in August 1992 as part of Air Force Reserve Command's reorganization of its units under the Objective Wing model. The group was equipped with the Lockheed C-141B Starlifter. Until September 1994, it participated in contingency and humanitarian airlift operations, training exercises, Air Mobility Command channel flights, and aeromedical evacuation missions. It also provided airlift for the deployment of other units. From October 2001 until September 2003, it supported Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with intertheater airlift. In 2003, the group mission changed from airlift to air refueling and replaced its Starlifters with Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers. It deployed aircraft and crews in 2005 to provide air refueling support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, adding global air refueling missions to its airlift capabilities. Lineage Established as the 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943 Activated on 1 July 1943 Redesignated 459th Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 August 1943 Inactivated on 28 August 1945 Redesignated 459th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 11 March 1947 Activated in the reserve on 19 April 1947 Redesignated 459th Bombardment Group, Medium on 27 June 1949 Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951 Inactivated on 16 June 1951 Redesignated 459th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, on 30 December 1954 Activated in the reserve on 26 January 1955 Inactivated on 14 April 1959 Redesignated 459th Tactical Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (remained inactive) Redesignated 459th Operations Group and activated in the reserve on 1 August 1992 Assignments Second Air Force, 1 July 1943 First Air Force, 31 October 1943 304th Bombardment Wing, 25 January 1944 Second Air Force, 13–28 August 1945 304 Bombardment Wing (later 304th Air Division), 19 April 1947 Eighth Air Force, 27 June 1949 (attached to 43d Bombardment Group) Fifteenth Air Force, 1 April 1950 – 16 June 1951 (attached to 43d Bombardment Group until 10 February 1951, then to 43d Bombardment Wing) 459th Troop Carrier Wing, 26 January 1955 – 14 April 1959 459th Airlift Wing (later 459th Air Refueling Wing), 1 August 1992 – present Components 57th Fighter Squadron: 15 May 1947 – 27 June 1949 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron: 1 October 1994 – present 459th Operations Support Squadron (later 459th Operations Support Flight): 1 August 1992 – present 756th Bombardment Squadron (later 756th Troop Carrier Squadron, 756th Airlift Squadron, Air Refueling) Squadron: 1 July 1943 – 28 August 1945; 19 April 1947 – 26 June 1949; 26 January 1955 –