168th Air Refueling Squadron

168th Air Refueling Squadron
168th Air Refueling Squadron – Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker 63-8876
Active	1942–1946; 1947–1953; 1953–1968; 1986–present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Alaska
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Air refueling
Part of	Alaska Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska
Nickname(s)	Chena[citation needed]
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Colonel Dean Thibodeau
Insignia
168th Air Refueling Squadron emblem
168th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblem
168th Fighter-Bomber Squadron emblem[a]
Unofficial 437th Bombardment Squadron emblem[1]
Tail Stripe	Blue tail stripe "Alaska" in yellow

The 168th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska. The 168th has been equipped with various models of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker since activating in 1986.

The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 437th Bombardment Squadron and equipped with the Martin B-26 Marauder. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operationsl, where its actions in combat earned it two Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm. In late 1944, it was withdrawn from combat operations and returned to the United States, where it converted to the Douglas A-26 Invader. It moved to Okinawa, where it engaged in combat against Japan. Following V-J Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.

In 1946, the squadron was allotted to the National Guard and redesignated the 168th Bombardment Squadron. It activated in Illinois and was again iequipped with the Invader, which was called the B-26 after 1948. In 1951, the squadron was called to active duty. It moved to France and supported North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations until January 1953, when it transferred its personnel and equipment to a regular Air Force Unit and was inactivated and returned to state control. It was active in Illinois as a fighter squadron until 1958, when it was again inactivated and withdrawn from the Guard. It remained inactive until 1986, when it was allotted to the Alaska Air Guard.

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