106th Air Refueling Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 106th Air Refueling Squadron (106 ARS) is an Air National Guard
aerial refueling
unit flying the KC-135R Stratotanker, out of Birmingham International Airport, Alabama
.
In 1936, the 106 Aero Squadron was consolidated with the 106th Observation Squadron of the Alabama National Guard. The Observation Squadron had been founded as the 135th Observation Squadron by former WWI ace, James Armand Meissner on 21 January 1922.
On 25 November 1940, the 106 Observation Squadron was ordered to active duty. A week after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, the squadron was ordered to Miami, Florida to begin flying anti-submarine patrols. The anti-submarine mission continued until September 1942, when the 106th began preparing for its new mission as a bombardment squadron flying the B-25 Mitchell
. This new mission was reflected in a name change when the 106 Observation Squadron was redesignated 106 Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 April 1943. Arriving at Guadalcanal
on 15 November 1943, the 106th immediately began performing its new bombing mission. The squadron was once again redesignated on 9 May 1944, when it became known as the 100 Bombardment Squadron (Medium). The 100th was inactivated at Camp Stoneman, California on 11 December 1945.
On 24 May 1946, the newly designated 106 Bombardment Squadron (Light) was once again assigned to the Alabama National Guard. The squadron returned to its observation mission in 1951 when, on 1 February, it was redesignated the 106 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photo). In 1957 traded their RB-26s for the RF-84 Thunderflash jet. A change in aircraft came once again in 1971 when the 106th received its first RF-4C Phantom, a mission that continued until 1994 when the squadron took delivery of its first KC-135R aircraft and was redesignated the 106 Air Refueling Squadron.
Operation Desert Shield
In August 1990 the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing deployed to the United Arab Emirates
in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After Iraq invaded Kuwait under Saddam Hussein on 2 August 1990, members of the 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing were activated to participate in contingencies in Operation Desert Shield. On 24 August 1990, then Colonel James F. Brown, 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Commander led a formation of six RF-4C Phantoms on what was believed to be the longest non-stop flight of six Phantoms in history. The take-off from Birmingham Municipal Airport was at 1630 CDT on 24 August 1990. After each Phantom refueled in the air 16 (sixteen) times and after traveling more than 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km) without landing, the flight terminated in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at 1600 local time on 25 August 1990. The flight lasted 15.5 hours and included aerial refuelings from four different KC-10's and four different KC-135's. The 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron then operated out of the desert air base until December 1990 flying reconnaissance missions in preparation for the eventual Operation Desert Storm. During those four months in 1990, one RF-4C Phantom was lost, claiming the lives of two of the 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron's aircrew members.
The 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron/117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was the first Air National Guard or USAF Reserve Squadron to get the \Phantoms in 1971. They operated the RF-4C until May 1995, ending a twenty-four year chapter in the colorful history of the unit by flying one of the jets (Tail # 64-1047) to the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. It was the last operational RF-4C squadron flight and was piloted by the future 117th Air Refueling Wing Commander, Lt Col Evans Whaley. Aircraft "047" is still on display at the USAF Museum, painted in the Birmingham Air National Guard colors of the 1990 Operation Desert Shield deployment of the 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 106th Air Refueling Squadron (106 ARS) is an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
aerial refueling
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
unit flying the KC-135R Stratotanker, out of Birmingham International Airport, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
History
The squadron was raised as the 106 Aero Squadron on 27 August 1917 at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, and assigned to the Second Artillery Aerial Observation School. In December 1917, the squadron set sail for France, where they repaired and maintained aircraft. On 1 February 1918, the squadron was redesignated the 800 Aero Squadron. Returning home after the war ended, the squadron was demobilized by mid 1919.In 1936, the 106 Aero Squadron was consolidated with the 106th Observation Squadron of the Alabama National Guard. The Observation Squadron had been founded as the 135th Observation Squadron by former WWI ace, James Armand Meissner on 21 January 1922.
On 25 November 1940, the 106 Observation Squadron was ordered to active duty. A week after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, the squadron was ordered to Miami, Florida to begin flying anti-submarine patrols. The anti-submarine mission continued until September 1942, when the 106th began preparing for its new mission as a bombardment squadron flying the B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
. This new mission was reflected in a name change when the 106 Observation Squadron was redesignated 106 Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 April 1943. Arriving at Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
on 15 November 1943, the 106th immediately began performing its new bombing mission. The squadron was once again redesignated on 9 May 1944, when it became known as the 100 Bombardment Squadron (Medium). The 100th was inactivated at Camp Stoneman, California on 11 December 1945.
On 24 May 1946, the newly designated 106 Bombardment Squadron (Light) was once again assigned to the Alabama National Guard. The squadron returned to its observation mission in 1951 when, on 1 February, it was redesignated the 106 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photo). In 1957 traded their RB-26s for the RF-84 Thunderflash jet. A change in aircraft came once again in 1971 when the 106th received its first RF-4C Phantom, a mission that continued until 1994 when the squadron took delivery of its first KC-135R aircraft and was redesignated the 106 Air Refueling Squadron.
Operation Desert Shield
In August 1990 the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing deployed to the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After Iraq invaded Kuwait under Saddam Hussein on 2 August 1990, members of the 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing were activated to participate in contingencies in Operation Desert Shield. On 24 August 1990, then Colonel James F. Brown, 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing Commander led a formation of six RF-4C Phantoms on what was believed to be the longest non-stop flight of six Phantoms in history. The take-off from Birmingham Municipal Airport was at 1630 CDT on 24 August 1990. After each Phantom refueled in the air 16 (sixteen) times and after traveling more than 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km) without landing, the flight terminated in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at 1600 local time on 25 August 1990. The flight lasted 15.5 hours and included aerial refuelings from four different KC-10's and four different KC-135's. The 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron then operated out of the desert air base until December 1990 flying reconnaissance missions in preparation for the eventual Operation Desert Storm. During those four months in 1990, one RF-4C Phantom was lost, claiming the lives of two of the 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron's aircrew members.
The 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron/117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was the first Air National Guard or USAF Reserve Squadron to get the \Phantoms in 1971. They operated the RF-4C until May 1995, ending a twenty-four year chapter in the colorful history of the unit by flying one of the jets (Tail # 64-1047) to the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. It was the last operational RF-4C squadron flight and was piloted by the future 117th Air Refueling Wing Commander, Lt Col Evans Whaley. Aircraft "047" is still on display at the USAF Museum, painted in the Birmingham Air National Guard colors of the 1990 Operation Desert Shield deployment of the 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.
Lineage
- Organized as 106th Aero Squadron on 27 August 1917
- Redesignated 800th Aero Repair Squadron on 1 February 1918.
- Demobilized: A and B flights on 8 May 1919, C flight on 2 July 1919
- Reconstituted and consolidated (1936) with 135th Squadron which, having been allotted to NG, was organized on 21 January 1922
- Redesignated: 135th Observation Squadron on 25 January 1923
- Redesignated: 114th Observation Squadron on 1 May 1923
- Redesignated: 106th Observation Squadron on 16 January 1924
- Ordered to active service on 25 November 1940
- Redesignated: 106th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 January 1942;
- Redesignated: 106th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
- Redesignated: 106th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 April 1943
- Redesignated: 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 9 May 1944
- Inactivated on 11 December 1945
- Redesignated: 106th Bombardment Squadron (Light), and allotted to Alabama Air National Guard, on 24 May 1946.
- Redesignated: 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photo), 1951
- Redesignated: 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Photo Jet), 1957
- Redesignated: 106th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 1961
- Redesignated: 106th Reconnaissance Squadron, 1992
- Redesignated: 106th Air Refueling Squadron, 1994
- Personnel designated 106th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron when supporting Operation Allied ForceOperation Allied ForceThe NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
effective 24 March 1999
- Personnel designated 106th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron when supporting Operation Allied Force
Assignments
- Unknown, 27 August 1917 – February 1918
- Second Artillery Aerial Observation School, February 1918 – April 1919
- B flight with First Artillery Aerial Observation School, 1918, and detachment thereof with Fourth Artillery Aerial Observation School, 1918
- C flight with Fifth Artillery Aerial Observation School, 1918–1919
- Alabama National GuardAlabama National GuardThe Alabama National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Guard is part of the Alabama Military Department, seemingly overseen by the Adjutant General of Alabama....
, 21 January 1922
- Alabama National Guard
- Originally intended as corps air service, served from 1923 as divisional aviation, with 39th Division to 1924 and thereafter with 31st Division
- Fourth Corps Area, 25 November 1940
- IV Army Corps, c. December 1940
- 66th Observation (later Reconnaissance) Group66th Air Base WingThe 66th Air Base Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Electronic Systems Center, stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
1 September 1941 - 76th Reconnaissance Group76th Reconnaissance GroupThe 76th Reconnaissance Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces organization. It served primarily in the American Theatre.The unit was constituted on 5 February 1942 and activated on 27 February. The group was a Third Air Force training unit for Reconnaissance and Observation...
, 20 June 1943 - Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 13 Ju1 1943 - III Reconnaissance Command, 23 August 1943
- Thirteenth Air ForceThirteenth Air ForceThe Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
, 19 November 1943 - 42d Bombardment Group, attached in January 1944 and assigned 1 February-11 December 1945
- Alabama Air National GuardAlabama Air National GuardThe Alabama Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is, along with the Alabama Army National Guard, an element of the Alabama National Guard...
, 24 May 1946–present
Stations
- Kelly Field, Texas, 27 August 1917
- St Maixent, France, 2 January 1918
- Champ de Tir de Souge, France, 28 February 1918 – April 1919
- B flight at Camp de Coetquidan, Morbihan, 1 March-28 October 1918
- Detachment thereof at Camp de Meucon, Morbihan, May–October 1918
- C flight at Le Valdahon, 2 March 1918-c. May 1919
- Mitchel Field, New York, A and B flights, c. 28 April-8 May 1919, C flight, c. 21 June-2 July 1919
- Birmingham Airport, AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, 21 January 1922 - Miami Airport, Florida, c. 14 December 1941
- Imeson FieldImeson FieldImeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the original airport serving Jacksonville, Florida from 1927 until its closing in 1967...
, Florida, 14 March 1942 - Hunter Army AirfieldHunter Army AirfieldHunter Army Airfield , located in Savannah, Georgia, United States, is a military airfield and subordinate installation to Fort Stewart.Hunter features a runway that is 11,375 feet long and an aircraft parking area that is more than 350 acres...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, May 1942 - William Northern Field, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, c. 8 September 1942 - Morris Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, November 1942 - Fort Myers Army Airfield Florida, December 1942
- Morris Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 2 February 1943
- Camp Campbell, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, 3 April 1943 - Chatham Field, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 23 June-15 October 1943 - Carney AirfieldCarney AirfieldCarney Airfield is a former World War II airfield on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. It is located near Koli Point about fifteen miles from Henderson Field, closes to the Metapona River to the east and the Naumbu River to the west...
, GuadalcanalGuadalcanalGuadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, Solomon IslandsSolomon IslandsSolomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, 15 November 1943
- Operated through Russell IslandsRussell IslandsThe Russell Islands are two small islands, as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of the Solomon Islands. They are located approximately 48 km northwest from Guadalcanal. The islands are partially covered in coconut plantations, and have a copra and oil factory at...
, January 1944- Stirling IslandStirling IslandStirling Island is the smaller island of the Treasury Islands, Solomon Islands, at . It is separated from the largest Mono Island by Blanche Harbor. Stirling Island is composed of coral which was once part of the barrier reef surrounding Mono Island....
, Solomon IslandsSolomon IslandsSolomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, 25 January 1944
- Stirling Island
- Operated from Hollandia Airfield Complex, Netherlands East Indies, 6 August-14 September 1944
- Sansapor AirfieldSansapor AirfieldSansapor Airfield is a former World War II airfield located in the village of Mar, in West Irian Jaya Province, Indonesia. The airfield was abandoned after the war and today is almost totally returned to its natural state....
, Netherlands East Indies, 24 August 1944
- Sansapor Airfield
- Operated from: Wama Airfield, MorotaiMorotaiMorotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
, Netherlands East Indies, 22 February-22 March 1945- Puerto Princesa Airfield, PalawanPalawanPalawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 15 March–November 1945 - Camp Stoneman, California, c.9-ii December 1945
- Birmingham International Airport, AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, 1946–1952; 1953–1961; 1962–present
- Puerto Princesa Airfield, Palawan
Aircraft
- KC-135R Stratotanker (1994–present)
- RF-4C Phantom (1971–1993)
- RF-84F Thunderstreak (1957–1971)
- B/RB-26 InvaderA-26 InvaderThe Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
(1946–1957) - B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
(1943–1945)
- O-49 (1941–1942)
- O-47 (1938–1942)
- O-38 (1933–1941)
- JN-4 Jenny (1922–??)