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76th Air Refueling Squadron
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The 76th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It operates the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender aircraft conducting air refueling missions as a reserve associate unit of the 305th Air Mobility Wing.
76th Air Refueling Squadron
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![]() McGuire AFB KC-10 Extender refueling an F-16 Fighting Falcon with an F-15 Eagle and another F-16 to the side. | |
Active | 1943–1945; 1947–1952; 1952–1966; 1994–2023 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Air refueling |
Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
Garrison/HQ | McGuire Air Force Base |
Engagements | Operation Overlord Operation Dragoon Operation Market Garden Operation Plunder[1] |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
Insignia | |
76th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 17 April 1996)[1] | ![]() |
76th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (approved 30 April 1944)[2] | ![]() |
The unit was first activated during as a Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport unit that saw combat with the 435th Troop Carrier Group in Western Europe. The squadron flew paratroopers on airborne assaults on Normandy (Operation Overlord); Southern France (Operation Dragoon); the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden), and Germany (Operation Varsity). It also flew combat resupply missions in the relief of Bastogne in 1945. The 76th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions during the Normandy invasion.
The squadron was activated in the reserve in 1947. It was called to active duty in March 1951 for the Korean War, serving at its home station, Miami International Airport. It returned to reserve duty in December 1952. In November 1959 it was assigned directly to the 435th Troop Carrier Wing in a reorganization of Continental Air Command reserve units.