459th Operations Group

The 459th Operations Group is a reserve component of the United States Air Force assigned to the 459th Air Refueling Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The wing belongs to Fourth Air Force within Air Force Reserve Command; if mobilized, it is gained by Air Mobility Command. The group is a military organization rather than a commercial consumer brand. Its role is to recruit, train, and equip citizen airmen who operate and support Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker air-refueling missions, helping extend the range and endurance of United States air and space forces. The organization traces its lineage to the 459th Bombardment Group, established during World War II. Activated in July 1943, the group trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberators before moving overseas to the Mediterranean theater. From bases in Italy it conducted long-range strategic bombing against military, industrial, transportation, petroleum, and airfield targets across Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia. It also performed interdiction and close-support activities, including attacks on rail networks supplying German forces around Anzio, and operations supporting the Allied invasion of southern France. In April 1944, the group led its bombardment wing in an attack on an airfield and aircraft factory at Bad Vöslau, Austria, under heavy antiaircraft fire and fighter opposition, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. It flew nearly 200 combat missions before ending combat operations in April 1945. After returning to the United States, it was inactivated in August 1945 following Japan's surrender. The lineage continued through several Air Force Reserve incarnations. The group was reactivated in 1947 and initially trained with lighter aircraft while reserve structures were reorganized. It was mobilized during the Korean War in 1951, after which its personnel were distributed among other units and the group was inactivated. In 1955 it returned at Andrews Air Force Base as the 459th Troop Carrier Group, operating Curtiss C-46 Commandos and later Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. Its reserve activities included Operation Sixteen Ton, which moved Coast Guard equipment to destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, as well as high-priority cargo and aircraft-engine transport under Operation Swift Lift and Operation Ready Swap. The group was inactivated in 1959 during an Air Force organizational reconfiguration. The present operations-group designation was created in 1992 as part of the Air Force's Objective Wing reorganization. Initially equipped with Lockheed C-141B Starlifters, the reactivated group supported contingency and humanitarian airlift, Air Mobility Command channel missions, aeromedical evacuation, training exercises, and deployments of other military units. From October 2001 through September 2003 it supported intertheater airlift connected with Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2003 its principal mission shifted from airlift to air refueling, and its C-141 aircraft were replaced by Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers. The group subsequently provided aircraft and crews for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and expanded its role in global air-refueling operations. Its current operational components include the 756th Air Refueling Squadron, the 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and the 459th Operations Support Flight.

The 459th Operations Group's lineage began with the 459th Bombardment Group, which was established on 19 May 1943 and activated on 1 July 1943 at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico. Its original squadrons were the 756th, 757th, 758th, and 759th Bombardment Squadrons. The group trained on Consolidated B-24 Liberators under Second Air Force and moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts, in October 1943. Before its overseas deployment, it flew long-range convoy-escort missions over the waters between the Newfoundland Banks and Long Island Sound. The group reached Italy in February 1944 and began combat operations the following month. Its main mission was long-range strategic bombing against enemy military and industrial infrastructure. Targets included railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airfields, heavy-industry facilities, bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations in several occupied and Axis-aligned areas of Europe. The group participated in attacks supporting the Anzio campaign and Operation Dragoon, and later struck communications and transportation targets to assist Allied ground forces advancing through northern Italy. In April 1944 it led the 304th Bombardment Wing in an attack on the airfield and aircraft factory at Bad Vöslau, Austria. The action took place in the face of intense flak and fighter resistance and resulted in a Distinguished Unit Citation. The group completed almost 200 combat missions before ending operations in April 1945. After returning to the United States in August 1945, the group was considered for strategic operations against Japan using Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. Japan's surrender ended that requirement, and the unit was inactivated on 28 August 1945. It was redesignated the 459th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, in March 1947 and reactivated in the Air Force Reserve at Long Beach Army Air Field in April of that year. The reserve organization underwent repeated changes as the Air Force adjusted its postwar structure. It trained with North American T-6 Texans and several Beechcraft training aircraft, and its units were distributed between Long Beach and Davis–Monthan Field. Budget reductions and the Air Force's adoption of corollary arrangements altered the group's status in 1949. Some of its elements were associated with Strategic Air Command units, allowing reservists to train alongside active-duty personnel. The group and related corollary units were mobilized for the Korean War in May 1951. Its personnel were reassigned to other organizations, and the group was inactivated on 16 June 1951. The reserve mission returned at Andrews Air Force Base in 1954, where the 756th Troop Carrier Squadron operated Curtiss C-46 Commandos. The group was reactivated as the 459th Troop Carrier Group in January 1955. During this period the Air Force placed reserve squadrons at separate operating locations to improve recruiting and make smaller units easier for local communities to support. The group participated in Operation Sixteen Ton in 1956, moving Coast Guard equipment from Floyd Bennett Naval Air Station to Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. It also used reserve training periods for Operation Swift Lift, carrying priority cargo, and Operation Ready Swap, transporting aircraft engines between Air Materiel Command depots. The 757th and 758th Troop Carrier Squadrons later operated Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars, while the 756th transitioned from the C-46. The group was inactivated in April 1959 during the adoption of a dual-deputy wing organization. The unit was redesignated the 459th Tactical Airlift Group in 1985 but remained inactive. On 1 August 1992 it was redesignated and reactivated as the 459th Operations Group under the Air Force Reserve's Objective Wing model. Equipped with C-141B Starlifters, it performed contingency and humanitarian airlift, Air Mobility Command channel flights, aeromedical evacuation, exercises, and support for the deployment of other units. From 2001 to 2003 it supported intertheater airlift for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2003 the group converted from airlift to air refueling and began operating Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers. The 459th Operations Group remains assigned to the 459th Air Refueling Wing and provides reserve air-refueling, aeromedical-evacuation, and operational-support capabilities.

• 2003

  Conversion to KC-135R air refueling

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group replaced its C-141B airlifters with Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers and shifted its principal mission to aerial refueling.

• 1992

  459th Operations Group reactivated

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group returned to active reserve status with a C-141B airlift mission.

• 1959

  Troop carrier group inactivated

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated during a reorganization that assigned operational squadrons directly to wing headquarters.

• 1956

  Operation Sixteen Ton

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved Coast Guard equipment to Puerto Rico and the Bahamas during a reserve active-duty training operation.

• 1955

  Reactivated as a troop carrier group

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The reserve organization resumed operations at Andrews Air Force Base with Curtiss C-46 aircraft and later added C-119-equipped squadrons.

• 1951

  Mobilized for the Korean War

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was ordered to active service and inactivated after its personnel were distributed to other units.

• 1947

  Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group returned as a reserve bombardment organization at Long Beach Army Air Field.

• 1945

  World War II combat operations end

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group completed nearly 200 combat missions before returning to the United States and being inactivated in August.

• 1944

  European combat operations begin

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After arriving in Italy, the group began strategic bombing and interdiction missions across occupied and Axis-aligned Europe.

• 1944

  Distinguished Unit Citation action at Bad Vöslau

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group led an attack on an Austrian airfield and aircraft factory through heavy flak and fighter opposition.

• 1943

  459th Bombardment Group activated

  [1]459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated at Alamogordo Army Air Field with four B-24 Liberator bombardment squadrons.

A United States Air Force Reserve operational group providing trained reserve aircrew, aeromedical personnel, and support capabilities for global air mobility and aerial refueling.

• Aerial refueling aircraft · 2003

  Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker

  The KC-135R is the group's principal aircraft in its modern mission. The group uses the Stratotanker to provide aerial refueling for United States and allied aircraft, extending their range and time on station during training, contingency, and deployed operations.

• Strategic airlift aircraft · 1992

  Lockheed C-141B Starlifter

  The C-141B was operated by the reactivated group from 1992 until the 2003 mission conversion. It supported intertheater airlift, humanitarian and contingency missions, aeromedical evacuation, exercises, and the movement of deploying military units.

• Troop and cargo transport aircraft · 1955

  Curtiss C-46 Commando

  The C-46 was used by the 756th Troop Carrier Squadron when reserve operations at Andrews expanded in the mid-1950s.

• Cargo transport aircraft · 1957

  Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

  C-119 aircraft became part of the group's reserve troop-carrier capability during the late 1950s, supporting the Air Force's requirement for additional wartime airlift.

• 2001Operation Enduring Freedom support

  International

  The group supported intertheater airlift beginning in October 2001.

  Outcome. Support continued through September 2003.

  Source
• 2001Operation Iraqi Freedom support

  International

  The group provided intertheater airlift support during the operation and later supplied KC-135 aircraft and crews for air-refueling missions.

  Outcome. The group's role evolved from C-141 airlift to KC-135 aerial refueling.

  Source
• 1945Northern Italy ground-support campaign

  Northern Italy

  The group attacked communications lines and related targets in support of the British Eighth Army and American Fifth Army.

  Outcome. Operations continued until the group's combat missions ended in April 1945.

  Source
• 1944European strategic bombing campaign

  Italy · France · Germany · Austria · Hungary · Romania · Yugoslavia

  The World War II group conducted long-range bombing against military, industrial, petroleum, airfield, and transportation targets from Italy.

  Outcome. The group completed nearly 200 combat missions and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the Bad Vöslau action.

  Source
• 1944Anzio support operations

  Italy

  The group attacked railroads supporting German forces around the Anzio beachhead.

  Outcome. The missions contributed to Allied interdiction efforts during the Italian campaign.

  Source
• 1944Operation Dragoon support

  Southern France

  The group struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations in support of the Allied invasion of southern France.

  Outcome. The missions supported the invasion and subsequent Allied ground operations.

  Source

• 2003

  Convert from airlift to air refuelingStrategy

  Background

  The group had operated Lockheed C-141B Starlifters since its 1992 reactivation and had supported contingency, humanitarian, and intertheater airlift missions.

  Action taken

  The group replaced its C-141B aircraft with Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers and adopted air refueling as its principal operational mission.

  Aftermath

  The conversion established the group's modern role in global aerial refueling while retaining associated aeromedical and operational-support functions.

  Source

1. 1459th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org