351st Air Refueling Squadron
Squadron KC-135R Stratotanker at RAF Mildenhall[lower-alpha 1]
Active1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1956–1966; 1992–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir refueling
Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe
Garrison/HQRAF Mildenhall
Motto(s)Pax Opus Nostrum (Latin for 'Peace is our Profession')[1]
EquipmentKC-135R/T Stratotanker
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Kosovo War
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
French Croix de Guerre with Palm[1]
Insignia
351st Air Refueling Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 2][1]
Patch with 351st Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II)[2]
World War II fuselage codeEP (1942–1945)
Tail codeSquare D (100th Group, World War II, 1992–present)[3]

The 351st Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England. Since 1992, it has operated the Boeing KC-135R/T Stratotanker aircraft conducting primarily aerial refueling but also airlift and aeromedical evacuation missions.

The squadron, was activated as the 350th Bombardment Squadron during World War II as a heavy bomber unit. It served in combat in the European Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its actions. After V-E Day the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated at the port of embarkation.

The squadron was briefly active in the reserve from 1947 to 1949, but does not appear to have been fully equipped or manned. It served between 1956 and 1966 with Strategic Air Command as a bombardment unit, flying Boeing B-47 Stratojets.

History

World War II

Organization and training for combat

The squadron was activated at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida on 1 June 1942 as one of the four original squadrons of the 100th Bombardment Group,[4][5] It was intended to equip the squadron with Consolidated B-24 Liberators The Army Air Forces (AAF) decided to concentrate heavy bomber training under Second Air Force, and before the end of June, the squadron moved to Pendleton Field, Oregon. Its intended equipment changed to Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses.[6]

As a result, the squadron only began organizing in October 1942, after it had moved to Gowen Field, Idaho. Two days later, the squadron departed for Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington. There the first aircrew arrived on 1 December 1942 and it received its first operational aircraft and began training.[6]

The 351st completed its training and departed Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska for the European Theater of Operations on 1 May 1943.[6] The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth on 28 May, arriving at Greenock, Scotland on 3 June, while the air echelon flew via the northern ferry route to England about 21 May 1943.[1][6]

Combat in the European Theater

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st on a mission in 1944.

The squadron established itself at its combat station, RAF Thorpe Abbotts, on 9 June 1943, flying its first combat mission on 25 June. Until the end of the war, the squadron was primarily employed in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Until January 1944, it concentrated its operations on airfields in France, and industrial targets and naval facilities in France and Germany. On 17 August 1943, it participated in an attack on a factory manufacturing Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters in Regensburg, Germany, which seriously disrupted production of that plane. Although the mission called for fighter escort, the fighter group assigned to protect the squadron's formation missed the rendezvous and the wing formation proceeded to the target unescorted. Enemy fighter opposition focused on the low "box", formed in part by the squadron. Ten of the 21 Flying Fortresses flown by the 100th Group were lost on this mission. Unknown to AAF intelligence at the time, the attack also destroyed almost all of the fuselage construction equipment for Germany's secret Me 262 jet fighter. Rather than returning to England, the unit turned south and recovered at bases in North Africa.[7] For this action, the squadron was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).[4]

From January to May 1944, the 351st attacked airfields, industrial targets, marshalling yards, and missile sites in Western Europe. During Big Week, it participated in the concentrated attack on the German aircraft industry. In March, it conducted a series of long range attacks against Berlin, for which it was awarded a second DUC.[4] The raid of 6 March was to be the costliest mission flown by Eighth Air Force during the war. German fighter controllers detected that the formation including the squadron was unprotected by fighter escorts and concentrated interceptor attacks on it. Twenty-three B-17s from the formation failed to return.[8][lower-alpha 3] Two days later, German fighters shot down the leader of the 45th Combat Bombardment Wing, and the 100th Group took the lead in another attack on Berlin.[9] From the summer of 1944, the 351st concentrated on German oil production facilities.[4]

The squadron was occasionally diverted from strategic bombing to perform interdiction and air support missions. It attacked bridges and gun positions to support Operation Overlord, the landings at Normandy in June 1944. In August and September it supported Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo, and bombed enemy positions in Brest. As Allied forces drove across Northern France toward the Siegfried Line in October and November, it attacked transportation and ground defenses. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, it attacked lines of communication and fortified villages in the Ardennes. It provided support for Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945. The squadron was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for attacks on heavily defended sites and dropping supplies to the French Forces of the Interior.[4]

The squadron flew its last mission on 20 April 1945.[10] Following, V-E Day, the squadron was initially programmed to be part of the occupation forces in Germany, but that plan was cancelled in September, and between October and December, the squadron's planes were ferried back to the United States or transferred to other units in theater.[6] Its remaining personnel returned to the United States in December and the squadron was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 19 December 1945.[1]

"Bloody Hundredth"

Starting with the Regensburg mission of August 1943, the squadrons of the 100th Bombardment Group began suffering losses among the highest in VIII Bomber Command.[11] On 8 October, it lost seven aircraft on a raid on Bremen, including its lead and deputy lead aircraft.[12] Only two days later, it lost twelve aircraft on an attack on Münster, again including the lead aircraft. The only group plane returning from that mission had lost two engines and had two wounded on board.[13][lower-alpha 4] Its highest one day loss occurred on the 6 March 1944 attack on Berlin, when 15 bombers failed to return.[14] On 11 September 1944, the Luftwaffe put up its heaviest opposition in months, destroying 11 of the group's bombers.[15] On 31 December 1944, half the 1st Bombardment Division's losses consisted of a dozen 100th bombers.[16] With a group authorization of 40 B-17s, it lost 177 planes to enemy action.[6] It became a legend for these losses and was referred to as the "Bloody Hundredth."[6]

Air Force reserve

The squadron was again activated in the reserve at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida on 17 July 1947 and assigned to the 100th Group, which was located at Miami Army Air Field, Florida. At Orlando, its training was supervised by Air Defense Command (ADC). It does not appear the squadron was fully staffed and was not equipped with operational aircraft.[1] In 1948, Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[17]

President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of Air Force units.[18] As a result, the 351st was inactivated[1] as manned flying operations at Orlando Air Force Base ceased.

Strategic Air Command bombardment operations

The unit was reactivated under Strategic Air Command on 1 January 1956 as the 351st Bombardment Squadron, Medium. Based at Portsmouth Air Force Base (later Pease AFB), New Hampshire, the 351st BS was equipped with 15 new, swept wing Boeing B-47E Stratojets which were designed to carry nuclear weapons and to penetrate Soviet air defenses. The 351st deployed to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, from 29 December 1957 to 1 April 1958.[19]

The squadron flew the B-47 for about a decade when by the mid-1960s it had become obsolete and vulnerable to new Soviet air defenses. The squadron began to send its Stratojets to AMARC at Davis–Monthan AFB, Arizona, for retirement in 1965, and the unit was inactivated on 25 June 1966, one of the last B-47 Squadrons.[1]

Air refueling in Europe

Squadron KC-135R Stratotanker departing Sola Air Station, Norway, 1998.[lower-alpha 5]

The unit was reactivated at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom on 31 March 1992 as the 351st Air Refueling Squadron, operating the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.[1] The first KC-135R to arrive at Mildenhall for the 351st was 58-0100 on 19 May 1992 from Loring Air Force Base, Maine.[20] Nine KC-135Rs had arrived by September 1992.[21] Following their reactivation, the 351st went on to support Operations Provide Comfort, Restore Hope and Northern Watch.[1]

In April 1996, the 351st contributed to Operation Assured Response, deploying three KC-135s to Dakar-Yoff International Airport, Senegal, to help support the evacuation of U.S. citizens and third country nationals from Liberia after fighting flared up in Monrovia during the First Liberian Civil War.[22][23]

In March 1998, the 351st participated in Exercise Strong Resolve 98 at Sola Air Station, Norway.[24] After the European Tanker Task Force was ended on 28 November 1998, the number of KC-135s assigned to the 351st was increased to 15 tankers.[25] In 1999, the squadron supported Operation Allied Force, NATO intervention during the Kosovo War, as the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron.[26]

Squadron KC-135R Stratotanker of the 351st ARS arriving at RAF Lakenheath, 2013[lower-alpha 6]

In October 2001, the 351st EARS deployed 12 tankers: four to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; another four to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany; and a final four to Souda Bay, Greece, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).[27] On 23 November 2001, KC-135s deployed to Burgas Airport in Bulgaria, from where they conducted OEF missions.[28]

In March 2011, the 351st Air Refueling Squadron deployed a portion of its KC-135 Stratotanker fleet to Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, France, in support of Operation Unified Protector, as the 351st EARS.[29]

Since 2013, the 351st EARS, has regularly deployed to Morón Air Base, Spain in support of Operation Juniper Micron – which aims to assist French operations in Mali.[30][31] The first deployment occurred on 13 January 2013.[32] In June 2013, the 351st ARS refuelled three Luftwaffe McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom IIs of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 "Richthofen" on their last air-to-air refueling sortie before their retirement on 29 June 2013.[33] In October 2014, the 351st was awarded the 2013 Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Trophy, which is given to the best USAF air refueling squadron, becoming the first unit based outside of the United States to win the award.[34]

On 22 February 2019, a KC-135R of the squadron participated in a flypast over Sheffield to mark the 75th anniversary of the crash of B-17G Mi Amigo, which saw the loss of all ten crew on board.[35]

Between 29 September and 1 October 2020, the 351st ARS conducted Exercise Wolff Pack, a surge operation to test the 100th ARW's ability to deploy its aircraft to multiple areas across Europe, which included an elephant walk of 12 of the squadron's 15 KC-135s.[36] The 351st ARS participated in the 2020 Nigeria hostage rescue on 31 October, forward deploying six tankers to Morón Air Base from where they provided air refueling support for the operation.[37]

In May 2021, the 351st was awarded the 2020 Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Trophy, winning it for a second time.[38] The 351st also participated in Exercise Atlantic Trident 2021 during May, operating alongside the French Air and Space Force and USAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs from the 4th Fighter Squadron.[39][40] Between 18 and 21 May, the 351st hosted the 2021 European Tanker Symposium, which saw a McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender and a Royal Air Force Voyager KC3 deploy to Mildenhall.[41]

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine led to an increased number of sorties by the 351st, supporting NATO's Enhanced Air Policing.[42][43]

Commemerative nose art

KC-135R Stratotanker[lower-alpha 7]

The 15 squadron KC-135R/T tankers typically wear nose art to reflect the 100th Wing's history as a bombardment group during WWII.[20][lower-alpha 8]

In 2019, to mark the 75th anniversary of Operation Overlord, two KC-135Rs received special schemes to reflect the squadron's participation in 1944.[44]

In May 2021, nose art (Skipper III) was unveiled on KC-135R, serial 59-1470 in honor of 100th BG Master Sergeant Dewey Christopher, who maintained B-17s Skipper and Skipper II during World War II.[45] Another tanker (serial 58-0089) was unveiled the following month in dedication of Lt. Col. Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal, who was assigned to the 100th Group between September 1943 and September 1944.[46]

In October 2023, nose art (Squawkin Hawk) was unveiled on KC-135R 59-1511 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Black Week, where the Eighth Air Force suffered heavy losses.[47] The original Squawkin Hawk was the first B-17 of the 100th Bombardment Group to fly 50 combat missions.[48]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 351st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 351st Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 15 December 1945
  • Redesignated 351st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 3 July 1947
Activated in the reserve on 17 July 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
  • Redesignated 351st Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 1 August 1955
Activated on 1 January 1956
Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1966
  • Redesignated 351st Air Refueling Squadron on 26 March 1992
Activated on 31 March 1992[1]

Assignments

  • 100th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1942 – 15 December 1945
  • 100th Bombardment Group, 17 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • 100th Bombardment Wing, 1 January 1956 – 25 June 1966
  • 100th Operations Group, 31 March 1992 – present[1]

Stations

  • Orlando Army Air Base, Florida 1 June 1942
  • Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 18 June 1942
  • Pendleton Field, Oregon 26 June 1942
  • Gowen Field, Idaho, 28 August 1942
  • Walla Walla Army Air Field, Washington, 31 October 1942
  • Wendover Field, Utah, 30 November 1942
  • Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, 6 January 1943
  • Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska, 4 February – 1 May 1943
  • RAF Thorpe Abbotts (Station 139),[49] England, 9 June 1943 – December 1945
  • Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 14-15 December 1945
  • Orlando Army Air Base (later Orlando Air Force Base), Florida, 17 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • Portsmouth Air Force Base (later Pease Air Force Base), New Hampshire, 1 January 1956 – 30 April 1966
  • RAF Mildenhall, England, 31 March 1992 – present[1]

Aircraft operated

  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1942–1945)
  • Boeing B-47E Stratojet (1956–1966)
  • Boeing KC-135R/T Stratotanker (1992–present)[1]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R, serial 57-1493, Wolff Pack. Built as Boeing KC-135A-BN, later re-engined as KC-135R. Named for a B-17F, serial 42-30061 that served with the 100th Bombardment Group in World War II. Baugher, Joe (29 April 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Approved 16 September 1958. Description: On an Air Force blue disc bordered white, an Air Force golden yellow shield charged with two Air Force blue lightning streaks in saltire, surmounted by a red bomb in fess, pointing downward; above the shield an Air Force golden yellow helmet in profile with red plume; in the upper part of the border the motto, in the lower part of the border a green olive wreath.
  3. ↑ In addition to the squadrons of the 100th Group, the formation included those of the 95th Bombardment Group.
  4. ↑ This plane, named Rosie's Riveter was lost in the spring of 1945, but its crew was able to bail out in Russian held territory.
  5. ↑ Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, serial 57-1499, The Big Stick. Baugher 1957 USAF Serial Numbers.
  6. ↑ Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R, serial 58-0100, built as KC-135A-BN. Earlier named 100 Proof. Aircraft has 100th Bombardment Group emblem on nose and carried fuselage code EP-A to commemorate the 75th anniverdary of D-Day. Baugher, 1958 serial numbers.
  7. ↑ Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R, serial 58-0001, Our Gal Sal in 2018, comemmorating B-17G, serial 42-31767. Built as Boeing KC-135!-BN and earlier named Easy Rider.
  8. ↑ Since 2023 this has included All American Girl (B-17G 42-37936) "42-37936". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Big Gas Bird (B-17G, serial 42-30799' of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30799". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Black Jack (B-17G, serial 42-30086)"Aircraft: 230086". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Boss Lady (B-17G, serial 42-102611 of the 350th Bombardment Squadron)"42-102611". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; High Life (B-17F, serial 42-30080)"42-30080". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Holy Terror (B-17G, serial 42-31062)"42-31062". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Homesick Angel;[20] Hundred Proof (B-17G, serial 42-98015 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"Aircraft: 298015". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Miss Irish (B-17G, serial 42-31968 of the 350th Bombardment Squadron)"42-31968". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Our Gal Sal (B-17G, erial 42-31767)"42-31767". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Skipper III (B-17F, serial 42-3307 and B-17G, serial 42-31708 of the 351st Bombardment Squadron)"Aircraft: 23307". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 16 May 2021."Aircraft: 231708". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 16 May 2021.; Rosie's Riveters (B-17F, serial 42-30758 and B-17G, serial 42-31504 of the 418th Bombardment Squadron)"Aircraft: 230758". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2021."Aircraft: 231504". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2021.; Sly Fox (B-17F, serial 42-30278 of the 418th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30278". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Squawkin Hawk (B-17F, serial 42-30088 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30088 Squawkin Hawk II". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 14 October 2023.; The Jester (not associated);[20] The Reluctant Dragon (B-17G, serial 43-38011 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"43-38011". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; The Savage (B-17G, serial 42-31710 of the 349th Bombardment Squadron)"42-31710". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.; Wolff Pack (B-17F, serial '42-30061 of the 418th Bombardment Squadron)"42-30061". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Kane, Robert B. (19 July 2010). "Factsheet 351 Air Refueling Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  2. ↑ Watkins, pp. 48–49
  3. ↑ Duffield, Adam (23 May 2014). "100th ARW in Action". Aero Resource. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 171-172
  5. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 433-436, 512
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Freeman, pp. 246-247
  7. ↑ Freeman, pp. 67-68
  8. ↑ Freeman, p.114
  9. ↑ Freeman, p. 115
  10. ↑ Sheridan, p. 165
  11. ↑ Freeman, pp. 68-69
  12. ↑ Freeman, p. 75
  13. ↑ Freeman, p. 77
  14. ↑ Freeman, p. 116
  15. ↑ Freeman, p. 178
  16. ↑ Freeman, p. 204
  17. ↑ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  18. ↑ Knaack, p. 25
  19. ↑ "100th Air Refueling Wing History". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Planes, Names and Noses: KC-135s of the 100th ARW". key.aero. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  21. ↑ Abeyasekere, Karen (1 February 2017). "100th Air Refueling Wing celebrates a historic 25 years". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  22. ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (November 2006). "Humanitarian Airlift Operations in which USAF Participated since 1994" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  23. ↑ "Operation Assured Response". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  24. ↑ "Exercise Strong Resolve 1998" (PDF). North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  25. ↑ "Visiting Forces in the UK: 1942–2011" (PDF). Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  26. ↑ "Operation Allied Force - Order of Battle - June 1999". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  27. ↑ Wallace, Kevin (2 September 2011). "9/11's affect on 100th ARW mission". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  28. ↑ "351st Air Refueling Squadron [351st ARS]". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  29. ↑ Senior Airman Rachel Waller. "RAF Mildenhall continues support for NATO Libyan operations". mildenhall.af.mil. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  30. ↑ Smith, Jason (1 February 2013). "KC-135s support French mission in Mali". U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Air Forces Africa. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  31. ↑ "RAF Mildenhall KC-135 aircraft supports Operation Juniper Micron". U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Air Forces Africa. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  32. ↑ Mesnard, Christopher (1 February 2013). ""Bloody Hundredth" flies back into action". United States Africa Command. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  33. ↑ Wills, Kevin (25 June 2013). "Aviation Feature – The Phinal Contacts: F-4F Phantom refuelling – from tanker & receiver". Global Aviation Resource. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  34. ↑ Maurer, Kate (18 November 2014). "351st ARS makes history by winning Spaatz Trophy, a first for units abroad". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  35. ↑ "Sheffield bomber crash: Flypast on 75th anniversary". BBC News. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  36. ↑ Oprihory, Jennifer-Leigh (1 October 2020). "Tankers Practice Speedy Deployment in European Refueling Exercise". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  37. ↑ Cenciotti, David (9 November 2020). "Dissecting The U.S. Hostage Rescue Operation In Nigeria: Here Are All The Assets That Took Part In The Raid". The Aviationist. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  38. ↑ Mendez, Mackenzie (14 May 2021). "351st named best ARS in Air Force". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  39. ↑ "Exercise Atlantic Trident 2021". U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Air Forces Africa. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  40. ↑ Barron, Joseph (18 June 2021). "100th Air Refueling Wing fuels F-35s during exercise Atlantic Trident". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  41. ↑ Abeyasekere, Karen (24 May 2021). "RAF Mildenhall hosts European Tanker Symposium". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  42. ↑ "100th ARW provides refueling support to aerial assets in support of contingency and routine operations". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  43. ↑ Hadley, Grey (3 August 2022). "USAFE's Only Tanker Wing: Increased Work, But 'Increased Reward, Too'". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  44. ↑ "Legacy Ladies - Nose Arts of the 100th Air Refuelling Wing". Square Aviation. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  45. ↑ Abeyasekere, Karen (11 May 2021). "'Skipper III' nose art dedication recognizes special bond, legacy of 100th Bombardment Group". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  46. ↑ Abeyasekere, Karen (11 June 2021). "'Rosie's Riveters' nose art dedication immortalizes legacy of 100th BG pilot with 100th ARW". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  47. ↑ Villagomez, Alvaro (10 October 2023). "RAFM honors Black Week: KC-135 "Squawkin' Hawk" nose art". Royal Air Force Mildenhall. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  48. ↑ "Aircraft: 230088". 100th Bomb Group Foundation. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  49. ↑ Station number in Anderson, p. 21.

Bibliography

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