459^th Tactical Airlift Squadron

459^th Tactical Airlift Squadron

Ed. Note: The information on the history of the 459^th prior to Vietnam service was compiled by Jim Butler, 459^th 66-67. Thanks for the info, Jim, and sorry it took me so long. Bob.

Army-Air Force Transition (Operation Red Leaf)

The 459^th Troop Carrier Squadron was formed from the former US Army 92nd Aviation Company at Qui Nhon on 1 Jan 1967. The squadron was initially based at Phu Cat, with detachments of 5 aircraft at Danang and 4 aircraft at Pleiku.

Vietnam Squadron Commanders

LTC Edward J. Thielen : Assumed command 1 Jan 1967
LTC David P. Hopwood: Assumed command 24 Aug 1967
LTC James K. Secrest: Assumed command 1 May 1968
LTC John Kozey, Jr.: Assumed command Aug 1968
LTC Arthur Rossing: Assumed command c. July 1969
LTC Russell Draper: Assumed command 13 Mar 1970

Lineage

Constituted as 459^th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Jul 1942, Activated on 6 Jul1942. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated 459^th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) and activated on 1 Apr 1944. Inactivated on 21 Dec 1945. Redesignated 459^th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 14 Jul 1952. Redesignated 459^th Troop Carrier Squadron and activated on 12 Oct 1966. Organized on 1 Jan 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^th Airlift Squadron on 1 Dec 1991. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1993. Activated on 1 Oct 1993.

Assignments

330^th Bombardment Group, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944; 330^th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944-21 Dec 1945; 330^th Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun-14 Jul, 1944; Pacific Air Forces, 12 Oct 1966; 483^rd Troop Carrier (later, 483^rd Tactical Airlift Wing), 1 Jan 1967-1 Jun 1970; 89^th Military Airlift Wing (later, 89^th Military Airlift Group), 1 Apr 1975; 375^th Aeromedical (later, 375^th Military Airlift Wing), 15 Mar 1978; 375^th Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991; 22^nd Operations Group, 1 Apr-1 Oct 1993; 374^th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993-present.

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 Apt., 14 Jun-14 Jul 1945; Phu Cat, 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-present.

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, 1985-2007; UH-1, 1993-present; C-12J, 2007-present.

Operations

Bomber 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; Airlift of distinguished visitors, priority personnel and cargo throughout Japan and the Pacific theater ( also some aeromedical airlift and SAR) 1993-present

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater

Campaign Streamers

WW II: Air Offensive, Japan; Western Pacific; Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive, Vietnam Air Offensive, Phases II, III, IV; Vietnam Air/Ground; 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

Navy Presidential Unit Citation (Khe Sanh 1968)

Sources:

“Air Force Combat Units of World War II”. http//libraryautomation/nymas/usasf7.html

“459^th Airlift Squadron”, Air Force Historical Research Agency. Maxwell AFB, Alabama

459^th Airlift Squadron website. Yokota AB, Japan