Lineage. Constituted 458th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 1 Jul 1942. Activated on 6 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1944. Redesignated 458th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, and activated, on 1 Apr 1944. Inactivated on 27 Dec 1945. Redesignated 458th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 14 Jul 1952. Redesignated 458th Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated, on 12 Oct 1966. Organized on 1 Jan 1967. Redesignated 458th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Aug 1967. Inactivated on 1 Mar 1972. Consolidated (1 Dec 1991) with the 1401st Military Airlift Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 1 Apr 1975. Redesignated 458th Airlift Squadron on 1 Dec 1991.
Assignments. 330th Bombardment Group, 6 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944. 330th Bombardment Group, 1 Apr 1944-27 Dec 1945. 330th Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun-14 Jul 1952. Pacific Air Forces, 12 Oct 1966; 483d Troop Carrier (later, 483d Tactical Airlift) Wing, 1 Jan 1967-1 Mar 1972. 89th Military Airlift Wing (later, 89th Military Airlift Group), 1 Apr 1975; 375th Aeromedical (later, 375th Military Airlift) Wing, 15 Mar 1978; 375th Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991-.
Stations. Salt Lake City AAB, UT, 6 Jul 1942; Alamogordo, NM, 1 Aug 1942; Biggs Field, TX, 1 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-21 Nov 1945; Camp Anza, CA, c.22-27 Dec 1945. Greater Pittsburgh Aprt, PA, 14 Jun-14 Jul 1952. Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, 1 Jan 1967-1 Mar 1972. Scott AFB, IL, 1 Apr 1975-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942; B-24, 1942-1944. B-17, 1944; B-29, 1944-1945. C-7, 1967-1972. CT-39, 1975-1984; C-21, 1984-; C-12, 1984-.
Operations. Replacement training, 1942-1944. Combat in Western Pacific, c. 12 Apr-14 Aug 1945. Tactical airlift in Southeast Asia, Jan 1967-Feb 1972. Military airlift operations worldwide, 1975-1978; worldwide aeromedical evacuation, 1978-1990. Airlift in Southwest Asia, Aug 1990-May 1991.
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; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Japan, 3-9 Jul 1945; Tokyo, Japan, 8 Aug 1945. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 21 Jan-12 May 1968; 1 Apr 30- Jun 1970. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jan-30 Apr 1967; 1 May 1967-30 Apr 1968; 1 Jul 1970-31 Dec 1971. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul-31 Dec 1975; 1 Jan 1976-31 Jan 1977; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1986-31 Jul 1988. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jan 1967-1 Mar 1972.
Emblem. Approved on 18 May 1983; latest rendering, 18 Sep 2019.