139th Airlift Squadron

The 139th Airlift Squadron flies the LC-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the New York Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 109th Airlift Wing.

Mission

When founded during World War I, it was a pursuit, i.e., fighter squadron, and served as such during the conflict.^[1]

History

The 139th Aero Squadron of the USAAS was formed at Kelly Field, Texas on 21 September 1917. On 30 June 1918, the new squadron mobilized into combat in France; on that same day, they officially joined the 2d Pursuit Group, and Lieutenant David Putnam scored the unit's first aerial victory^[2] when he shot down a Rumpler.^[3] In its short existence, the squadron housed half a dozen aces besides Putnam, including Karl Schoen, Robert Opie Lindsay, and future Brigadier General Harold H. George.^[4][5]

Assignments

Major Command

• Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command (1 June 1992–Present)
• Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1974-1 June 1992)
• Air National Guard/Military Airlift Command (1966–1974)
• Air National Guard/Military Air Transportation Service (???-1966)
• 2d Pursuit Group (1917-ca 1919)^[6]

Previous designations

• 139th Airlift Squadron (1992?–Present)
• 139th Tactical Airlift Squadron (1971–1992)
• 139th Military Airlift Squadron (1960–1971)
• 139th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1957–1960)
• 139th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (1956–1957)
• 139th Aero Squadron (1917–ca 1919)

Bases Stationed

• Williams Field (1997–Present)
• Christchurch International Airport (1997–Present)
• Stratton ANGB, New York (1948–Present)

Aircraft Operated^[7]

• LC-130H Hercules (1984–Present) (This version is ski-equipped and not found at any other base in the Air Force)
• C-130H Hercules (1984–Present)
• C-130D Hercules (1975–1984)
• C-130A Hercules (1971–1975)
• C-97G Stratofreighter (1966–1971)
• C-97A Stratofreighter (1960–1966)
• F-86H Sabre (1957–1960)
• F-94B Starfire (1956–1957)

Also:

• Spad VII (1917-ca 1919)
• Nieuport 28 (1917-ca 1919)
• Spad XIII (1917-ca 1919)

References

• American Aces of World War I. Norman Franks, Harry Dempsey. Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84176-375-6, 9781841763750.
• World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

Sources of information

External links