Lineage. Constituted as 20 Reconnaissance Squadron (Light) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated as: 97 Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 14 Aug 1941; 97 Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 97 Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 2 Feb 1949. Activated on 1 Mar 1949. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 Mar 1964. Redesignated as 97 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, and activated, on 8 Oct 1964. Organized on 23 Oct 1964. Redesignated as 97 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Sep 1991. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1992. Activated on 1 Oct 1992. Inactivated on 30 Sep 2004. Activated on 1 Oct 2019.
Assignments. General Headquarters Air Force (later, Air Force Combat Command), 15 Jan 1941 (attached to the 17 Bombardment Group, 15 Jan-7 May 1941; 47 Bombardment Group, 8 May-13 Aug 1941); 47 Bombardment Group, 14 Aug 1941-31 Mar 1946. 97 Bombardment Group, 1 Mar 1949 (attached to the 97 Bombardment Wing, 12 Jul 1950-15 Jun 1952); 97 Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952 (attached to Fifteenth Air Force, c. 31 May-10 Jul 1955); 4061 Air Refueling Wing, 1 Sep 1957; 9 Bombardment (later, 9 Strategic Aerospace) Wing, (attached to 341 Combat Support Group), 15 Jul 1961; 28 Bombardment Wing, 1 Jul 1962-15 Mar 1964. Strategic Air Command, 8 Oct 1964; 97 Bombardment Wing, 23 Oct 1964; 97 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991-1 Apr 1992. 43 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1992; 453 Operations Group, 1 Apr 1994; 92 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1994-30 Sep 2004. 92 Operations Group, 1 Oct 2019-.
Stations. McChord Field, WA, 15 Jan 1941; Fresno AB (later, Hammer Field), CA, 11 Aug 1941; Will Rogers Field, OK, 15 Feb 1942; Greensboro Aprt, NC, 16 Jul 1942; Langley Field, VA, 6-27 Oct 1942; Casablanca, French Morocco, 7 Nov 1942; Mediouna, French Morocco, 18 Nov 1942; Thelepte, Tunisia, 27 Dec 1942; Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, 15 Feb 1943; Canrobert, Algeria, 21 Feb 1943; Thelepte, Tunisia, 31 Mar 1943; Souk-el-Arba, Tunisia, c. 30 Apr 1943; Grombalia, Tunisia, 1 Jun 1943; Takali Airdrome, Malta, 23 Jul 1943; Torrente Comunelli, Sicily, 12 Aug 1943; Catania, Sicily, 19 Aug 1943; Grottaglie Airdrome, Tarranto, Italy, c. 24 Sep 1943; Vincenzo Airfield, Foggia, Italy, 17 Oct 1943; Vesuvius Airfield, San Guiseppe, Italy, c. 8 Jan 1944; Capodichino, Italy, 22 Mar 1944; Vesuvius Airfield, San Guiseppe, Italy, 26 Apr 1944; Ponte Galeria, Italy, 12 Jun 1944; Grossetto, Italy, 28 Jun 1944; Poretto, Corsica, 15 Jul 1944; Salon, France, 7 Sep 1944; Follonica, Italy, 19 Sep 1944; Rosignano Afld, Italy, 9 Oct 1944; Grossetto, Italy, 6 Dec 1944; Pisa, Italy, 31 Mar-25 Jun 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 11 Jul 1945; Seymour Johnson Field, NC, 14 Jul 1945; Lake Charles AAFld, LA, 9 Sep 1945–31 Mar 1946. Biggs AFB, TX, 1 Mar 1949 (deployed at Upper Heyford, England, 15 Mar-11 Jun 1952; Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, 21 Nov-20 Dec 1954 and c. 31 May-10 Jul 1955; RAF Greenham Common, England, 1 May-9 Jul 1956; Goose AB, Labrador, Apr-1 Sep 1957); Malmstrom AFB, MT, 1 Sep 1957-15 Mar 1964. Blytheville (later, Eaker) AFB, AR, 23 Oct 1964-1 Apr 1992. Malmstrom AFB, MT, 1 Oct 1992; Fairchild AFB, WA, 1 Apr 1994-30 Sep 2004. Fairchild AFB, WA, 1 Oct 2019-.
Service Streamers. Global War on Terrorism-Service (GWOT-S).
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Po Valley, 21-24 Apr 1945. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jun 2003-30 Sep 2004. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1955-1 Sep 1957; 2 Jul-3 Nov 1957; 1 Jul 1975-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1977-30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1980-30 Jun 1982; 1 Jul 1986-30 Jun 1988; [1 Oct] 1992-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1997; 1 Jan 1998-30 Jun 1999; 30 Sep 2000-1 Oct 2001; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 26 Sep 2022
Supersedes statement prepared on 1 Oct 2019.
Emblem. Approved on 9 Dec 1994; latest rendering, 28 Oct 2021.
Prepared by James M. Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.