<< Combat Index home Combat Index Military Insignia US Air Force Insignia US Air Force Wings 2 Air Refueling Squadron Unit Insignia Description: Azure, "Neptune" grasping in sinister hand a trident fesswise Argent, bearded, eyed and crowned Sable, astride an eagle volant Gray, eyed Black head, beak, tail and outer wings White, grasping a refueling boom of the last, all within a diminished bordure Gules. Approved on 13 April 1995; based on emblems approved on 7 Mar 1989 and 21 May 1924; replaced emblem approved on 20 Feb 1952. MOTTO: SECOND TO NONE. Approved on 7 Mar 1989. Lineage Organized as 1st Company, 2d Aero Squadron, on 1 Dec 1915. Redesignated: 2d Aero Squadron on 20 Jul 1917; Squadron A, Kelly Field, TX, on 23 Jul 1918. Demobilized on 18 Nov 1918. Reconstituted, and consolidated (8 Apr 1924) with 2d Observation Squadron, which was organized as 2d Aero Squadron (Observation) on 5 Jun 1919. Redesignated: 2d Squadron on 14 Mar 1921; 2d Observation Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 2d Observation Squadron (Medium) on 26 Feb 1942. Inactivated on 2 Apr 1946. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 2d Air Refueling Squadron, Medium, which was constituted on 27 Oct 1948. Activated on 1 Jan 1949. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Apr 1963. Redesignated 2d Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, on 19 Sep 1985. Activated on 3 Jan 1989. Redesignated 2d Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Sep 1991. Assignments Unkn, 1 Dec 1915–Feb 1916; Philippine Department, Feb 1916–Oct 1917; unkn, Oct 1917–18 Nov 1918. Unkn, 5 Jun–24 Dec 1919; Philippine Department, 24 Dec 1919; 1st Observation (later, 4th Observation; 4th Composite) Group, 10 Mar 1920; Far East (later, Fifth) Air Force, 28 Oct 1941–2 Apr 1946. 2d Bombardment Group, 1 Jan 1949 (attached to 2d Bombardment Wing, 10 Feb 1951–15 Jun 1952); 2d Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952–1 Apr 1963. 2d Bombardment Wing, 3 Jan 1989; 2d Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991; 458th Operations Group, 1 Jun 1992; 305th Operations Group, 1 Jul 1995–. Stations San Diego, CA, 1 Dec 1915–2 Jan 1916; Fort McKinley, Luzon, 3 Feb 1916; Fort Mills, Corregidor, 14 Feb 1916–c. 15 Oct 1917; Kelly Field, TX, Nov 1917–18 Nov 1918. Rockwell Field, CA, 5 Jun–29 Nov 1919; Fort Mills, Corregidor, 24 Dec 1919; Kindley Field, Corregidor, 15 Oct 1920; Nichols Field, Luzon, Jun 1929; Clark Field, Luzon, c. 1 Nov 1940; Nichols Field, Luzon, c. Nov–Dec 1941. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1 Jan 1949; Chatham AFB, GA, 16 Sep 1950; Hunter Field (later, AFB), GA, 28 Sep 1950–1 Apr 1963 (deployed at Lakenheath RAF Station, England, 4 May–30 Aug 1951 and 4 Sep–3 Dec 1952; Benguerir AB, French Morocco, 12 Aug–20 Sep 1954; and Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 6 Jul–24 Aug 1956). Barksdale AFB, LA, 3 Jan 1989; McGuire AFB, NJ, 1 Oct 1994–. Aircraft Martin S-Hydro, 1916–1917; apparently JN–4, 1917–1918. HS2L, N–9, HS1L, S–1, and apparently DH–4, 1919–1925; DH–4, O–2, O–5, OA–1, S–1, and COA–1, 1925–1931; O–19, C–6, OA–3, 1931–1938; O–46, and apparently OA–4 and OA–9, 1938–1941; O–52, 1941. Unkn, 1949; KB–29, 1950–1953; KC–97, 1953–1963. KC–10, 1989–. Operations Evidently a flying training unit, 1917–18 Nov 1918. Combat in the Philippines in Dec 1941, when Japanese attacks destroyed its aircraft, its surviving personnel were absorbed by other units; carried as an active unit without personnel from Dec 1941 until 2 Apr 1946. Air refueling operations, 1950–1963 and 1989–present, including aerial refueling support in Southwest Asia, Aug 1990–Apr 1991. Service Streamers None Campaign Streamers World War II: Philippine Islands. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers None Decorations Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippine Islands, 7 Dec 1941–[Dec 1941]; Philippine Islands, 8–22 Dec 1941. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1956–1 Apr 1957; [3 Jan 1989]–30 Jun 1989. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII).