71st Air Refueling Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 71st Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 2d Bombardment Wing, stationed at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
. It was inactivated on 1 September 1991.
Constituted as the 471st Bombardment Squadron, (Medium)
, on 9 July 1942 and Activated 16 July 1942. Assigned to the 334th Bombardment Group
, located at Greenville AAB, South Carolina
, as a B-25 aircrew replacement training squadron. The unit was Inactivated and Disbanded on 1 May 1942,
On 19 September 1985, the 471st Bombardment Squadron was Consolidated with the 71st Air Refueling Squadron (Medium).
Established on 1 August 1955 as the 71st Air Refueling Squadron (Strategic Fighter) at Dow Air Force Base
, Maine
, Equipped with KC-97F Stratotankers (also KC-97Gs). Redesignated as the 71st Air Refueling Squadron, (Medium) on 15 December 1957, and as the 71st Air Refueling Squadron, (Heavy) on 1 March 1964 and reorganized and reequipped with KC-135s, relocated to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
in 1968 remaining there until inactivation as part of the drawdown after the end of the Cold War
in 1994.
* Decorations:
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...
unit. It was last assigned to the 2d Bombardment Wing, stationed at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. It was inactivated on 1 September 1991.
Constituted as the 471st Bombardment Squadron, (Medium)
471st Bombardment Squadron
The 471st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 334th Bombardment Group, stationed at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944...
, on 9 July 1942 and Activated 16 July 1942. Assigned to the 334th Bombardment Group
334th Bombardment Group
The 334th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina...
, located at Greenville AAB, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, as a B-25 aircrew replacement training squadron. The unit was Inactivated and Disbanded on 1 May 1942,
On 19 September 1985, the 471st Bombardment Squadron was Consolidated with the 71st Air Refueling Squadron (Medium).
Established on 1 August 1955 as the 71st Air Refueling Squadron (Strategic Fighter) at Dow Air Force Base
Dow Air Force Base
-History:Dow Air Force Base began as "Godfrey Field" in 1927, on land owned by local attorney Edward Rawson Godfrey . Commercial flights began at the field in 1931 under Northeast Airlines...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, Equipped with KC-97F Stratotankers (also KC-97Gs). Redesignated as the 71st Air Refueling Squadron, (Medium) on 15 December 1957, and as the 71st Air Refueling Squadron, (Heavy) on 1 March 1964 and reorganized and reequipped with KC-135s, relocated to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in 1968 remaining there until inactivation as part of the drawdown after the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
in 1994.
Assignments
- 334th Bombardment Group334th Bombardment GroupThe 334th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina...
, Greenville AAB, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
16 July 1942-1 May 1944 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 24 Jan 1955- Attached to the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing, Dow AFB, MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, 24 Jan-7 March 1955
- Attached to the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing, Dow AFB, Maine
- 4060th Air Refueling Wing, (Medium), 8 March 1955-31 Jan 1960;
- 4038th Strategic Wing, 1 Feb 1960-31 Jan 1963;
- 397th Bombardment Wing397th Bombardment WingThe 397th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 45th Air Division. It was last stationed at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, and was inactivated on 25 April 1968....
, Dow AFB, Maine, 1 Feb 1963-25 Apr 1968; - 2d Bombardment Wing, Barksdale AFB, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 15 Apr 1968-1 Sep 1991
Aircraft
- 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...
, 1942-1944 - KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
, 1955-1964 - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, 1964-1991
Awards and Decorations
- Services Streamers
-
- American Theater 1942-1944
- Campaign Streamers:
- None.
- American Theater 1942-1944
* Decorations:
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
-
- 1 July 1973 - 30 June 1975
- 1 July 1979 - 30 June 1980
- 1 July 1982 - 30 June 1984
- 1 July 1986 - 30 June 1987
- 1 July 1987 - 30 June 1989