Lineage. Constituted as 79 Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 Mar 1943. Activated on 1 Apr 1943. Inactivated on 15 Nov 1945. Activated in the Reserve on 11 Apr 1948. Redesignated as 79 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 1 Apr 1951. Inactivated on 16 Apr 1951. Activated in the Reserve on 18 May 1955. Inactivated on 15 May 1958. Redesignated as 79 Military Airlift Squadron, and activated in the Reserve, on 14 Mar 1966. Organized on 1 Apr 1966. Redesignated as 79 Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 30 Jun 1971. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1978. Redesignated as 79 Air Refueling Squadron (Heavy) (Associate) on 21 Jun 1982. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Sep 1982. Redesignated as: 79 Air Refueling Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992; 79 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Oct 1994.
Assignments. 436 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Apr 1943-15 Nov 1945. 419 Troop Carrier Group, 11 Apr 1948; 436 Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949-16 Apr 1951. 436 Troop Carrier Group, 18 May 1955-15 May 1958. Continental Air Command, 14 Mar 1966; 915 Military Airlift Group, 1 Apr 1966; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 30 Jul 1971; Tenth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976; 915 Airborne Early Warning and Control Group, 1 Dec 1976-1 Oct 1978. 452 Air Refueling Wing, 1 Sep 1982; 452 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992; 349 Operations Group, 1 Apr 1995-.
Stations. Baer Field, IN, 1 Apr 1943; Alliance AAFld, NE, 2 May 1943; Laurinburg-Maxton AAB, NC, 4 Aug 1943; Baer Field, IN, 16-28 Dec 1943; Bottesford, England, 6 Jan 1944; Membury, England, 2 Mar 1944-Feb 1945 (operated from Voltone Airfield, Italy, 20 Jul-23 Aug 1944); Melun, France, 21 Feb-15 Jul 1945; Baer Field, IN, 7 Aug 1945; Malden AAFld, MO, 8 Sep-15 Nov 1945. Norfolk Muni Aprt, VA, 11 Apr 1948; Godman AFB, KY, 27 Jun 1949; Standiford Field, KY, 20 Oct 1950-16 Apr 1951. New York Naval Air Station (later, U.S. Naval Air Station, New York), NY, 18 May 1955-15 May 1958. Homestead AFB, FL, 1 Apr 1966-1 Oct 1978. March AFB, CA, 1 Sep 1982; Travis AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1995-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Aug 2002-15 Aug 2003. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Dec 1976-15 Mar 1978; 1 Apr 1984-31 Mar 1985; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1993; 1 Apr-15 Aug 1995; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998; 1 Aug 2000-31 Jul 2002; 16 Aug 2003-17 Aug 2004; 18 Aug 2004-17 Aug 2005; 18 Aug 2005-17 Aug 2006; 18 Aug 2006-17 Aug 2007; 18 Aug 2007-17 Aug 2008; 18 Aug 2008-17 Aug 2009; 30 Sep 2009-30 Sep 2011; 1 Oct 2011-30 Sep 2013; 1 Oct 2013-31 Dec 2014. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jul 1966-29 Jul 1971.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 18 Aug 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared in Dec 2007.
Emblem. Approved on 29 Jul 1996.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.