139th Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
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
.
scored the unit's first aerial victory when he shot down a Rumpler
. 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.
Also:
New York Air National Guard
The New York Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission...
. Its parent unit is the 109th Airlift Wing
109th Airlift Wing
The United States Air Force's 109th Airlift Wing is an Air Mobility Command gained tactical airlift unit of the New York Air National Guard. The unit is located at Stratton ANGB/Schenectady County Airport, New York and operates both conventional C-130 Hercules aircraft and specially modified...
.
Mission
When founded during World War I, it was a pursuit, i.e., fighter squadron, and served as such during the conflict.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 PutnamDavid Putnam
1LT David Endicott Putnam was an American flying Ace of World War I.A descendant of General Israel Putnam he was born at Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts and attended Harvard University before joining the Lafayette Flying Corps of the French Air Service in 1917. In June of the following year he...
scored the unit's first aerial victory when he shot down a Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
. In its short existence, the squadron housed half a dozen aces besides Putnam, including Karl Schoen
Karl Schoen
First Lieutenant Karl John Schoen was a World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories while flying a Spad XIII for the USAAS during World War I. As such, he was one of the first American aces flying for his home country.-Early life:...
, Robert Opie Lindsay
Robert Opie Lindsay
Lieutenant Robert Opie Lindsay was aWorld War I fighter ace credited with six aerial victories in the closing days of the war. He returned to duty during World War II; at one point he commanded Fort Sill, Oklahoma.-References:...
, and future Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Harold H. George.
Major Command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(1 June 1992–Present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(1974-1 June 1992) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(1966–1974) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Military Air Transportation Service (???-1966) - 2d Pursuit Group2d Operations GroupThe 2d Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force 2d Bomb Wing, assigned to the Air Combat Command Eighth Air Force. The group is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
(1917-ca 1919)
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 FieldWilliams FieldWilliams Field or Willy Field is a United States Antarctic Program airfield in Antarctica. Williams Field consists of two snow runways located on approximately 8 meters of compacted snow, lying on top of 80 meters of ice, floating over 550 meters of water...
(1997–Present) - Christchurch International AirportChristchurch International Airport-Facts & figures:As the gateway for Christchurch and the South Island, Christchurch International Airport is New Zealand’s second largest airport.5,908,077 passengers travelled in and out of Christchurch International Airport from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009...
(1997–Present) - Stratton ANGB, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(1948–Present)
Aircraft Operated
- 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 28Nieuport 28|-See also:-Bibliography:* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, UK: Harleyford Publications, 1960, pp. 98–99....
(1917-ca 1919) - Spad XIII (1917-ca 1919)