Lineage. Constituted as 459 Fighter Squadron (Two Engine) on 2 Aug 1943. Activated on 1 Sep 1943. Inactivated on 5 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 459 Flying Training Squadron on 25 Feb 2009. Activated on 17 Apr 2009.
Assignments. 80 Fighter Group, 1 Sep 1943; 33 Fighter Group, 12 May-5 Nov 1945. 80 Operations Group, 17 Apr 2009-.
Stations. Karachi, India, 1 Sep 1943; Kurmitola, India, 5 Nov 1943; Chittagong, India, 4 Mar 1944; Rumkhapalong, India, 1 Feb 1945; Dudhkundi, India, 11 May-8 Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 3-5 Nov 1945. Sheppard AFB, TX, 17 Apr 2009-.
Commanders. Unkn, 1 Sep 1943; Capt John E. Fouts Jr., c. 1 Nov 1943; Maj Verl D. Luehring, by 22 Mar 1944; Maj Hampton E. Boggs, by 1 Mar 1945; Capt John W. Sognier, 11 Jun 1945; Maj William M. Shelton, 26 Jun 1945-unkn. Lt Col Scottie Zamzow, 17 Apr 2009-.
Aircraft. P-38, 1943-1945. T-6, 2009-.
Operations. Combat in China-Burma-India (CBI) theater, 14 Nov 1943-c. 6 May 1945. Credited with 66 aerial victory credits (AVC), 1 Dec 1943-13 Jan 1945. Awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for destroying 119 enemy aircraft between 11 Mar- 19 May 1944. Received a second DUC for defending an allied oil refinery at Assam, India on 27 Mar 1944. Conducted undergraduate flying training for EURO-NATO pilot candidates, Apr 2009-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: India-Burma; Central Burma.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: India-Burma, 11 Mar-19 May 1944; Assam, India, 27 Mar 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, Commanders, Aircraft, Operations and Honors through 16 Feb 2010.
Supersedes statement prepared on 17 Apr 2009.
Emblem. Approved on 13 Apr 2009.
Prepared by Robert Kane.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.