56 Air Refueling Sq (AETC)

Lineage.  Constituted as 56 Troop Carrier Squadron on 12 Nov 1942.  Activated on 18 Nov 1942. Inactivated on 25 Mar 1946.  Activated in the Reserve on 3 Aug 1947.  Redesignated as 56 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 27 Jun 1949.  Ordered to active service on 15 Oct 1950. Inactivated on 14 Jul 1952.  Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jul 1952.  Inactivated on 16 Nov 1957.  Redesignated as 56 Military Airlift Squadron, Training, and activated on 27 Dec 1965.  Organized on 8 Jan 1966.  Redesignated as 56 Airlift Squadron on 27 Aug 1991.  Inactivated on 30 Sep 2008.  Redesignated as 56 Air Refueling Squadron on 23 Jun 2016.  Activated on 1 Aug 2016. 

Assignments.  375 Troop Carrier Group, 18 Nov 1942-25 Mar 1946.  375 Troop Carrier Group, 3 Aug 1947-14 Jul 1952.  375 Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jul 1952-16 Nov 1957.  Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command), 27 Dec 1965; 443 Military Airlift (later, 443 Airlift) Wing, 8 Jan 1966; 443 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1991; 97 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1992-30 Sep 2008.  97 Operations Group, 1 Aug 2016-. 

Stations.  Bowman Field, KY, 18 Nov 1942; Sedalia AAFld, MO, 23 Jan 1943; Laurinburg-Maxton AAB, NC, 5 May 1943; Baer Field, IN, 2-17 Jun 1943; Port Moresby, New Guinea, c. 15 Jul 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, 2 Aug 1943; Port Moresby, New Guinea, 23 Dec 1943; Nadzab, New Guinea, 22 Apr 1944; Biak, 19 Sep 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, 27 Feb 1945; Porac, Luzon, c. 20 May 1945; Okinawa, c. 20 Aug 1945; Tachikawa, Japan, c. 20 Sep 1945-25 Mar 1946.  Greater Pittsburgh Aprt, PA, 3 Aug 1947; Greenville AFB, SC, 16 Oct 1950-14 Jul 1952. Pittsburgh, PA, 14 Jul 1952-16 Nov 1957.  Tinker AFB, OK, 8 Jan 1966; Altus AFB, OK, 20 Jan 1969–30 Sep 2008.  Altus AFB, OK, 1 Aug 2016-.

Service Streamers.  None.

Campaign Streamers.  World War II:  Air Offensive, Japan; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:  1 Apr 1967-1 Mar 1969; 1 Apr 1970-31 Mar 1972; 1 Jul 1979-30 Jun 1981; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987; 1 Jul 1991-30 Sep 1992; 1 Oct 1992-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1995; 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jul 1998-30 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2002-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2006; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008; 1 Jul 2017-30 Jun 2019; 1 Jul 2019-30 Jun 2021.  Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 13 Apr 2022. 

Supersedes statement prepared on 10 Jan 2017.

Emblem.  Approved on 16 Nov 1966; latest rendering, 30 Aug 2016.

Prepared by Melissa Lahue.

Reviewed by Margaret Ream.