Lineage. Constituted 19 Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Redesignated: 409 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942; 409 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 6 Mar 1944. Inactivated on 6 Jul 1945. Redesignated 409 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 5 Aug 1945. Activated on 20 Aug 1945. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 909 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, which was constituted, and activated, on 18 Jan 1963. Organized on 1 Apr 1963. Redesignated 909 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Oct 1991.
Assignments. 93 Bombardment Group, 1 Mar 1942-6 Jul 1945. 93 Bombardment Group, 20 Aug 1945; 444 Bombardment Group, 6 May-1 Oct 1946. Strategic Air Command, 18 Jan 1963; 461 Bombardment Wing, 1 Apr 1963; 22 Bombardment Wing, 25 Jun 1966; 376 Strategic Wing, 1 Jul 1971; 18 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1991-.
Stations. Barksdale Field, LA, 1 Mar 1942; Fort Myers, FL, 18 May-13 Aug 1942; Alconbury, England, 7 Sep 1942; Hardwick, England, c. 6 Dec 1942-15 Jun 1945 (air echelon operated from Tafaraoui, Algeria, 7-15 Dec 1942; Gambut, Libya, 16 Dec 1942-25 Feb 1943; Bengasi, Libya, 27 Jun-26 Aug 1943; Oudna, Tunisia, 18 Sep-3 Oct 1943); Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 26 Jun-6 Jul 1945. Pratt AAFld, KS, 20 Aug 1945; Clovis AAFld, NM, 13 Dec 1945; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 18 Jun-1 Oct 1946. Amarillo AFB, TX, 1 Apr 1963; March AFB, CA, 25 Jun 1966; Kadena AB, Okinawa (later, Japan), 1 Jul 1971-.
Commanders. Maj Stanley A. Zidiales, 26 Mar 1942; Maj Keith K. Compton, 12 Jul 1942; Maj William B. Musselwhite, 15 Oct 1942; Lt Col Kenneth O. Dessert, 13 Mar 1943; Maj William V. Taylor, by 31 Dec 1943; Lt Col Therman D. Brown, 3 Apr 1944; Lt Col Murray G. Fant, 10 Dec 1944-unkn. Capt Julian R. Abernathy, 20 Aug 1945-unkn; Lt Col Delmore P. Wood, 24 Jun-1 Oct 1946. Capt Robert L. Parks, 1 Apr 1963; Lt Col Carlton E. Justis, 10 May 1963; Lt Col Joseph R. Hanlen, 25 Sep 1964; Lt Col Tom H. Dalton, 17 Dec 1964; Lt Col Nicholas A. Corrao, by 31 Dec 1966; Lt Col Harold K. Jordan, by 30 Jun 1968; Lt Col Raymond L. Horvath, 15 Jun 1969; Lt Col Ralph T. Kivette, 1 Jul 1971; Lt Col Richard W. Fouss, 16 Mar 1973; Lt Col Norman A. Hamel, 1 Jun 1974; Maj Bruce S. Goodhue, 5 Jun 1976; Lt Col Lawrence M. Pring, 3 Jul 1976; Lt Col Theodore C. Dreyer, 27 Jul 1977; Lt Col Clifton J. Jester, 17 May 1979; Lt Col Phillip Daisher, 23 Mar 1981; Lt Col Lawrence F. Brunello, 5 Jun 1982; Lt Col Robert J. Pietras, 23 May 1984; Lt Col Robert J. Rhoades, 24 Jun 1985; Lt Col Thomas D. Deriso, 12 Sep 1986; Lt Col Leon A. Stamm, 8 Jul 1988; Lt Col Robert W. Vincent, 8 Sep 1989; Lt Col Richard V. Smith, 24 Aug 1990; Lt Col Dale F. Bible, 1 Jul 1992; Lt Col Edward G. Redman, 10 Jun 1994; Lt Col Leon M. Hoffsette, 9 Jun 1995; Lt Col Mark E. Andersen, 11 Jun 1996; Lt Col Larry G. Brockshus, 29 May 1998; Lt Col Ray E. Lamarche, 13 Jun 2000; Lt Col Kyle E. Garland, 21 Mar 2002; Lt Col Evin R. Westeren, 25 Jun 2003; Lt Col Christopher A. Comeau, 6 May 2005; Lt Col David R. Steele, 11 May 2007; Lt Col Glen H. Lehman, 21 May 2009-.
Aircraft. B-24, 1942-1945. B-29, 1945-1946. KC-135, 1963-1971, 1971-.
Operations. Antisubmarine patrols, May-30 Jul 1942. Combat in European and Mediterranean Theaters of Operation (ETO and MTO), 9 Oct 1942-25 Apr 1945. Worldwide air refueling, Jul 1963-Jun 1971 and Aug 1971-. Rotated aircrews to Southeast Asia, 1967-1973. Provided air refueling in Southwest Asia, Aug 1990-Mar 1991. Provided air refueling in support of peacetime operations and all levels of conflict in the Pacific Theater, 1991-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Egypt-Libya; Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa, 17 Dec 1942-20 Feb 1943; Ploesti, Rumania, 1 Aug 1943. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jul 1971-31 Mar 1972; 1 Apr 1972-28 Jan 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Apr-1 Oct 1967; 25 Mar-1 May 1968; 1 Jul 1969-30 Jun 1970; 1 Sep 1970-30 Jun 1971; 29 Jan 1973-31 Mar 1974; 1 Jul 1974-30 Jun 1976; 1 Jul 1976-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1977-30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987; 1 Jul 1987-30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1991; 1 Jun 1991-31 May 1993; 1 Jun 1993-31 Aug 1994; 1 Sep 1995-31 Aug 1997; 1 Oct 1998-30 Sep 2000; 1 Oct 2000-30 Sep 2002; 1 Oct 2002-30 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2005-30 Sep 2007. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jul 1971-28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through Apr 2010.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Apr 2010.
Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington: USPGO, 1999).
Emblem. Approved on 2 Dec 1963; updated on 7 Nov 1995.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.