Lineage. Constituted as 459 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Jul 1942. Activated on 6 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated 459 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, and activated on 1 Apr 1944. Inactivated on 21 Dec 1945. Redesignated 459 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 14 Jul 1952. Redesignated 459 Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated, on 12 Oct 1966. Organized on 1 Jan 1967. Redesignated 459 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Aug 1967. Inactivated on 1 Jun 1970. Consolidated (1 Dec 1991) with the 1400 Military Airlift Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 1 Apr 1975. Redesignated 459 Airlift Squadron on 1 Dec 1991. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1993. Activated on 1 Oct 1993.
Assignments. 330 Bombardment Group, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944. 330 Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944-21 Dec 1945. 330 Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun-14 Jul 1952. Pacific Air Forces, 12 Oct 1966; 483 Troop Carrier (later, 483 Tactical Airlift) Wing, 1 Jan 1967-1 Jun 1970. 89 Military Airlift Wing (later, 89 Military Airlift Group), 1 Apr 1975; 375 Aeromedical (later, 375 Military) Airlift Wing, 15 Mar 1978; 375 Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991; 22 Operations Group, 1 Apr-1 Oct 1993. 374 Operations Group,
1 Oct 1993-.
Stations. Salt Lake City AAB, UT, 6 Jul 1942; Alamogordo, NM, 1 Aug 1942; Biggs Field, TX, 2 Sep 1942; Alamogordo, NM, 29 Nov 1942; Biggs Field, TX, 5 Apr 1943-1 Apr 1944. Walker AAFld, KS, 1 Apr 1944; Dalhart AAFld, TX, 25 May 1944; Walker AAFld, KS, 1 Aug 1944-7 Jan 1945; North Field, Guam, 18 Feb-19 Nov 1945; Camp Anza, CA, c. 18-21 Dec 1945. Greater Pittsburgh Aprt, PA, 14 Jun-14 Jul 1952. Phu Cat AB, Vietnam, 1 Jan 1967-1 Jun 1970. Norton AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1975; March AFB, CA, 15 Oct 1992-1 Oct 1993. Yokota AB, Japan, 1 Oct 1993-.
Commanders. Capt Harris K. McCauley, 1942-unkn; Capt Campbell, unkn-1 Jun 1943; Capt DeBord, 1 Jun 1943-unkn; 2 Lt Sol I. Lobe, 30 May 1944; Capt Tullie W. Cato, c. 6 Jun 1944; Lt Col Robert W. Ryder, 1 Aug 1944; Maj Frank J. Rinehart, 18 Aug 1945; Capt Dennie R. Curtis, 30 Oct 1945; 1 Lt Sol I. Lobe, 15 Nov 1945-unkn. Unkn, 14 Jun-14 Jul 1952. Lt Col Edward J. Thielen, 1 Jan 1967; Lt Col David P. Hopwood, 24 Aug 1967; Lt Col James K. Secrest, 1 May 1968; Lt Col John Kozey Jr., Aug 1968; Lt Col Arthur T. Rossing, c. Jul 1969; Lt Col Russell C. Draper, 13 Mar 1970-unkn. Lt Col Everett A. Cheney, 1 Apr 1975; Lt Col Bert E. Grigsby, c. Jul 1976; Lt Col Anthony A. Vanagas, 19 Jun 1978; Lt Col Neil Sorenson, 14 Aug 1980; Lt Col Geoffrey R. Hickman, 1 Dec 1981; Lt Col James H. White, 25 Nov 1983; Lt Col James M. Murphy, 14 Mar 1984; Lt Col Lester H. Ideker Jr., 3 Oct 1986; Lt Col Eric B. House II, 16 Sep 1988; Lt Col Richard A. Mallahan, 30 May 1990; Lt Col William R. Short, 10 Jun 1992-unkn; unkn-16 Apr 1995; Lt Col Thomas S. Kingsley, 17 Apr 1995; Lt Col Jeffery A. Worthing, 5 Sep 1996; Lt Col John C. McKoy, 7 May 1998; Lt Col Walter Leach, c. 2000; Lt Col Christopher R. Valle, 16 Apr 2002; Lt Col Michael Smith, 8 Jun 2004; Lt Col Thad A. Hunkins, 19 Jun 2006-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942; B-24, 1942-1944. B-17, 1944; B-29, 1944-1945. C-7, 1967-1970. CT-39, 1975-1985; C-12, 1984-1993; C-21, 1985-; UH-1, 1993-.
Operations. Replacement training, 1942-1944. Combat in Western Pacific, c. 12 Apr-14 Aug 1945. Intratheater airlift in Southeast Asia, Jan 1967-May 1970. Airlift of key Department of Defense personnel, Apr 1975-Mar 1978; aeromedical airlift, Mar 1978-Nov 1991; operational support airlift, Dec 1991-Oct 1993. Airlifted distinguished visitors, priority personnel and cargo throughout Japan and the Pacific theater, 1993-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Western Pacific. Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall,1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Japan, 3-9 Jul 1945; Tokyo, Japan, 8 Aug 1945. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 1 Jan-12 May 1968; 1 Apr-31 May 1970. Presidential Unit Citation (Navy): Khe Sanh, 20 Jan-31 Mar 1968. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jan-30 Apr 1967; 1 May 1967-30 Apr 1968. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul- 31 Dec 1975; 1 Jan 1976-31 Jan 1977; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jun 1986-31 Jul 1988; 1 Jul-1 Oct 1993; [1 Oct 1993]-1 Oct 1994; 1 Oct 1994-30 Sep 1996; 1 Oct 1996-30 Sep 1997; 1 Oct 1998-30 Sep 2000; 1 Oct 2000-30 Sep 2002; 1 Oct 2003-30 Sep 2005. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm; 1 Jan 1967-30 Jun 1970.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 22 Oct 2008.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Dec 2006.
Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington: USGPO, 1999).
Emblem. Approved on 9 Apr 1945; newest rendition approved on 13 Oct 2011.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.