Lineage

Established as 59th Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep 1941. Inactivated on 18 Oct 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1943. Redesignated: 59th Reconnaissance Group on 2 Apr 1943; 59th Fighter Group on 11 Aug 1943. Disestablished on 1 May 1944. Redesignated 59th Tactical Fighter Wing on 31 Jul 1985 but remained inactive. Consolidated (1 Jul 1993) with the 3700th Medical Squadron, which was designated on 25 Aug 1948. Organized on 26 Aug 1948. Redesignated: 3700th Station Medical Squadron on 1 Nov 1948; 3700th Medical Group on 27 Jun 1950; 3700th USAF Hospital on 16 Oct 1953; USAF Hospital, Lackland on 1 Jul 1958; Wilford Hall USAF Hospital on 2 Mar 1963; Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center on 1 Jul 1969; 59th Medical Wing on 1 Jul 1993.

Assignments

I Air Support (later, I Ground Air Support) Command, 1 Sep 1941; First Air Force, 21 Aug?18 Oct 1942. Third Air Force, 1 Mar 1943; III Fighter Command, (by Sep) 1943?1 May 1944. 3700th Basic Training Wing, 26 Aug 1948; Indoctrination Division, Air Training Command, 22 Apr 1949; 3700th AF Indoctrination Wing (later, 3700th Military Training Wing; Lackland Military Training Center), 28 Oct 1948; USAF Aerospace Medical Center, 1 Oct 1959 (attached to Aerospace Medical Division, 1 Nov 1961?14 Apr 1962); Aerospace Medical Division, 15 Apr 1962; Air Training Command, 15 Jan 1987; San Antonio Joint Military Medical Command, 16 Feb 1987; Air Training (later, Air Education and Training) Command, 1 Oct 1991?.

Components

Squadrons. 9th Observation (later, 9th Reconnaissance; 488th Fighter): 1 Mar 1943?1 May 1944. 103d Observation: 1 Sep 1941?18 Oct 1942. 104th Observation (later, 104th Reconnaissance; 489th Reconnaissance; 489th Fighter): 1 Sep 1941?18 Oct 1942; 1 Mar 1943?1 May 1944. 119th Observation (later, 119th Reconnaissance; 490th Fighter): 1 Mar 1943? 1 May 1944. 126th Observation (later, 126th Reconnaissance; 34th Photographic Reconnaissance): 1 Sep 1941?18 Oct 1942; 1 Mar 1943? 11 Aug 1943. 447th Fighter: 20 Nov 1943?1 May 1944.

Stations

Newark, NJ, 1 Sep 1941; Ft Dix, NJ, 14 Nov 1941?18 Oct 1942. Ft Myers, FL, 1 Mar 1943; Thomasville AAFld, GA, c. 30 Mar 1943?1 May 1944. Lackland AFB, TX, 26 Aug 1948?.

Commanders

Lt Col Victor Dallin, 1941; Lt Col Chester A. Charles, Jan 1942?unkn. Maj Leland S. McGowan, c. 24 Mar 1943; Lt Col William R. Clingerman, Jr., 14 Apr 1943; Col James B. League, Jr., Oct 1943; Lt Col James Van G. Wilson, 11 Mar?c. 1 May 1944. Col John R. Copenhaver, 26 Aug 1948; Col Robert E. Lee, 21 Jun 1949; Col Howard C. Martin, c. Mar 1951; Col Robert S. Brua, c. Sep 1951; Col David Gold, 11 Jun 1955; Col James G. Moore, 20 Jul 1955; Col Don S. Wenger, 12 Aug 1957; Col John E. Pluenneke, 15 Aug 1957; Brig Gen James G. Moore, 1 Jun 1959; Brig Gen James W. Humphreys, Jr., 12 Sep 1960; Brig Gen Thomas H. Crouch, 1 Jun 1965; Col Robert E. Lau, 10 Jan 1966; Brig Gen Thomas H. Crouch, 16 May 1966; Brig Gen Edgar H. Underwood, Jr., 1 Nov 1968; Maj Gen Paul W. Myers,Apr 1971; Brig Gen Kermit Q. Vandenbos, 28 Jul 1978; Maj Gen Monte B. Miller, 26 Mar 1985; Brig Gen Thomas P. Ball, 6 Jun 1986; Maj Gen Vernon Chong, 17 Feb 1987; Maj Gen Edgar R. Anderson, 14 May 1990?.

Aircraft

BC?1A, 1941?1942; L?59, 1941?1942; 0?46, 1941?1942; 0?47, 1941?1942; O?49, 1941?1942; 0?52, 1941?1942. P?39, 1943?1944; P?40, 1944.

Operations

Following the outbreak of war, engaged in antisubmarine patrol along the East coast of the United States, Dec 1941?Oct 1943. During 1943?1944, trained pilots using P?39 aircraft. Began conversion to P?40s in Apr 1944 but inactivated the following month. Activated on 26 Aug 1948. Developed a program to train basic trainees as medical corpsmen to ease the shortage of medical personnel during the Korean War. By 1957, became the first Air Force unit for training interns. Designated a medical center in 1969. With the opening of a new hospital building in 1983, offered centralized outpatient care, a clinical investigation facility, the Air Force?s largest dispensary system, and the only eye bank and organ transplant centers. Accomplished important research work in neonatal medicine, surgical transplants, orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, immunology, and maxillofacial surgery. The wing?s Graduate Medical Education program consistently ranked among the top 10 percent nationally, providing residency and fellowship training in forty medical, dental, and related specialities. Its clinical investigations research kept the wing at the forefront of such areas as the development of high-frequency ventilation and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation; new techniques for the care of premature infants; improved cancer treatments; bone banking and transplantation; laser photocoagulation; and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In Dec 1989, provided medical support to casualties returning from operations in Panama. From 4 Jan to 21 Mar 1991, the unit was responsible for the largest medical deployment in Air Force history when more than 900 personnel went to RAF Little Rissington, England, to establish a 1500-bed hospital to support expected casualties from the war in Southwest Asia.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1957?31 Dec 1963; 1 Jan 1965? 30 Jun 1966; 1 Jan 1975-31 Dec 1976; 1 Jan 1979-31 Dec 1980; 1 Jan 1983-31 Dec 1984; 1 Jan 1986?31 Dec 1987; 19 Dec 1989?31 Jan 1990.

Emblem

Azure, a mullet in dexter chief between five rays issuant fanwise in bend Or, from a cloud issuant from sinister base Argent, garnished of the second; all within a diminished bordure of the like. Motto: EXEMPLAR?An Example. Approved for 59th Group on 24 Nov 1942 (K 2806); adopted by 59th Medical Wing on 9 Dec 1993; replaced emblem approved on 4 Nov 1960 (K 12119).