13th Troop Carrier Squadron

913th Air Refueling Squadron
Boeing KC-135 on takeoff using water injection to increase thrust
Active	1940–1946; 1958–1981
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Refueling
Nickname(s)	The Thirsty Thirteenth (World War II)
Engagements	South West Pacific Theater of World War II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
913th Air Refueling Squadron Emblem
13th Troop Carrier Squadron patch

The first predecessor of the squadron was organized in 1940 as the 13th Transport Squadron. During World War II, as the 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, the squadron served in the South West Pacific Theater of World War II, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations, a Navy Unit Commendation and a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation for its wartime actions. Its last assignment was with the 403d Troop Carrier Group at Nichols Field, Luzon, Philippines, where it was inactivated on 15 October 1946.

The 913th Air Refueling Squadron was activated by the United States Air Force in 1958 at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where it was last assigned to the 2d Bombardment Wing. The squadron responded to the Cuban Missile Crisis and provided Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and aircrews to support the Viet Nam War. It was inactivated on 1 November 1981 and replaced by a squadron flying McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extenders.

The two squadrons were consolidated in September 1985 but the consolidated squadron has not been active since.

The 13th Transport Squadron was activated in late 1940 as one of the three original squadrons of the 61st Transport Group. Personnel for the squadron were drawn from the 5th Transport Squadron, located at Patterson Field, Ohio.