384th Air Refueling Squadron

384th Air Refueling Squadron
Active1943–1946; 1955–1966; 1973–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir refueling
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Nickname(s)Squarepatchers[1]
ColorsMaroon/Silver[citation needed]
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Global War on Terror
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Insignia
384th Air Refueling Squadron emblem[a][2]
384th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 30 June 1959)[3][b]
Patch with 584th Bombardment Squadron emblem[c][4]
World War II fuselage code[5]K5

The 384th Air Refueling Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where it is assigned to the 92d Operations Group and operates the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.

The first predecessor of the squadron is the 584th Bombardment Squadron, a Martin B-26 Marauder unit that served in the European Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm. After V-E Day, it served with the occupation forces in Germany until inactivating in 1946.

The 384th was activated in 1955 at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it served as a Strategic Air Command air refueling unit until inactivating in 1966. It was activated again in 1973 and has performed global refueling missions since then. The two squadrons were consolidated into a single unit in 1985.

  1. ^ Thornbury, A1C Christopher (23 September 2016). "384th ARS deactivates [sic], makes room for KC-46". 22d Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Musser, James (1 September 2022). "Factsheet 384 Air Refueling Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  3. ^ Endicott, p. 769
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 673
  5. ^ Watkins, p. 110


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