34th Strategic Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Operation Looking Glass aircraft on runway atOffutt Air Force Base | |
| Active | 1942–1943; 1952–1955; 1958–1976; 1978–1990 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Control of deployed strategic forces |
| Part of | Strategic Air Command |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award withCombat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1][2] |
| Insignia | |
| Patch with 34th Strategic Squadron emblem |  |
| Patch with 34th Air Refueling Squadron emblem |  |
The34th Strategic Squadron is an inactiveUnited States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the11th Strategic Group atZaragoza Air Base, Spain. It was inactivated on 7 August 1990.
The first predecessor of the squadron, the34th Air Transport Squadron served on the South Atlantic ferrying route during World War II until it was disbanded in 1943. The squadron was reconstituted as aMilitary Air Transport Service unit atMcChord Air Force Base from 1952 through 1955.
The34th Air Refueling Squadron served as a refueling and command and control unit withStrategic Air Command from 1957 to 1972. The two squadrons were consolidated into a single unit in 1985.
At Zaragoza the unit supported theEuropean Tanker Task Force under the direction of the7th Air Division located atRamstein Air Base, Germany.
The first predecessor of thesquadron was activated atIbura Airport, nearRecife, Brazil in July 1942 as the34th Ferrying Squadron, serving with the9th Ferrying Group on the South Atlantic ferrying route. In March 1943, thegroup and squadron replaced their "ferrying" designation to "transport." In October 1943,Air Transport Command reorganized its overseas units and the 34th Squadron was disbanded and its personnel and equipment were transferred to Station 10, South Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command.
In 1952,Military Air Transport Service replaced most of its Major Command controlledairlift squadrons with Air Force controlled units. As part of this action, the34th Air Transport Squadron, equipped withDouglas C-124 Globemaster IIs,[3] was activated atMcChord Air Force Base and assigned to the1705th Air Transport Group.[4] The squadron performed airlift missions in the western United States and Pacific area until inactivating in 1955.[5]
The34th Air Refueling Squadron was initially activated atOffutt Air Force Base,[6] Nebraska and assigned to the340th Bombardment Wing atWhiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It was equipped withBoeing KC-135A Stratotanker aircraft to provideAerial refueling toStrategic Air Command (SAC) and other tactical aircraft.
In 1961 SAC looked for a practical airborne counterpart to its underground command post starting in July 1960. Five modifiedBoeing KC-135A Stratotanker aircraft were assigned to the 34th for this mission. One was kept onground alert at all times. SAC periodically tested the squadron's ability to meet the 15-minute launch window established for these planes. A SAC general officer and a team of controllers were on each flight. The firstOperation Looking Glass mission flown by the squadron took off on 3 February 1961. In March 1963, the squadron was equipped with eight specially-configured KC-135As for SAC'scommand and control mission. These planes were replaced the following August by KC-135B aircraft with turbofan engines and advanced electronics equipment. These aircraft could remain aloft for longer periods because they added receiver capabilities for air refueling operations, retaining their tanker configuration as well. These new aircraft were soon redesignated asBoeing EC-135Cs. In July 1965, these aircraft and their mission were transferred to the38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron.[7][8]
The squadron moved toPease Air Force Base, New Hampshire on 25 June 1966[9] and flew KC-135 Stratotankers on a worldwide scale and was assigned to the 509th Bombardment Wing until inactivated on 31 March 1976.
On 1 August 1978, it was redesignated as the34th Strategic Squadron and activated atZaragoza Air Base, Spain supporting theEuropean Tanker Task Force under the7th Air Division atRamstein Air Base, Germany.
On 19 September 1985 the 34th Strategic Squadron was consolidated with the 34th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, a unit that was last active 1 July 1955.[10]
The consolidated squadron was inactivated in preparation for the inactivation of SAC and the assumption of its European activities by elements ofAir Combat Command,Air Mobility Command, andUnited States Air Forces Europe.
34th Air Transport Squadron
34th Strategic Squadron
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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