350th Air Refueling Squadron
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A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing refuels a B-2 Stealth Bomber from the 509th Bomb Wing.
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Active | 1942-1945; 1947-1949; 1956–1976; 1982–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Squadron |
Role | Air Refueling |
Part of |
Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force 22nd Air Refueling Wing 22nd Operations Group |
Garrison/HQ | McConnell Air Force Base |
Nickname(s) | Red Falcons |
Engagements |
WWII European Theater Gulf War War on Terror |
Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm |
Insignia | |
350th Air Refueling Squadron Emblem (approved 17 Apr 1959) | |
Patch with World War II 350th Bombardment Squadron emblem | |
World War II ETO fuselage code and color |
LN Yellow |
The 350th Air Refueling Squadron (350 ARS) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. It operates Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.
To organize, train and equip to provide global mobility, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
The squadron was originally established as one of the original Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadrons of the 100th Bombardment Group in mid-1942 under Third Air Force, but was immediately transferred to Second Air Force for training. It remained a paper unit until the initial cadre of the ground echelon (4 officers and 27 enlisted men) were assigned at Gowen Field, Idaho. Two days later, the squadron departed for Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington for Phase I training. There the first aircrew arrived on 1 December 1942.
In February 1943, the ground echelon went to Kearney AAF, Nebraska, while the air echelon went to Ainsworth, Casper and Scottsbluff Army Air Fields, where they acted as instructors training other units for the next three months. On 28 April, Colonel Alkire, the first group commander was relieved of duty. Two days later, the air echelon returned to Wendover Field, and would not be reunited with the ground echelon until arriving in England in June.