459 Air Refueling Wing (AFRC)

Lineage.  Established as 459 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 30 Dec 1954.  Activated in the Reserve on 26 Jan 1955.  Redesignated as: 459 Military Airlift Wing on 1 Jul 1966; 459 Tactical Airlift Wing on 29 Jun 1971; 459 Military Airlift Wing on 1 Jul 1986; 459 Airlift Wing on 1 Feb 1992; 459 Air Refueling Wing on 1 Oct 2003. 

Assignments.  First Air Force, 26 Jan 1955; Fourteenth Air Force, 25 Mar 1958; Second Air Force Reserve Region, 15 Aug 1960; First Air Force Reserve Region, 24 Jun 1966; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969; Fourteenth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976; Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1993; Fourth Air Force, 1 Apr 2003-. 

Operational Components.  Groups.  459 Troop Carrier (later, 459 Operations): 26 Jan 1955-14 Apr 1959; 1 Aug 1992-.  904 Troop Carrier (later, 904 Military Airlift): 1 Jul 1966-26 Jan 1968; 2 Jun-31 Dec 1969.  905 Military Airlift (later, 905 Tactical Airlift): 25 Feb 1972-1 Apr 1974.  907 Tactical Airlift (later, 907 Airlift): 1 Oct 1989-1 Oct 1994.  909 Troop Carrier (later, 909 Military Airlift): 17 Jan 1963-1 Sep 1975.  910 Troop Carrier (later, 910 Tactical Fighter; 910 Tactical Airlift): 17 Jan 1963-1 Jul 1966; 1 Apr 1981-1 Oct 1989.  911 Troop Carrier (later, 911 Military Airlift): 17 Jan 1963-21 Apr 1971 (detached 1-21 Apr 1971).  913 Tactical Airlift (later, 913 Airlift): 8 Jan 1976-1 Aug 1992.  915 Military Airlift: 26 Jan 1968-1 Sep 1969.  918 Military Airlift: attached 1-20 Apr 1971, assigned 21 Apr 1971-1 Jul 1972.  919 Military Airlift (later, 919 Tactical Airlift): 30 Jul 1971-1 Dec 1974.  920 Tactical Airlift: 25 Apr 1973-1 Jan 1976.  927 Tactical Airlift: 15 Mar 1976-1 Jul 1981.  Squadrons.  756 Troop Carrier (later, 756 Tactical Airlift; 756 Military Airlift; 756 Airlift): 14 Apr 1959-17 Jan 1963; 1 Sep 1975-1 Aug 1992.  757 Troop Carrier: 14 Apr 1959-17 Jan 1963.  758 Troop Carrier: 14 Apr 1959-17 Jan 1963. 

Stations.  Andrews AFB (later, Joint Base Andrews), MD, 26 Jan 1955-.

Service Streamers.  None.

Campaign Streamers.  None. 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  Grenada, 1983.   

Decorations.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:  1 Apr 1971-31 Mar 1973; 1 Nov 1978-31 Oct 1980; 1 Jan 1982-31 Dec 1983; 1 Jan 1984-31 Dec 1985; 1 Oct 1993-30 Sep 1995; 1 May 2002-30 Apr 2004; 1 Jan 2005-31 Dec 2006.  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm:  1 Apr 1966-29 Jun 1971.   

Bestowed Honors.  Authorized to display honors earned by the 459 Bombardment Group prior to 26 Jan 1955.  Service Streamers.  None.  Campaign Streamers.  World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.  Decoration.  Distinguished Unit Citation: Bad Voslau, Austria, 23 Apr 1944. 

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 8 May 2023.

Supersedes statement prepared 28 Nov 2012.

Emblem.  Approved on 24 Jun 1996.

Prepared by Melissa Lahue.

Reviewed by Margaret Ream.