22nd Air Refueling Squadron [22nd ARS]
(Base Code: MO)

The 22nd Air Refueling squadron is Air Combat Command's only Air Refueling Squadron.

The Squadron was originally activated on 20 October 1939 Hamilton Field, CA as the 22d Bombardment Squadron, flying the A-17 and the B-17 aircraft. It moved on 7 September 1940 to Fort Douglas, UT and again on June 1941 to Salt Lake City, UT.

Durind World War II, the squadron flew missions in Muroc, California, conducting antisubmarine patrols. The squadron was subsequently posted to Jakarta, Java; Melbourne, Australia; and Fiji Islands before returning to Columbia Army Air Base, SC where it converted to the B-25 Mitchell bomber. The squadron was then posted to Karachi, India; Chakulia, India; and Yangkai, China. While in Calcutta, India, the unit converted to the A-26 Invader Attack Bomber.

During World War II, the unit earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and participated in nine separate campaigns. Following the second world war, the 22d moved to Camp Kilmer, NJ where it was subsequently inactivated on 2 Nov 1945.

On 16 June 50, the 22d Air Refueling Squadron was re-activated at March AFB CA, flying the KC-97 Aircraft. The squadron relocated to McChord AFB, WA on 15 June 1960 where it later upgraded to the KC-135. The squadron was deactivated on 1 July 1962.

The Squadron was reactivated at March AFB, CA on 1 July 1963 , flying the KC-135 and EC-135 aircraft. It was deployed to Andersen AB, Guam whereupon it supported the Vietnam conflict until mid 1973. The squadron was iInactivated on 1 December 1989.

Reactivated on 1 October 1992 at Mountain Home AFB, ID, it was assigned seven KC-135R model aircraft as part of the Air Force's first Composite Air Intervention Wing. The squadron was consecutively awarded the 366th Wing's Silver Bolt Award for foreign object damage prevention during fiscal year 1997-1 and 1997-2, as well ACC's Best Tanker Award for 1993. The squadrong garnered the 366th Wing's only "Outstanding" rating during the July 1995 ORI and its deployed maintenance won the ACC IG Superior Performance Team Award during the 366th Wing's 1997 AEF and first ever combat zone ORI. The 22nd ARS is the only squadron in the 366th Wing to display nose art on the entire fleet (nose art developed by crew chief, SSgt Tony Eubanks). It was also awarded the outstanding Unit Award, 1 Jun 1998 through 31 May 1999.

The mission of the 22nd ARS is to provide robust air refueling and airlift capabilities for the Gunfighters worldwide.