Lineage. Organized as 32 Aero Squadron on 13 Jun 1917. Demobilized on 14 Apr 1919. Reconstituted, and redesignated as 32 Bombardment Squadron, on 24 Mar 1923. Activated on 24 Jun 1932. Redesignated as: 32 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Dec 1939; 32 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, c. 6 Mar 1944; 32 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 5 Aug 1945. Inactivated on 15 Oct 1945. Activated on 4 Aug 1946. Redesignated as 32 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 28 May 1948. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 Jun 1964. Redesignated as 32 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy, and activated, on 23 Dec 1964. Organized on 15 Mar 1965. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1979. Activated on 1 Nov 1981. Redesignated as 32 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Sep 1991.
Assignments. Unkn, 13 Jun–Sep 1917; Third Aviation Instruction Center, Sep 1917–Jan 1919; unkn, Jan–14 Apr 1919. 19 Bombardment Group, 24 Jun 1932 (attached to IV Bomber Command, 22 Oct–Dec 1941; apparently attached to 7 Bombardment Group for operations, c. 8–15 Dec 1941); Sierra Bombardment Group, 16 Dec 1941; Fourth Air Force, 17 Jan 1942; Second Air Force, 16 Mar 1942 (attached to 301 Bombardment Group, 16–30 Mar 1942); 301 Bombardment Group, 31 Mar 1942–15 Oct 1945. 301 Bombardment Group, 4 Aug 1946 (attached to 301 Bombardment Wing, 10 Feb 1951–15 Jun 1952); 301 Bombardment Wing, 16 Jun 1952–8 Jun 1964. Strategic Air Command, 23 Dec 1964; 301 Air Refueling Wing, 15 Mar 1965–30 Sep 1979. 2 Bombardment Wing, 1 Nov 1981; 2 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991; 458 Operations Group, 1 Jun 1992; 305 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1995–.
Stations. Camp Kelly, TX, 13 Jun–11 Aug 1917; Etampes, France, 20 Sep 1917; Issoudun, France, 28 Sep 1917; Bordeau, France, c. 6 Jan–c. 18 Mar 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, c. 5–14 Apr 1919. Rockwell Field, CA, 24 Jun 1932; March Field, CA, 25 Oct 1935; Albuquerque, NM, c. 4 Jun–22 Nov 1941 (air echelon, which was at Hamilton Field, CA, under orders for movement to Philippine Islands at time of Japanese attack on Hawaii on 7 Dec 1941, apparently moved to Muroc, CA, c. 8 Dec 1941; ground echelon departed San Francisco aboard ship on 6 Dec 1941 and returned on 9 Dec 1941); Bakersfield, CA, 17 Dec 1941 (air echelon evidently departed for Southwest Pacific, c. late Dec 1941; concurrently dissolved and personnel assigned to other units); Geiger Field, WA, c. 14 Mar 1942; Alamogordo, NM, 27 May 1942 (operated from Muroc, CA, c. 28 May–14 Jun 1942); Richard E. Byrd Field, VA, 21 Jun–19 Jul 1942; Chelveston, England, 18 Aug 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 26 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, 6 Dec 1942; Biskra, Algeria, 16 Dec 1942; Ain M’lila, Algeria, 16 Jan 1943; St. Donat, Algeria, 8 Mar 1943; Oudna, Tunisia, 6 Aug 1943; Cerignola, Italy, 11 Dec 1943; Lucera, Italy, 2 Feb 1944–Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, 28 Jul 1945; Mountain Home AAFld, ID, 17 Aug 1945; Pyote AAFld, TX, 23 Aug–15 Oct 1945. Clovis AAFld, NM, 4 Aug 1946; Smoky Hill AAFld (later, AFB), KS, 16 Jul 1947; Barksdale AFB, LA, 7 Nov 1949 (deployed at RAF Lakenheath, England, 16 May–1 Dec 1950; Brize Norton RAF Station, England, 8 Dec 1952–6 Mar 1953; and Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco, 14 Feb–15 Apr 1954); Lockbourne AFB, OH, 15 Apr 1958–8 Jun 1964. Lockbourne (later, Rickenbacker) AFB, OH, 15 Mar 1965–30 Sep 1979. Barksdale AFB, LA, 1 Nov 1981; McGuire AFB, NJ, 1 Sep 1994–.
Service Streamers. World War I Theater of Operations; Global War on Terrorism-Service (GWOT-S).
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Kosovo: Kosovo Air. Global War on Terrorism-Expeditionary (GWOT-E).
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Tunisia, 6 Apr 1943; Germany, 25 Feb 1944. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jul 2012-30 Jun 2014. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1961–31 Dec 1962; 1 Oct 1966–1 Apr 1967; 1 Jul 1983–30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1985–30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1986–30 Jun 1987; 1 Jul 1987–30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1988–30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2002-30 Jun 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2006; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2011; 1 Jun 2018-30 Jun 2020.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 28 Nov 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared on 22 Jan 2019.
Emblem. Approved on 27 Sep 1994; latest rendering, 11 Oct 2018.
Prepared by Melissa Lahue.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.