22d Bombardment Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force
unit, assigned to Air Combat Command
. It is engaged in combat operations as part of the Global War on Terrorism. Its current status and location are undetermined.
The squadron was previously designated as the 22d Air Refueling Squadron, and was an Air Mobility Command and Strategic Air Command
air refueling squadron, established in 1950.
During World War II, the 22d Bombardment Group was a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy and a B-25 Mitchell
medium bomb squadron which fought in the Southwest Pacific and China-Burma-India theaters.
s, later early model B-17 Flying Fortresses. Flew antisubmarine patrols off California coast, 8 December – c. 10 December 1941. Deployed to Southwest Pacific Theater and assigned to Fifth Air Force in Australia, engaging in combat, c. 13 January – c. 1 March 1942; detachment under control of United States Navy in combat from the Fiji Islands and Australia, 14 February – c. 14 March 1942. Surviving B-17 aircraft and personnel reassigned to other units in Australia, March 1942 and unit reassigned without personnel or equipment to the United States for re-equipping and remanning as medium bomber squadron.
Re-equipped as a B-25 Mitchell
bomb squadron and deployed to Tenth Air Force
for combat in the China-Burma-India theater, 14 December 1942 – 25 July 1945. Deployed to Karachi, India; Chakulia, India; and Yangkai, China. While in Calcutta, India, the unit converted to the A-26 Invader Attack Bomber. During World War II, the unit earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and participated in nine separate campaigns. Personnel demobilized in India after the war, and the 22d was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States in November 1945.
On 16 June 1950, the 22d Air Refueling Squadron was re-activated at March AFB CA, flying the KC-97 Aircraft. The squadron relocated to McChord AFB, WA on 15 June 1960 where it later upgraded to the KC-135. The squadron was deactivated on 1 July 1962. The Squadron was reactivated at March AFB, CA on 1 July 1963, flying the KC-135 and EC-135 aircraft. It was deployed to Andersen AB, Guam whereupon it supported the Vietnam War
until mid 1973. The squadron was inactivated on 1 December 1989.
Reactivated on 1 October 1992 at Mountain Home AFB, ID, it was assigned seven KC-135R model aircraft as part of the Air Force’s first Composite Air Intervention Wing. The squadron was consecutively awarded the 366th Wing's Silver Bolt Award for foreign object damage prevention during fiscal year 1997-1 and 1997-2, as well ACC’s Best Tanker Award for 1993. The squadrong garnered the 366th Wing’s only "Outstanding" rating during the July 1995 ORI and its deployed maintenance won the ACC IG Superior Performance Team Award during the 366th Wing's 1997 AEF and first ever combat zone ORI. The 22d ARS was the only squadron in the 366th Wing to display nose art on the entire fleet. It was also awarded the outstanding Unit Award, 1 June 1998 through 31 May 1999.
Inactivated in 2002. Reactivated as an Air Mobility Command provisional air refueling squadron in 2003 and deployed to combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit, assigned to Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
. It is engaged in combat operations as part of the Global War on Terrorism. Its current status and location are undetermined.
The squadron was previously designated as the 22d Air Refueling Squadron, and was an Air Mobility Command and Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
air refueling squadron, established in 1950.
During World War II, the 22d Bombardment Group was a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy and a B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
medium bomb squadron which fought in the Southwest Pacific and China-Burma-India theaters.
History
Formed in 1939 as a prewar bomb squadron, equipped with B-18 BoloB-18 Bolo
The Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
s, later early model B-17 Flying Fortresses. Flew antisubmarine patrols off California coast, 8 December – c. 10 December 1941. Deployed to Southwest Pacific Theater and assigned to Fifth Air Force in Australia, engaging in combat, c. 13 January – c. 1 March 1942; detachment under control of United States Navy in combat from the Fiji Islands and Australia, 14 February – c. 14 March 1942. Surviving B-17 aircraft and personnel reassigned to other units in Australia, March 1942 and unit reassigned without personnel or equipment to the United States for re-equipping and remanning as medium bomber squadron.
Re-equipped as a B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
bomb squadron and deployed to Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
for combat in the China-Burma-India theater, 14 December 1942 – 25 July 1945. Deployed to Karachi, India; Chakulia, India; and Yangkai, China. While in Calcutta, India, the unit converted to the A-26 Invader Attack Bomber. During World War II, the unit earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and participated in nine separate campaigns. Personnel demobilized in India after the war, and the 22d was inactivated as a paper unit in the United States in November 1945.
On 16 June 1950, the 22d Air Refueling Squadron was re-activated at March AFB CA, flying the KC-97 Aircraft. The squadron relocated to McChord AFB, WA on 15 June 1960 where it later upgraded to the KC-135. The squadron was deactivated on 1 July 1962. The Squadron was reactivated at March AFB, CA on 1 July 1963, flying the KC-135 and EC-135 aircraft. It was deployed to Andersen AB, Guam whereupon it supported the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
until mid 1973. The squadron was inactivated on 1 December 1989.
Reactivated on 1 October 1992 at Mountain Home AFB, ID, it was assigned seven KC-135R model aircraft as part of the Air Force’s first Composite Air Intervention Wing. The squadron was consecutively awarded the 366th Wing's Silver Bolt Award for foreign object damage prevention during fiscal year 1997-1 and 1997-2, as well ACC’s Best Tanker Award for 1993. The squadrong garnered the 366th Wing’s only "Outstanding" rating during the July 1995 ORI and its deployed maintenance won the ACC IG Superior Performance Team Award during the 366th Wing's 1997 AEF and first ever combat zone ORI. The 22d ARS was the only squadron in the 366th Wing to display nose art on the entire fleet. It was also awarded the outstanding Unit Award, 1 June 1998 through 31 May 1999.
Inactivated in 2002. Reactivated as an Air Mobility Command provisional air refueling squadron in 2003 and deployed to combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism.
Lineage
- Constituted as 22d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), and activated, on 20 October 1939
- Redesignated 22d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) c. 15 September 1942
- Inactivated on 2 November 1945.
- Consolidated 19 September 1985 with the 22d Air Refueling Squadron, Medium,which was constituted on 5 May 1950
- Activated on 15 June 1950
- Discontinued, and inactivated on 1 July 1962
- Redesignated 22d Air Refueling Squadron (Heavy) and activated on 21 February 1963
- Organized on 1 July 1963
- Inctivated on 1 December 1989
- Redesignated 22d Air Refueling Squadron on 29 September 1992
- Activated on 1 October 1992
- Inactivated on 30 August 2002
- Redesignated 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and converted to provisional status, 22 January 2003
Assignments
- 7th Bombardment Group7th Operations GroupThe 7th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 7th Bomb Wing, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas...
, 20 October 1939
- Attached to 17th Bombardment Group17th Training WingThe 17th Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Second Air Force. It is stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas...
for training, 26 April – 28 May 1942- 341st Bombardment Group, 15 September 1942 – 2 November 1945
- 22d Bombardment Group, 16 June 1950
- Attached to 22d Bombardment Wing, 10 February 1951-15 June 1952
- 22d Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952
- 92nd Bombardment (later, 92 Strategic Aerospace) Wing, 15 June 1960-1 July 1962
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 21 February 1963 - 22d Bombardment (later, 22 Air Refueling) Wing, 1 July 1963-1 December 1989
- 366th Operations Group366th Operations GroupThe 366th Operations Group is the flying component of the 366th Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.-Overview:...
, 1 October 1992-30 August 2002 - Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
to activate or inactivate at any time after 22 January 2003 - Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
to activate or inactivate at any time after 19 March 2003
- Attached to: 376th Expeditionary Operations Group (Undetermined dates)
Stations
- Hamilton Field, California, 20 October 1939
- Fort Douglas, UtahFort Douglas, UtahCamp Douglas was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas. The fort was officially...
, 7 September 1940 - Salt Lake City Apt.Salt Lake City International AirportSalt Lake City International Airport is a major public airport in Utah. A joint civil-military facility, it is located in western Salt Lake City, approximately four miles from the central business district...
, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, c. 21 June – 13 November 1941 - Archerfield Airport (Brisbane)Archerfield AirportArcherfield Airport is a small airport located 7 1/2 miles at Archerfield in the south west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. For some time it was the primary airport in Brisbane. During World War II it was used as a Royal Australian Air Force station. Airport traffic peaked in the 1980s...
, Australia, 22 December 1941
- Air echelon at: Muroc AAF, California, 8-c. 12 December 194
- Air echelon at: Hickam Field, Hawaii (Territory), 18 December 1941 – 5 January 1942
- Air echelon at: SingosariSingosariSingosari is a small town in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, on the Java Island. It is situated about 400 m above sea-level, and is therefore quite cool especially from June to August. Temperature hovers around 18–20 degrees celsius at night. It is predominantly occupied by Moslems with a...
, JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, 13–19 January 1942- JogjakartaAdisucipto International AirportAdisucipto International Airport is the principal airport serving the Yogyakarta area on the island of Java, Indonesia....
, JavaJavaJava is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, 19 January 1942
- Jogjakarta
- Detachment operated from: Nandi AirportNadi International AirportNadi International Airport is the main international gateway for the islands of Fiji. It serves about 1.2 million people per year, and is the main hub of Air Pacific. The airport is 10km from the city of Nadi. In 2009 it handled 1,220,000 passengers on international and domestic...
, Fiji Islands, 14-c. 18 February 1942 - Detachment operated from: RAAF Base TownsvilleRAAF Base TownsvilleRAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No...
, Australia, c. 20 February – c. 14 March 1942- Essendon Airport (Melbourne)Essendon AirportEssendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
, Australia, c. 4 March – 6 April 1942 - Columbia AABColumbia Metropolitan AirportColumbia Metropolitan Airport is the main airport for Columbia, South Carolina. The airport lies five miles southwest of Columbia's central business district, in Lexington County.-Airlines and destinations:...
, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 26 April – 28 May 1942 - KarachiKarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, India, 23 July 1942 - Chakulia, India, 3 December 1942
- Essendon Airport (Melbourne)
- Yangkai, China, 8 January 1944 – c. September 1945
- Detachments operated from: Yunnani, 29 April – 6 May 1944, and c. 5 November 1944 – c. 20 January 1945
- Detachments operated from: Peishiyi, February – 25 March 1945
- Detachments operated from: Chihkiang, 29 March – c. 1 April 1945
- Camp Kilmer, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 1–2 November 1945 - March AFB, California, 16 June 1950
- Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
- Deployed at: RAF MildenhallRAF MildenhallRAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
, England, 7 December 1953 – 5 March 1954 - Ernest Harmon AFB, NewfoundlandNewfoundland and LabradorNewfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, 3 March – 19 April 1955 - Elmendorf AFB, Alaska TerritoryAlaska TerritoryThe Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
, 3 January – 2 May 1956- McChord AFB, Washington, 15 June 1960 – 1 July 1962
- March AFB, California, 1 July 1963 – 1 December 1989
- Deployed to: Andersen AFB, GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, 1 July 1963 – 15 August 1973- Mountain Home AFB, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 1 October 1992 – 30 August 2002 - Manas AB, KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, 22 January 2003 (Undetermined dates)
- Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
Aircraft
- In addition to B-18 BoloB-18 BoloThe Douglas B-18 Bolo was a United States Army Air Corps and Royal Canadian Air Force bomber of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was built by Douglas Aircraft Company and based on its DC-2 and was developed to replace the Martin B-10....
, included Northrop A-17Northrop A-17The Northrop A-17, a development of the Northrop Gamma 2F was a two seat, single engine, monoplane, attack bomber built in 1935 by the Northrop Corporation for the US Army Air Corps.-Development and design:...
(or A-17A) during period 1939–1940 - B-17 Flying Fortress, 1940–1942
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
; 1942–1945 - Douglas A-26, 1945
- KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
, 1952–1960 - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, 1960–1962; 1963–1967; 1967–1989; 1992–2002 - EC-135, 1963–1970
- Undetermined, since 2003
See also
- United States Army Air Forces in AustraliaUnited States Army Air Forces in AustraliaDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established a series of airfields in Australia for the collective defense of the country, as well as for conducting offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy...
- Post Attack Command and Control SystemPost Attack Command and Control SystemThe Post Attack Command and Control System was a network of communication sites for use before, during and after a nuclear attack on the United States. PACCS was designed to ensure that National Command Authority would retain sole, exclusive, and complete control over US nuclear weapons...
– for 22 ARS' contribution to PACCS