34th Strategic Squadron

34th Strategic Squadron
Emblem of the 34th Air Strategic Squadron
Active	1958-1976; 1978-1990
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Strategic support

Emblem of the 34th Air Refueling Squadron

The 34th Strategic Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 11th Strategic Group, stationed at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain. It was inactivated on 7 August 1990.

Overview

At Zaragoza the unit supported the European Tanker Task Force under the direction of the 7th Air Division located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

History

The squadron was initially activated at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, as the 34th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, a geographically separated unit assigned to the 340th Bombardment Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It provided air refueling to Strategic Air Command and other tactical aircraft using KC-97 (1958–1959; 1964), and operated the Strategic Air Command Airborne Command Post "LOOKING GLASS" from 1961 to 1966.

It was moved to Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire on 25 Jun 1966 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 the 34th Strategic Squadron and activated at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain supporting the European Tanker Task Force under the 7th Air Division at Ramstein 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.^[1]

The consolidated squadron was inactivated in preparation for the inactivation of SAC and the assumption of its European activities by elements of Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, and United States Air Forces Europe.

Lineage

34th Air Transport Squadron

• Constituted as the 34th Ferrying Squadron and activated c. 9 July 1942

Redesignated 34th Transport Squadron c. 24 March 1943

Disbanded 10 October 1943

• Reconstituted on 20 June 1952 and redesignated 34th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy

Activated on 20 July 1952

Inactivated on 1 July 1955

• Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 34th Air Refueling Squadron as the 34th Air Refueling Squadron^[1]

34th Strategic Squadron

• Constituted as the 34th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy

Activated on 1 October 1958

Inactivated on 1 March 1972

• Redesignated 34th Strategic Squadron

Activated on 1 August 1978

• Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 34th Air Transport Squadron^[1]

Inactivated on 31 March 1992

Assignments

• 9th Ferrying Group (later 9th Transport Group): c. 9 July 1942 – 10 October 1943
• 1705th Air Transport Group: 20 July 1952 – 1 July 1955
• 340th Bombardment Wing: 1 October 1958
• 4321st Strategic Wing: 1 October 59
• 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing: 1 January 1963
• 818th Strategic Aerospace Division: 15 December 1964
• 810th Strategic Aerospace Division: 25 March 1965
• 509th Bombardment Wing: 25 Jun 1966 – 31 Mar 1976
• 7th Air Division: 1 August 1978
• 11th Strategic Group: 1 October 1986
• 306th Strategic Wing: 7 August 1990 – 31 March 1992

Stations

• Ibura Airport, Brazil, c. 9 July 1942 – 10 October 1943
• McChord Air Force Base, Washington, 20 July 1952 – 1 July 1955
• Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, 1 October 1958
• Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire, 25 June 1966 – 31 March 1976
• Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, 1 August 1978 – 31 March 1992

Aircraft

• KC-135, 1958-1976; 1978-1992
• EC-135A, 1961-1963
• EC-135C, 1963-1966

See also

References

1. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.