349th Air Refueling Squadron
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|---|---|
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| Active | 1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1956–1992; 1994–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Air refueling |
| Part of | Air Mobility Command |
| Garrison/HQ | McConnell Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Blue Knights (1957–1977) |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations[1] |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 349th Air Refueling Squadron emblem[a][1][2] |  |
| Patch with 349th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][3] |  |
| 349th Bombardment Squadron emblem (World War II)[4] | .png) |
| World War II fuselage code[4] | XR |
The 349th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit of the US Air Force, part of the 22d Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. It operates the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.
The squadron, was activated as the 349th 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 1992 with Strategic Air Command as a bombardment, strategic reconnaissance and air refueling unit.
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