Lineage. Organized as 1 Company, 2 Aero Squadron, on 1 Dec 1915. Redesignated as: 2 Aero Squadron on 20 Jul 1917; Squadron A, Kelly Field, TX, on 23 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 18 Nov 1918. Reconstituted, and consolidated (8 Apr 1924) with 2 Observation Squadron, which was organized as 2 Aero Squadron (Observation) on 5 Jun 1919. Redesignated as: 2 Squadron on 14 Mar 1921; 2 Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 2 Observation Squadron (Medium) on 26 Feb 1942. Inactivated on 2 Apr 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 2 Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 27 Oct 1948. Activated on 1 Jan 1949. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Apr 1963. Redesignated as 2 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 19 Sep 1985. Activated on 3 Jan 1989. Redesignated as 2 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.
Assignments. Unkn, 1 Dec 1915–Feb 1916; Philippine Department, Feb 1916–Oct 1917; unkn, Oct 1917–18 Nov 1918. Unkn, 5 Jun–24 Dec 1919; Philippine Department, 24 Dec 1919; 1 Observation (later, 4 Observation; 4 Composite) Group, 10 Mar 1920; Far East (later, Fifth) Air Force, 28 Oct 1941–2 Apr 1946. 2 Bombardment Group, 1 Jan 1949 (attached to 2 Bombardment Wing, 10 Feb 1951–15 Jun 1952); 2 Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952–1 Apr 1963. 2 Bombardment Wing, 3 Jan 1989; 2 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991; 458 Operations Group, 1 Jun 1992; 305 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1995–.
Stations. San Diego, CA, 1 Dec 1915–2 Jan 1916; Fort McKinley, Luzon, 3 Feb 1916; Fort Mills, Corregidor, 14 Feb 1916–c. 15 Oct 1917; Kelly Field, TX, Nov 1917–18 Nov 1918. Rockwell Field, CA, 5 Jun–29 Nov 1919; Fort Mills, Corregidor, 24 Dec 1919; Kindley Field, Corregidor, 15 Oct 1920; Nichols Field, Luzon, Jun 1929; Clark Field, Luzon, c. 1 Nov 1940; Nichols Field, Luzon, c. Nov–Dec 1941 (unit active until 2 Apr 1946, but unmanned). Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1 Jan 1949; Chatham AFB, GA, 16 Sep 1950; Hunter Field (later, AFB), GA, 28 Sep 1950–1 Apr 1963 (deployed at Lakenheath RAF Station, England, 4 May–30 Aug 1951 and 4 Sep–3 Dec 1952; Benguerir AB, French Morocco, 12 Aug–20 Sep 1954; and Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 6 Jul–24 Aug 1956). Barksdale AFB, LA, 3 Jan 1989; McGuire AFB, NJ, 1 Oct 1994–.
Service Streamers. Global War on Terrorism – Service (GWOT-S).
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Philippine Islands. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941–[Dec 1941];
Philippine Islands, 8–22 Dec 1941. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jul 2012-30 Jun 2014. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1956–1 Apr 1957; [3 Jan 1989]–30 Jun 1989; 1 Apr 1992-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2002-30 June 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 June 2006; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2011; 1 Jul 2018-30 Jun 2020. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 28 Nov 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared on 1 Sep 2010.
Emblem. Approved on 13 Apr 1995; latest rendering, 17 Sep 2018.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.