756th Air Refueling Squadron

756th Air Refueling Squadron History and Lineage

The 756th Air Refueling Squadron (756th ARS) is part of the 459th Air Refueling Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It operates KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.

History: Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment squadron in July 1943; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in Utah and Arizona received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in September 1943. Moved to Massachusetts where the group flew long-range convoy escort missions over the Newfoundland Banks to Long Island Sound, November-December 1943 while station in Italy was being constructed.

Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in February, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives. Also carried out some support and interdiction operations. Struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations in August 1944 to aid the invasion of Southern France. Hit communications lines and other targets during March and April 1945 to support the advance of British Eighth Army and American Fifth Army in northern Italy.

Returned to the United States in August 1945, being programmed for deployment to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) as a B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy Bombardment Squadron. Many combat veterans of MTO demobilized upon arrival in the United States, and a small cadre of personnel reformed at Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota at the end of August. Japanese Capitulation in August led to inactivation of unit and assigned personnel being reassigned to other group squadrons or demobilized.

Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in 1947 with B-29s. Trained at Long Beach Army Air Field, California then moving in 1949 to Smoky Hill AFB, Kansas and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana shortly afterward. Activated in 1951 by Second Air Force due to the Korean War, aircraft and personnel being reassigned to Strategic Air Command combat groups deployed to Far East Air Forces; inactivated shortly afterward.

Reactivated in 1954 as a reserve Tactical Air Command troop carrier squadron. Trained for and troop carrier and airlift operations beginning in Jun 1954 and in 1966 began flying airlift missions worldwide, including airlift support of contingency operations in Grenada in 1983 and in Panama in 1989. The squadron has also flown numerous humanitarian airlift missions.

Redesignated in 2003 as an air refueling squadron; equipped with KC-135Rs.

Constituted 756 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 19 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jul 1943. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Redesignated 756 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 11 Mar 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 19 Apr 1947. Redesignated 756 Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 26 Jun 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951. Inactivated on 16 May 1951. Redesignated 756 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 6 May 1954. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jun 1954. Redesignated: 756 Military Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1966; 756 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 29 Jun 1971; 756 Military Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1986; 756 Airlift Squadron on 1 Feb 1992.

Assignments: 459 Bombardment Group, 1 Jul 1943-28 Aug 1945. 459 Bombardment Group, 19 Apr 1947; Tenth Air Force, 26 Jun 1949; Fifteenth Air Force, 21 Jul 1949; Second Air Force, 1 Apr 1950-16 May 1951. First Air Force, 1 Jun 1954; 459 Troop Carrier Group, 26 Jan 1955; 459 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 909 Troop Carrier (later, 909 Military Airlift; 909 Tactical Airlift) Group, 17 Jan 1963; 459 Tactical Airlift (later, 459 Military Airlift; 459 Airlift) Wing, 1 Sep 1975; 459 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-

Stations: Alamogordo AAFld, NM, 1 Jul 1943; Kearns, UT, 2 Sep 1943; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 22 Sep 1943; Westover Field, MA, 1 Nov 1943-2 Jan 1944; Giulia Airfield, Italy, 12 Feb 1944-c. 2 Aug 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, c. 14-28 Aug 1945. Long Beach AAFld, CA, 19 Apr 1947; Smoky Hill AFB, KS, 27 Jun 1949; Barksdale AFB, LA, 10 Oct 1949-16 May 1951. Andrews AFB, MD, 1 Jun 1954-present.

Commanders: Maj Daulton B. Lee, Jul 1943; Lt Col Harrison R. Christy Jr., by Mar 1944; Unkn, Apr-28 Aug 1945. Unkn, 19 Apr 1947-16 May 1951. Unkn, 1 Jun-23 Jul 1954; Maj George A. Amsler (acting), 24 Jul 1954; Lt Col Gordon W. Becker, Sep 1954; Lt Col Bruce G. Sundlun, 25 Nov 1957; Lt Col Frank J. Parrish, by Jan 1962; Col James H. Lawrence, by Oct 1963; Lt Col Frank J. Parrish, by Oct 1965; Lt Col Elmer E. Wachter, by Dec 1969; Lt Col Richard R. Drake, by Sep 1971; Lt Col Robert Roig, by Sep 1972; Lt Col Richard C. McMahon, by Dec 1975; Col Jere J. Danaher, Jun 1977; Col John R. O'Rosky, 12 Sep 1978; Lt Col Horace M. Davis, 26 Nov 1980; Lt Col David R. Harrington, 1 Jun 1982; Lt Col Bernard A. Borandi, 17 Feb 1984; Lt Col David C. Gilliom, by Dec 1986; Lt Col Charles W. Beattie, 1 Aug 1989; Lt Col Daniel L. Boesz, unkn; Lt Col Louis C. Cusimano, 29 Jan 1993; Lt Col Frederick K. Lange, 8 Sep 1995; Lt Col John M. Allen, 4 Oct 1997; Col Michael T. Branham, 4 Aug 2001; Lt Col Robert N. Maddox, 26 Oct 2003-.

Aircraft:  B-24, 1943-1945. Unkn, 1947-1951. C-46, 1954-1957; C-119, 1957-1966; C-124, 1966-1971; C-130, 1971-1986; C-141, 1986-2003; KC-135, 2003 – present

Operations: Combat in MTO and ETO, 2 Mar 1944-26 Apr 1945. Trained for and troop carrier and airlift operations beginning in Jun 1954 and in 1966 began flying airlift missions worldwide, including airlift support of contingency operations in Grenada (1983) and Panama (1989). Also flew numerous humanitarian airlift missions.

Honors:

Service Streamers: None.

Campaign Streamers: Air Offensive, Europe; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers: Panama, 1989-1990.

Decorations: 

Distinguished Unit Citation: Bad Voslau, Austria, 23 Apr 1944. 

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Apr 1971-31 Mar 1973; 1 Nov 1978-31 Oct 1980; 1 Jan 1982-31 Dec 1983; 1 Jan 1984-31 Dec 1985; 1 Oct 1991-30 Sep 1993; 1 Oct 1993-30 Sep 1995.

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Oct 1966-28 Jun 1971.