59th Medical Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 59th Medical Wing


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dates= 21 August 1941 — present
country=United States
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branch=Air Force
type=Medicine
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command_structure=Air Education and Training Command
current_commander=Major General [http://www.whmc.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=10197 Thomas W. Travis]
garrison=Lackland Air Force Base
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The 59th Medical Wing (59 MDW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Mission

The 59 MW runs the Air Force's largest medical facility, Wilford Hall Medical Center. A national resource, Wilford Hall Medical Center provides complete medical care to military healthcare beneficiaries in the United States as well as specialized care to patients referred from all over the world. It is the flagship of the US Air Force's medical system.

Unit History

Following the US entry into World War II the 59th Obs Group engaged in antisubmarine patrols along the East coast of the United States from December 1941-October 1943. During 1943 and 1944 the group trained pilots using P-39 aircraft. The 59th was deactivated on 1 May 1944.

During the Korean War, 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 facility, the Air Force's largest dispensary system, and the only eye bank and organ transplant centers. The hospital accomplished important research work in neonatal medicine, surgical transplants, orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, immunology, and maxillofacial surgery. Clinical investigations research kept the wing at the forefront of 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 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, England, to establish a 1500-bed hospital in support of expected casualties from the Gulf War.

In 1993 the Medical Center was redesignated the 59th Medical Wing, taking the lineage of the 59th Tactical Fighter Wing.

Operations

*World War II

Previous designations

*59th Observation Group (1941 – 1943)
*59th Reconnaissance Group (1943)
*59th Fighter Group (1943 – 1944)
*59th Tactical Fighter Wing (1985 – 1993)
*59th Medical Wing (1993 – Present)
*3700th Medical Squadron (1948 – 1950)
*3700th Medical Group (1950 – 1953)
*3700th USAF Hospital (1953 – 1963)
* Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center (1963 – 1993)
*59th Medical Wing (1993 – Present)

Assignments

Major Command

*Air Education and Training Command (1949 - Present)

Numbered Air Force

*1st Air Force (1942 – 1943)
*3rd Air Force (1943 – 1944)

Departments

Clinical Departments
*Anesthesia
*Allergy and Immunization
*Cardiology & Coumadin Clinic
*Dental
*Ear, Nose, and Throat
*Emergency Medicine
*General Surgery
*Internal Medicine
*Nursing
*OB/GYN
*Optometry
*Orthopedics
*Psychiatry
*Psychology
*Radiology

Non-Clinical Departments
*Family Advocacy
*Health and Wellness Center (HAWK)
*Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO)
*Team HELP
*Trainee Health

Bases stationed

*Newark, New Jersey (1941)
*Fort Dix, New Jersey (1941 – 1942)
*Ft. Myers, Florida (1943)
*Thomasville Army Air Field, Georgia (1943 – 1944)
*Lackland Air Force Base, Texas (1948 – Present)

Aircraft Operated

*BC-1A (1941 – 1942)
*L-59 (1941 – 1942)
*O-46 (1941 – 1942)
*O-47 (1941 – 1942)
*O-49 Vigilant (1941 – 1942)
*O-52 Owl (1941 – 1942)
*P-39 Airacobra (1943 – 1944)
*P-40 Warhawk (1944)

External links

* [http://www.whmc.af.mil/ Wilford Hall Medical Center Home Page]
* [http://www.sammc.amedd.army.mil/ San Antonio Military Medical Center]
* [http://www.af.mil/history/59thmdw.asp 59th Medical Wing Heritage Site]