117th Air Refueling Squadron

117th Air Refueling Squadron
Squadron KC-135E Stratotanker lands following its final mission at Forbes Field[a]
Active	1942–1946; 1948–1953; 1953–1956; 1957–present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Kansas
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Air refueling
Part of	Kansas Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas
Nickname(s)	Kansas Coyotes[1]
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II[2]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation French Croix de Guerre with Palm[2]Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
117th Air Refueling Squadron emblem
117 Tactical Reconnaissance Sq emblem[b]
440th Bombardment Squadron emblem[3]

The 117th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing located at Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas. The 117th is equipped with the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.

The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 440th 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 In late 1944, it was withdrawn from combat operations and returned to the United States, where it converted to the Douglas A-26 Invader.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 117th Bombardment Squadron. It again equipped with Intruders as part of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. It was mobilized in the spring of 1951 and moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it served as a B-16 Invader training unit until returning to state control in January 1953. On its return to Pennsylvania, it became the 117th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. However, the unit was unable to meet minimum manning requirements for Guard units and was inactivated and withdrawn from the National Guard in July 1956.

In 1957, the squadron returned to Air Guard service as the 117th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the Kansas Air National Guard. Before becoming fully operational as a fighter unit, the squadron was redesignated the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squasdron and equipped with Martin RB-57 Canberras. It continued to fly other models of the Canberra, becoming the 117th Bombardment Squadron in 1972 and the 117th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron in 1974. It converted to the KC-135 Stratotanker and the air refueling mission in 1978.

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