| 911th Air Refueling Squadron | |
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911th Air Refueling Squadron Patch |
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| Active | May 15, 1917 - April 14, 1919 May 24, 1923 - October 1, 1933 March 1, 1935 - April 15, 1946 December 1, 1958 - June 8, 2007 April 12, 2008 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Aerial refueling |
| Part of | Air Mobility Command 18th Air Force 6th Air Mobility Wing 6th Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Seymour Johnson Air Force Base |
| Decorations | DUC AFOUA |
The 911th Air Refueling Squadron (911 ARS) is part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The squadron is geographically separated from the 6th AMW and operates as the active duty associate to the 916th Air Refueling Wing from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.
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It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.
Established in the spring of 1917 at Kelly Field, Texas just after the United States entry into World War I. Initially designated as the 16th Aero Squadron; redesignated as the 21st Aero Squadron in June in an Air Service redesignation. After a period of organization in the United States, the squadron deployed to France in January 1918. The squadron was a flying training unit in France from, February–c. December 1918, returning to the United States in April 1919 and inactivating.
Reactivated in 1935 as part of the GHQ Air Force at Bolling Field, D.C. . The 21st Observation Squadron flew light reconnaissance aircraft in support of Army maneuvers primarily in Northern Virginia. The squadron operated light land-based aircraft as well as amphibian seaplanes using the Potomac River for landings/takeoffs. In 1936 moved to Langley Field, Virginia and expanded to using heavier attack aircraft as well as medium bombers flying neutrality, sea search, and weather reconnaissance missions. Received early-model B-17C/D Flyining Fortresses in 1939 and moved to several locations along the Atlantic Coast, flying coastal patrol missions.
After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the squadron flew antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico from, January–June 1942; in early 1942 was redesignated as the 411th Bombardment Squadron and was assigned to II Bomber Command and becoming at B-17 Flying Fortress Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Became a B-24 Liberator Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for II Bomber Command in 1943. Was inactivated in April 1944 with the end of heavy bomber training.
Reconstituted in 1944 as a B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to Second Air Force for training. Initially assigned to 29th Bombardment Group, however shortages in aircraft and equipment led to personnel being consolidated into other group squadrons; inactivated. Reactivated about a month later; assigned to 502d Bombardment Group. Completed training with new personnel and equipment, and deployed to Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO), being assigned to XXI Bomber Command in the Northern Mariana Islands; assigned to Northwest Field, Guam.
Flew very long range strategic bombardment missions over the Japanese Home Islands, attacking military, industrial and transportation targets. Switched to night incendiary raids attacking major Japanese cities in the spring of 1945, causing massive destruction of urbanized areas. Continued strategic bombing raids and incendiary attacks until Japanese Capitulation in August 1945. Remained in the Mariana Islands until the spring of 1946, inactivated on Guam.
Reactivated as the 911 Air Refueling Squadron in 1958. It supported air refueling operations in Southeast Asia from, May 1972–July 1973. The 911th also flew air refueling support for the invasion of Panama in December 1989 and for combat operations in Southwest Asia from, August 1990–March 1992.[1]
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