Unkn, 1917; Third Aviation Instruction Center, 1918?unkn. 2d (later, 2d Bombardment) Wing, 1 Mar 1935 (attached to 2d Bombardment Group from 1 Sep 1936; attached to 7th Naval District for operations, Sep 1939?Aug 1940); 3d Bombardment Wing, 15 Nov 1940 (attached to Newfoundland Base Command for operations, May?Aug 1941); 29th Bombardment Group, attached 5 Sep 1941, assigned 25 Feb 1942?1 Apr 1944. 29th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr?10 May 1944. 502d Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1944?15 Apr 1946 (attached to 6th Bombardment Group, Sep 1944?Jan 1945). 4241st Strategic Wing, 1 Dec 1958; 68th Bombardment Wing, 15 Apr 1963; 68th Air Refueling Group (later, 68th Air Refueling Wing), 30 Sep 1982; 4th Operations Group, 22 Apr 1991; 319th Operations Group, 29 Apr 1994?.

Stations

Kelly Field, TX, May 1917; Scott Field, IL, 11 Aug 1917; Garden City, NY, 23 Dec?c. 4 Jan 1918; St Maxient, France, 23 Jan 1918; Issoudun, France, 21 Feb 1918; Bordeaux, France, c. Jan?c. 18 Mar 1919; Hazelhurst Field, NY, c. 5?14 Apr 1919. Bolling Field, DC, 1 Mar 1935; Langley Field, VA, 1 Sep 1936; Miami Muni Aprt, FL, 9 Sep 1939?22 Apr 1941; Newfoundland Aprt, Newfoundland, 1 May?30 Aug 1941; MacDill Field, FL, c. 3 Sep 1941; Gowen Field, ID, 25 Jun 1942?1 Apr 1944. Pratt AAFld, KS, 1 Apr?10 May 1944. Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 1 Jun 1944; Dalhart AAFld, TX, 5 Jun 1944; Grand Island AAFld, NE, 26 Sep 1944?7 Apr 1945; Northwest Field, Guam, 12 May 1945?15 Apr 1946. Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, 1 Dec 1958; Grand Forks AFB, ND, 29 Apr 1994?.

Aircraft

In addition to Nieuport 27 and Nieuport 80, apparently included Avro 504K, 1918; O?38, 1935?1936; OA?4, YOA?5, and B?10, 1936?1937; B?18, 1937?1941 (additionally included A?17, B?17, Y1OA?8, OA?9, and apparently OA?10, 1939?1941); B?17, 1939?1943; A?29, 1941?1942; B?24, 1943?1944. B?29, 1944?1946. KC?135, 1958?1972, 1973?1985; KC?10, 1985?.

Operations

Flying training unit, Feb?c. Dec 1918. Neutrality, sea search, and weather reconnaissance missions, Oct 1939?Aug 1940, Jun?Aug 1941. Antisubmarine patrols, Jan?Jun 1942. Operational and later replacement training unit, 1942?1944. Combat in Western Pacific, Jul?Aug 1945. Supported air refueling operations in Southeast Asia, May 1972?Jul 1973. Air refueling support for the invasion of Panama, Dec 1989 and for combat operations in Southwest Asia, Aug 1990?Mar 1992.

Honors

Service Streamers. World War I Theater of Operations.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 5?15 Aug 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1965?30 Jun 1966; 1 Jul 1985?30 Jun 1987; 23 Apr 1991?31 May 1993.

Emblem

Per fess Celeste and Azure a barrulet Sable and overall an eagle stooping Gules, head and feet proper, all within a diminished bordure of the fourth. Approved on 16 Nov 1994; replaced emblems approved on 24 Jul 1987 (DFSC 87?11182) and on 7 Aug 1937 (10039 A.C.).