759th Bombardment Squadron

The squadron was first activated on 1 July 1943 at Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico as the 759th Bombardment Squadron, one of the four original squadrons of the 459th Bombardment Group. The squadron trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberators under Second Air Force Until October, when it moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts.[1][2] The squadron flew long-range convoy escort missions over area between the Newfoundland Banks and Long Island Sound in November and December 1943 while Giulia Airfield, its station in Italy, was being constructed. In January 1944, the squadron began its overseas movement.[1]

The squadron arrived in Italy in February 1944 and began flying combat missions in March.[2] The squadron engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airfields, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives. In April 1944, the 459th Group led the 304th Bombardment Wing in an attack on an airfield and aircraft factory at Bad Vöslau, Austria through heavy flak and fighter attacks. The squadron was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for this action.[1][2]

In addition to strategic missions, the squadron also carried out support and interdiction operations. In March 1944, the squadron attacked railroads used to supply enemy forces surrounding the Anzio beachhead. In August, it struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations to aid Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. It also hit communications lines and other targets during March and April 1945 to support the advance of British Eighth Army and American Fifth Army in northern Italy.[2]

The squadron returned to the United States in August 1945, being programmed for deployment to the Pacific Theater as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombardment squadron. A cadre reformed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in the middle of the month. The Japanese surrender in August led to the inactivation of unit on 28 August.[1]

The 759th was activated as a reserve unit at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona in April 1947, although its parent 459th Group was located at Long Beach Army Air Field, California. Although nominally a heavy bomber unit, it is not clear whether the squadron was equipped with operational aircraft prior to 1949.[3] The rest of the 459th Group at Long Beach trained with North American T-6 Texans and Beechcraft T-7 Navigators and T-11 Kansans[4][5][6] The squadron trained under the supervision of the 419th AAF Base Unit (later the 2348th Air Force Reserve Flying Training Center).[7]

President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force.[8] ConAC also reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949, making the 459th Group and its squadrons at Long Beach surplus. However, the May 1949 Air Force Reserve program called for a new type of unit, the corollary unit, which was a reserve unit integrated with an active duty unit. The plan called for corollary units at 107 locations. It was viewed as the best method to train reservists by mixing them with an existing regular unit to perform duties alongside the regular unit.[9] The 459th Group headquarters moved without personnel or equipment to Davis-Monthan and the group and squadron became corollaries of Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s 43d Bombardment Group, a B-29 unit. Along with all other reserve corollary units, the group was mobilized for the Korean War.[10] Once the squadron was mobilized in May 1951 SAC reassigned its personnel to other units and the unit inactivated the following month.[1]

• 459th Bombardment Group, 1 July 1943 – 28 August 1945
• 459th Bombardment Group, 19 April 1947 – 16 June 1951[1]

• B-24 Liberator, 1943-1945[1]

Explanatory notes

Citations

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.