1 history
1.1 world war ii
1.2 air force reserve
1.3 modern era
history
world war ii
the 459th bombardment group (heavy) activated b-24 liberator heavy bombardment unit in july 1943; assigned ii bomber command training. trained in utah , arizona received deployment orders mediterranean theater of operations (mto) in september 1943. moved massachusetts group flew long-range convoy escort missions on newfoundland banks long island sound, november–december 1943 while station in italy being constructed.
b-24l-10-fo liberator 44-49750, 756th bombardment squadron, bombing near padua, italy, 1945
deployed southern italy in january 1944; entered combat in february, being assigned fifteenth air force. engaged in long range strategic bombing missions enemy military, industrial , transportation targets in italy, france, germany, austria, hungary, romania, , yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, , other strategic objectives. carried out support , interdiction operations. struck bridges, harbors, , troop concentrations in august 1944 aid invasion of southern france. hit communications lines , other targets during march , april 1945 support advance of british eighth army , american fifth army in northern italy.
returned united states in august 1945, being programmed deployment pacific theater of operations b-29 superfortress heavy bombardment squadron. many combat veterans of mto demobilized upon arrival in united states, , small cadre of personnel reformed @ sioux falls army air field, south dakota @ end of august. japanese capitulation in august led inactivation of unit , assigned personnel being reassigned other group squadrons or demobilized.
air force reserve
reactivated in air force reserve in 1947 b-29s, 459th trained @ long beach army air field, california moving in 1949 smoky hill air force base, kansas , barksdale air force base, louisiana shortly afterward. activated in 1951 second air force due korean war, aircraft , personnel reassigned strategic air command combat groups deployed far east air forces; inactivated shortly afterward.
the reserve flying mission began @ andrews air force base in summer of 1954, when 756th troop carrier squadron activated , equipped c-46 aircraft. 8 months later, unit had grown enough activate parent organization, 459th troop carrier group (formerly 459th bombardment group) , parent 459th troop carrier wing. later year, squadron, 757th troop carrier squadron activated @ byrd field, richmond, virginia , assigned group. third flying unit, 758th troop carrier squadron, added in 1957 , equipped c-119 flying boxcar @ greater pittsburgh airport, pennsylvania. in november 1957, 757th relocated byrd field youngstown municipal airport, ohio. group inactivated in april 1959 continental air command converted dual deputy form of organization.
modern era
459th arw kc-135rs @ andrews afb in 2004.
the group reactivated in october 1992 part of objective wing reorganization in 1993, 459th continued support operation restore hope , mobilized members in support of operations in somalia. wing provided humanitarian airlift relief in rwanda , in support of cuban refugees @ naval base guantanamo bay, cuba. in addition, 459th personnel supported operation uphold democracy in haiti various other significant missions around globe.
the 459th has been engaged in global war on terrorism since september 2001. result of these operations, wing has participated in places around globe include: iraq, afghanistan, qatar, cuba, bosnia, kosovo, turkey , guam. re-designated in 2003 air refueling wing, 459th equipped kc-135rs.
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