page_title: 909th Air Refueling Squadron
section_title: European Theater and post war
hierarchical_section_title: 909th Air Refueling Squadron / History / World War II / European Theater and post war
caption_attribution_description: English: 328th Bomb Squadron Consolidated B-24J-55-CO Liberator Serial 42-99949 on a mission to Friedrichshafen Germany during August 1944. This aircraft was lost over Belgium on 21 September 1944, MACR 9662 B-24 Liberators of the 93rd Bomb Group en route to the target. B-24J (GO-*, serial number 42-99949) nicknamed "Naughty Nan" is visible in the foreground. Printed caption on reverse: '53028 AC- Consolidated B-24's over Friedrichshaven, Germany. Please Credit: "Official U.S. Air Force Photo".' First handwritten caption on reverse: '93BG Lib over Friedrichshaven.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'An Eight AF B-24J-55-CO of the 93rd BG.'
context_page_description: The 909th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting air refueling missions.
  The squadron was first activated in 1942 as the 19th Reconnaissance Squadron, but was redesignated the 409th Bombardment Squadron shortly after activation. After briefly serving as an antisubmarine unit, it participated in combat in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. After the surrender of Germany the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.
  The squadron was reactivated shortly after the end of World War II as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress unit, and became one of the first units of Strategic Air Command in 1946. It was inactivated later that year when its parent group was replaced by the 43d Bombardment Group.
  The 909th Air Refueling Squadron was activated in 1963 at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas. The squadron supported Strategic Air Command operations from activation and, starting in 1964, supported operations in Southeast Asia from Amarillo, March Air Force Base, California and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
context_section_description: From England, the squadron resumed strategic bombardment raids against marshalling yards, aircraft factories, chemical plants, and oil refineries in Germany.  The squadron also made tactical attacks on gun emplacements near Cherbourg during Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion, in June 1944 and attacked troop concentrations during the Saint Lo breakout the following month.  In August and September, its bombers were diverted to airlifting food, gasoline, water and other supplies to Allies advancing through northern France.  It also dropped supplies to airborne troops engaged in Operation Market Garden airborne attacks in the Netherlands.
  Near the end of the war, on 24 March 1945, the squadron dropped supplies to airborne forces near Wesel and bombed a night fighter base near Störmede during Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine.  The squadron ended combat operations in April, and began returning to the United States in May and June. The ground echelon sailed aboard the RMS Queen Mary and received thirty days leave upon arrival. In July the 409th was inactivated when its parent group began conversion to Boeing B-29 Superfortresses.
  The squadron was activated again at Pratt Army Air Field, Kansas in August where it began to train with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. At the end of the year the squadron moved to Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico.
  In the spring of 1946 the squadron became one of the first units assigned to the new Strategic Air Command, and in June it moved to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, where it was assigned to the 444th Bombardment Group.  In October, the 444th group and its squadrons were inactivated and their mission, equipment and personnel were transferred to the 43d Bombardment Group.
caption: Late model B-24J of the 93d Bomb Group en route to a target in Germany
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