Lineage. Constituted as 72 Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 Jan 1943. Activated on 9 Feb 1943. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1946. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1947. Redesignated as 72 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951. Inactivated on 1 Feb 1953. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Feb 1953. Ordered to Active Service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from Active Duty on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated as: 72 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1967; 72 Tactical Air Support Squadron on 25 Jun 1969; 72 Special Operations Squadron on 1 Mar 1971. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1973. Redesignated as 72 Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy on 18 May 1977. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jul 1978. Redesignated as 72 Air Refueling Squadron on 1 Feb 1992.
Assignments. 434 Troop Carrier Group, 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946. 434 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Aug 1947-1 Feb 1953. 434 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Feb 1953; 434 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 931 Troop Carrier (later, Tactical Airlift; Tactical Air Support; Special Operations) Group, 11 Feb 1963-1 Oct 1973. 931 Air Refueling Group, 1 Jul 1978; 434 Air Refueling Wing, 1 Jul 1987; 434 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-.
Stations. Alliance AAFld, NE, 9 Feb 1943; Baer Field, IN, 4-28 Sep 1943; Fulbeck, England, 7 Oct 1943; Welford Park, England, c. Nov 1943; Fulbeck, England, 10 Jan 1944; Aldermaston, England, 3 Mar 1944; Mourmelon-le-Grand, France, c. Feb-Jun 1945; Baer Field, IN, 5 Aug 1945; Alliance AAFld, NE, 15 Sep 1945; George Field, IL, 11 Oct 1945; Greenville AAB, SC, 2 Feb-31 Jul 1946. Baer Field, IN, 1 Aug 1947; Atterbury AFB, IN, 1 Jul 1949-1 Feb 1953. Atterbury (later, Bakalar) AFB, IN, 1 Feb 1953; Grissom AFB, IN, 15 Jan 1970-1 Oct 1973. Atterbury (later, Grissom ARB), IN, 1 Jul 1978-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia: liberations and Defense of Kuwait. Kosovo: Air Campaign.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Oct 2017-30 Sep 2019. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1978-31 Dec 1979; 1 May 1985-31 Aug 1986; 1 Sep 1988-31 Aug 1990; 1 Jun 1992-31 Aug 1993; 1 Sep 1994-31 Aug 1996; 5 May-10 Jun 1999; 1 Oct 1998-30 Sep 2000; 12 Sep 2000-11 Sep 2002. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 6-7 Jun 1944; 20-28 Aug 1944. French Fourragere. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb-14 Jun 1968.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 18 Sep 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared in Jun 2012.
Emblem. Approved on 1 Feb 1989; latest rendering, 13 Jul 2023.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.