59th Medical Wing
Encyclopedia
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
assigned to Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
, stationed at Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, Texas.
The 59 MDW is the Air Force's premier medical unit. It operates Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, which is now part of the San Antonio Military Healthcare Systems (SAMHS). The wing provides global medical readiness capability and comprehensive peacetime healthcare benefits through education, training and research. Previously referred to as SAMMC-South, this designation was dropped under agreement with the Army, and its name changed to Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgery Center.
The wing's original unit, the 59th Observation Group was formed in 1941 under 1st Air Support Command. Originally an antisubmarine patrol unit, the group later became a replacement training unit (RTU) for fighter pilots with its graduates assigned to another group for overseas assignment. The organization's official lineage begins in 1941, and by taking on the shield and ancestry of the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1993, the center was able to save the history of a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
unit and preserve its own World War II service.
Units
59th Clinical Support Group- 59th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron
- 59th Laboratory Squadron
- 59th Pharmacy Squadron
59th Dental Group
- 59th Dental Squadron
- 59th Dental Support Squadron
- 59th Dental Training Squadron
59th Inpatient Operations Group
- 59th Medical Inpatient Operations Squadron
- 59th Surgical Inpatient Operations Squadron
- 59th Training Squadron
59th Medical Operations Group
- 59th Emergency Medical Squadron
- 59th Maternal Child Care Squadron
- 59th Medical Operations Squadron
- 59th Surgical Operations Squadron
- 59th Mental Health Squadron
- 59th Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Squadron
- 59th Radiology Squadron
- 59th Surgical Specialty Squadron
59th Medical Support Group
- 59th Medical Support Squadron
- 59th Medical Logistics and Readiness Squadron
359th Medical Group (former 12th) at Randolph
- 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
- 359th Dental Squadron
- 359th Medical Operations Squadron
- 359th Medical Support Squadron
559th Medical Group (former 37th) at Lackland
- 559th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
- 559th Medical Operations Squadron
Clinical Departments
- Anesthesiology
- Audiology
- Cardiology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- General Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Ophthalmology
- Refractive Surgery
- Pediatrics
- Plastic Surgery
- Speech Pathology
- Urology
- Vascular Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Podiatry
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Medicine
- Allergy-Immunology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology-Oncology
- Infectious Disease
- Internal Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Pulmonary
- Rheumatology
- Mental Health
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Neonatology
- Obstetrics
- Gynecology
- Radiology
- Pathology
- Pharmacy
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Nutritional Medicine
- General Dentistry
- Endodontic
- Oral-Maxillofacial
- Orthodontics
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
- Aerospace Medicine
- Preventative Medicine
Non-Clinical Departments
- Family Advocacy
- Health and Wellness Center (HAWK)
- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare OrganizationsJoint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare OrganizationsThe Joint Commission , formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations , is a United States-based not-for-profit organization that accredits over 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States...
(JCAHO) - Team HELP
- Trainee Health
Lineage
- Established as 59 Observation Group on 21 August 1941
- Activated on 1 September 1941
- Inactivated on 18 October 1942
- Activated on 1 March 1943
- Redesignated as: 59 Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943
- Redesignated as: 59 Fighter Group on 11 August 1943
- Disestablished on 1 May 1944
- Redesignated as 59 Tactical Fighter Wing on 31 July 1985 but remained inactive
- Consolidated (1 July 1993) with Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, which was first designated as the 3700 Medical Squadron on 25 August 1948
- Organized on 26 August 1948
- Redesignated as: 3700 Station Medical Squadron on 1 November 1948
- Redesignated as: 3700 Medical Group on 27 June 1950
- Redesignated as: 3700 USAF Hospital on 16 October 1953
- Redesignated as: USAF Hospital, Lackland on 1 July 1958
- Redesignated as: Wilford Hall USAF Hospital on 2 March 1963
- Redesignated as: Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center on 1 July 1969
- Redesignated as: 59 Medical Wing on 1 July 1993
- Redesignated as: Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on 15 September 2011
Assignments
- I Air Support (later, I Ground Air Support) CommandIII Reconnaissance CommandThe III Reconnaissance Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
, 1 September 1941 - First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 21 August – 18 October 1942 - Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 1 March 1943 - III Fighter CommandIII Fighter CommandThe III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
, by September 1943-1 May 1944 - 3700 Basic Training Wing, 26 August 1948
- Indoctrination Division, Air Training Command, 22 April 1949
- 3700 AF Indoctrination Wing (later, 3700 Military Training Wing; Lackland Military Training Center), 28 October 1948
- USAF Aerospace Medical Center, 1 October 1959
- Attached to Aerospace Medical Division, 1 November 1961 – 14 April 1962
- Aerospace Medical Division, 15 April 1962
- Air Training CommandAir Training CommandAir Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
, 15 January 1987 - San Antonio Joint Military Medical Command, 16 February 1987
- Air Training (later, Air Education and Training) CommandAir Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
, 1 October 1991–present
Components
- 9 Observation (later, 9 Reconnaissance; 488 Fighter): 1 March 1943 – 1 May 1944
- 103 Observation103d Fighter SquadronThe 103d Fighter Squadron flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 111th Fighter Wing.-Lineage:...
: 1 September 1941 – 18 October 1942 - 104 Observation (later, 104 Reconnaissance; 489 Reconnaissance; 489 Fighter)104th Fighter SquadronThe 104th Fighter Squadron is an attack squadron equipped with the A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is a unit of the Maryland Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 175th Wing.-Mission:...
: 1 September 1941 – 18 October 1942; 1 March 1943-1 May 1944 - 119 Observation (later, 119 Reconnaissance; 490 Fighter)119th Fighter SquadronThe 119th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 177th Fighter Wing. The commander of the squadron is Lt. Col...
: attached December 1941; assigned 1 March 1943 – 1 May 1944 - 126 Observation (later, 126 Reconnaissance; 34 Photographic Reconnaissance)126th Air Refueling SquadronThe 126th Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 128th Air Refueling Wing.-Lineage:...
: 1 September 1941 – 18 October 1942; 1 March – 11 August 1943. * 447 Fighter: 20 November 1943 – 1 May 1944.
Stations
- Newark AirportNewark Liberty International AirportNewark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 1 September 1941 - Fort Dix Army Airbase, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 14 November 1941 – 18 October 1942 - Fort Myers Army Airfield, Florida, 1 March 1943
- Thomasville Army Airfield, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, c. 30 March 1943 – 1 May 1944 - Lackland AFB, Texas, 26 August 1948–present
Aircraft
- BC-1A, 1941–1942
- L-59, 1941–1942
- O-46, 1941–1942
- O-47, 1941–1942
- O-49, 1941–1942
- O-52, 1941–1942
- P-39, 1943–1944
- P-40, 1944.
Operations
The 59th Observation Group was established at NewarkNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey, in 1941. It moved to Fort Dix, New Jersey, later in the year. Following the US entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Group engaged in antisubmarine patrols along the East coast of the United States from December 1941 – October 1943. Initially during 1941–42 the Group operated a wide range of aircraft, including the BC-1A, L-59, O-46, O-47, O-49 Vigilant
Stinson Vigilant
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Donald, David . American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng . The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1* Merriam, Ray . World War II Journal #15: U.S....
, and O-52 Owl During 1943 and 1944 the group trained pilots using P-39 Airacobra aircraft and later, in 1944, the P-40 Warhawk
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
as well. The unit was redesignated the 59th Reconnaissance Group on 2 April 1943, and again as the 59th Fighter Group on 11 August 1943. The 59th was deactivated on 1 May 1944. On 31 July 1985, the unit was redesignated the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing, but remained inactive. Finally, it was reactivated and consolidated with the Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Hospital on 1 July 1993.
During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the 3700th Medical Squadron developed a program to train basic trainees as medical corpsmen to ease shortage of medical personnel.
From 1983, Wilford Hall offered centralized outpatient care, a clinical investigation
Clinical investigator
A clinical investigator involved in a clinical trial is responsible for ensuring that an investigation is conducted according to the signed investigator statement, the investigational plan, and applicable regulations; for protecting the rights, safety, and welfare of subjects under the...
facility, the Air Force's largest dispensary
Dispensary
A dispensary is an office in a school, hospital or other organization that dispenses medications and medical supplies. In a traditional dispensary set-up a pharmacist dispenses medication as per prescription or order form....
system, and the only eye bank
Eye bank
Eye banks retrieve and store eyes for cornea transplants and research. US eye banks provide tissue for about 46,000 cornea transplants a year to treat conditions such as keratoconus and cornea scarring. The cornea is not the only part of the eye that can currently undergo transplantation. The...
and organ transplant
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
centers. The hospital accomplished important research work in neonatal medicine, surgical transplants, orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
, rheumatology
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Clinicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists...
, immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
, and maxillofacial surgery. Clinical investigations research kept the wing at the forefront of development of high-frequency ventilation
High-frequency ventilation
High frequency ventilation is a type of mechanical ventilation that employs very high respiratory rates and very small tidal volumes. High frequency ventilation is thought to reduce ventilator-associated lung injury , especially in the context of ARDS and acute lung injury. This is commonly...
and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation
Oxygenation (medical)
Oxygenation occurs when oxygen molecules enter the tissues of the body. For example, blood is oxygenated in the lungs, where oxygen molecules travel from the air and into the blood...
; new techniques for the care of premature infants; improved cancer treatments; bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
banking and transplantation; laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
photocoagulation; and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In December 1989, it provided medical support to casualties returning from operations in Panama. From 4 January to 21 March 1991 Wilford Hall deployed over 900 personnel to RAF Little Rissington
RAF Little Rissington
RAF Little Rissington is an RAF aerodrome and former RAF station in Gloucestershire, England. It was once home to the Central Flying School, the Vintage Pair and the Red Arrows.Built during the 1930s, the station was opened in 1938 and closed in 1994...
, England, to establish a 1500-bed hospital in support of expected casualties from the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. In 1993 the Medical Center was redesignated the 59th Medical Wing, taking the lineage of the never-active 59th Tactical Fighter Wing.
Closure and realignment
The current building is projected for demolition in 2015, when it will be replaced with a state-of-the-art 680K square foot facility. Starting on September 15, Wilford Hall Medical Center was officially renamed to Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, the largest outpatient surgical center in the Air Force. Inpatient services are no longer provided at Lackland Air Force Base, but are centralized at nearby San Antonio Military Medical CenterSan Antonio Military Medical Center
San Antonio Military Medical Center, also known as SAMMC, serves as a world class health science center for inpatient and ambulatory care, consisting of Graduate Medical Education & training, a Level 1 Trauma Center, and the only American Burn Association verified Burn Center within the DoD.-BRAC...
– formerly known as Brooke Army Medical Center, or BAMC, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Both facilities and all other military treatment facilitites in the San Antonio area fall under the San Antonio Military Healthcare System (SAMHS). Design of the four phase project is underway, and construction is for the new surgical center has already commenced.