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.