93d Air Refueling Squadron
| 93d Air Refueling Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942-1946; 1949 – present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Role | Air refueling |
| Part of |
Air Mobility Command 18th Air Force 92d Air Refueling Wing 92d Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Fairchild Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Vanguards (World War II) |
| Motto(s) | Domini Artis Latin Masters of the Art |
| Engagements | China-Burma-India Theater |
| Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 93d Air Refueling Squadron emblem(Approved 9 December 1994) |  |
| 93d Air Refueling Squadron emblem (Approved 22 June 1955) |  |
| 493d Bombardment Squadron emblem |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Tanker | KC-135 Stratotanker |
The 93d Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 92d Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. It operates the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.
The squadron was first activated as the 493d Bombardment Squadron in nonoperational status at Karachi, India, and assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group on 25 Oct 1942. The squadron remained unmanned while the older squadrons of the 7th Group were converting to the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. When the group and squadron moved to Pandaveswar Airfield in early January 1943 it became operational with Liberators. It commenced combat operations on 26 Jan 1943.
The squadron engaged in strategic bombardment operations, attacking communications targets (roads, railroads, etc.) in central and southern Burma, all without fighter escort due to the long distances involved. Primary targets were oil refineries, docks, depots, enemy airfields, marshalling yards, bridges, locomotive repair sheds, naval vessels, and troop concentrations. The 493d moved to Tezgaon Airfield, India, on 17 Jun 1944, and assumed a new mission: transporting high-octane gasoline over the Hump to bases in China. This mission lasted until 5 October, at which time the squadron moved back to Pandaveswar to resume bombing missions. A detachment of the 493rd Squadron operated from Luliang Airfield, China from 17 December 1944 until 26 January 1945, hauling gasoline to Suichwan Airfield, China.
The squadron proper began practice with Azon ("Azimuth only") manual command to line of sight bombs. Apparently the squadron was the only USAAF unit to use this weapon outside of the European Theater of World War II. The Azon bombs were radio controlled and could be steered left or right, although their trajectory could not be changed to shorten or lengthen their flight to target. The Azon trained crews and their B-24s were initially assigned to the 9th Bombardment Squadron. However, in December 1944, the crews and planes were reassigned to the 493d and Azon missions began to be flown. Azon proved effective in attacks against bridges and rail lines. In early 1945 the squadron concentrated on attacks against the Burma-Thailand railroad, the most important line left to the enemy in Burma. On 19 March, the 493d earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacks against rail lines and bridges in Thailand. The squadron also dropped propaganda leaflets in Thailand from June through September 1945 for the Office of War Information.
...
Wikipedia