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KC-97F/G
96th Bombardment Wing, Medium
Altus AFB, Oklahoma
18 Nov 1953-3 Dec 1957
(Not Operational, 18 Nov 53-Jan 1954)
KC-97 1954-58
11th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)
Altus AFB, Oklahoma
03 Dec 1957-1958
KC-135A
11th Bombardment Wing
Altus AFB, Oklahoma
1958-1 Oct 1960
15 Dec 1960-1 Apr 1962
KC-135A
11th Strategic Aerospace Wing
Altus AFB, Oklahoma
1 Apr 1962-25 Jun 1965
KC-135R
92nd Air Refueling Wing
Fairchild AFB, Washington
1994-Present
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Squadron History
The 96th Air Refueling Squadron was constituted as the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 20 November 1940 and activated on 15 January 1941 at March Field, CA. Originally attached to the 41st Bombardment Group, it became assigned to it on 25 February 1942. IT was redesignated as the 396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 April 1942 and as the 396th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, c. 9 May 1943.
During World War II, the squadron deployed to Hickam Field, TH(20 October 1943); Tarawa(24 December 1943); Makin(20 April 1944); Wheeler Field, TH(14 October 1944�20 May 1945); Okinawa(7 June 1945); and Manila, Luzon(December 1945�27 January 1946). The squadron was tasked with conducting antisubmarine patrols, from December 1941�August 1942 and from December 1942�February 1943. It saw combat in the Central Pacific, from 19 January�23 September 1944, and the Western Pacific, from 9 July�12 August 1945. The squadron inactivated on 27 January 1946.
The squadron was consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 6 November 1953 and activated on 18 November 1953 as part of the 96th Bombardment Wing, 18 November 1953 (though it was attached to Northeast Air Command, 5 October�20 November 1954, 1 August�14 September 1955, 18�31 January 1956; Alaskan Air Command and 303d Bomb Wing [split deployment], 25 June�9 October 1956; 98th Air Base Group, 10 January�7 April 1957). The 96th ARS was based at Altus AFB, OK, 18 November 1953�1 October 1960 (though it deployed at Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, 5 October�20 November 1954; Thule AFB, Greenland, 1 August�14 September 1955 and 18�31 January 1956; Elmendorf AFB, AK, and Andersen AFB, Guam [split deployment], 25 June�9 October 1956). During that period, the squadron the squadron flew the KC-97.
The squadron was reassigned to the 11th Bombardment Wing, on 3 December 1957. Redesignated as the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 8 March 1958, the squadron converted that same year to the KC-135A. The 96th ARS was discontinued on 1 October 1960.
Organized on 15 December 1960, and assigned to 11th Bombardment (later, 11th Strategic Aerospace) Wing, at Altus AFB, OK, with the KC-135A as its aircraft, it was discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 June 1965.
The squadron was tasked with conducting air refueling to meet global commitments, from July 1954�October 1960 and from December 1960�June 1965.
Redesignated as the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, it reactivated, on 1 April 1994 and assigned to the 453d Operations Group.
It was reassigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing's Operations Group at Fairchild AFB, WA, on 1 July 1994.
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Lineage
Constituted 6th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated: 396th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 22 Apr 1942; 396th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, c. 9 May 1943. Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 6 Nov 1953. Activated on 18 Nov 1953. Redesignated 96th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 8 Mar 1958. Discontinued on 1 Oct 1960. Organized on 15 Dec 1960. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jun 1965. Redesignated 96th Air Refueling Squadron, and activated, on 1 Apr 1994.
Assignments
41st Bombardment Group, attached 15 Jan 1941, assigned 25 Feb 1942�27 Jan 1946. 96th Bombardment Wing, 18 Nov 1953 (attached to Northeast Air Command, 5 Oct�20 Nov 1954, 1 Aug�14 Sep 1955, 18�31 Jan 1956; Alaskan Air Command and 303d Bomb Wing [split deployment], 25 Jun�9 Oct 1956; 98th Air Base Group, 10 Jan�7 Apr 1957); 11th Bombardment Wing, 3 Dec 1957�1 Oct 1960. 11th Bombardment (later, 11th Strategic Aerospace) Wing, 15 Dec 1960�25 Jun 1965. 453d Operations Group, 1 Apr 1994; 92d Operations Group, 1 Jul 1994�.
Stations
March Field, CA, 15 Jan 1941; Tucson, AZ, 16 May 1941; Muroc, CA, 8 Dec 1941; Sacramento, CA, c. 11 Jan 1942; (operated from Alameda, CA, Apr�10 May 1942; a detachment of the air echelon operated from Cherry Point, NC, Jun�Aug 1942); Hammer Field, CA, 24 Aug 1942 (stationed temporarily at Alameda, CA, 1 Dec 1942�Feb 1943; Sacramento, CA, 17 Feb�29 Sep 1943); Hickam Field, TH, 20 Oct 1943; Tarawa, 24 Dec 1943; Makin, 20 Apr 1944; Wheeler Field, TH, 14 Oct 1944�20 May 1945; Okinawa, 7 Jun 1945; Manila, Luzon, Dec 1945�27 Jan 1946; Altus AFB, OK, 18 Nov 1953�1 Oct 1960 (deployed at Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, 5 Oct�20 Nov 1954; Thule AFB, Greenland, 1 Aug�14 Sep 1955 and 18�31 Jan 1956; Elmendorf AFB, AK, and Andersen AFB, Guam [split deployment], 25 Jun�9 Oct 1956). Altus AFB, OK, 15 Dec 1960�25 Jun 1965. Fairchild AFB, WA, 1 Apr 1994�.
Aircraft
PT�17, 1941; B�18, 1941�1942; LB�30, 1941�1942; A�29, 1941�1942; B�25, 1942�1945. KC�97, 1954�1958; KC�135, 1958�1960. KC�135, 1960�1965.
Operations
Antisubmarine patrols, Dec 1941�Aug 1942; Dec 1942�Feb 1943. Combat in Central Pacific, 19 Jan�23 Sep 1944, and Western Pacific, 9 Jul�12 Aug 1945. Air refueling to meet global commitments, Jul 1954�Oct 1960 and Dec 1960�Jun 1965.
Honors
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 4 Apr�14 Jul 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 6 Aug 1954�15 Jul 1957; 27 Oct 1958�16 Sep 1960.
Emblem
Argent an eagle descending Sable, tail and head of the first beak and feet Or grasping in dexter talons an olive branch Vert and in sinister talons a sheaf of three arrows Yellow; all within a diminished bordure of the fourth. MOTTO: UBIQUE�Everywhere. Approved on 19 Jun 1956; modified on 9 Dec 1994
