820th Strategic Aerospace Division
820th Strategic Aerospace Division | |
---|---|
Plattsburgh, NY, with markings of the 380th Bombardment Wing | |
Active | 1956–1965 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Command and Control |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Lt Gen Alvan Cullem Gillem II |
Insignia | |
820th Strategic Aerospace Division emblem[a][1] |
The 820th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s Eighth Air Force at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1965.
The division was activated as the 820th Air Division in 1956 to command the two Boeing B-47 Stratojet wings planned for Plattsburgh. However, the arrival of the second wing was delayed, and in 1959 the 820th was assigned two SAC Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic wings and air refueling wings at bases in New York and Maine. Although the second bombardment wing finally arrived at Plattsburgh, it remained a paper unit until it was inactivated.
By 1961, the division had returned to commanding the bombardment and refueling wings at Plattsburgh and managing support units there. It added
However, by 1964 the division was reduced to commanding a single wing at Plattsburgh and an
History
The 820th Air Division was activated By
Although the second wing's arrival was delayed, in August 1957, the
In January 1959, the 820th grew by three wings. It added two Strategic Wings, the
Six months later, in July 1959, the second Plattsburgh wing finally arrived when the
In January 1960, the division became an operational headquarters only, when the 380th Bombardment Wing's 380th Combat Support Group again assumed support duties at Plattsburgh.[2] The number of wings assigned to the division was reduced by one in February, when the 4060th Air Refueling Wing was discontinued and its units assigned to the 4038th Strategic Wing.[11]
In addition to the inactivation of the 308th Wing, 1961 was a year of other changes to the division's responsibilities. In January, the refueling squadrons at Plattsburgh were organized into the
In the following year, SAC added the term "aerospace" to the names of its divisions that controlled both bomber and missile strike forces and the 820th became the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division.[1] Another name change occurred to one of the division's wings because SAC became concerned that its Major Command Controlled (MAJCON) units, like the 4108th Wing, could not carry a permanent history or lineage.[15] and SAC looked for a way to make its these wings permanent. Later that year, in order to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, SAC received authority from USAF to discontinue its MAJCON wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate Air Force controlled (AFCON) units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.[16] As a result, the 4108th Wing was replaced by the newly constituted 497th Air Refueling Wing,[17] which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment on 1 January 1963.[d]
In July 1962, the 4365 Post Attack Command Control Squadron, flying EB-47 Stratojets of the
On 1 July 1964,
As the KC-97 force was reduced, operations at Dover ended and the 11th squadron moved on paper to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma in June 1965, where it replaced the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, whose mission, personnel and aircraft it assumed. With no units left other than the 380th Wing at Plattsburgh, the division was simultaneously inactivated.[1][21]
Lineage
- Established as 820 Air Division on 24 January 1956
- Activated on 1 February 1956
- Redesignated 820 Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 May 1962
- Discontinued and inactivated, on 25 June 1965[22]
Assignments
- Eighth Air Force, 1 February 1956 – 25 June 1965[22]
Stations
- Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, 1 February 1956 – 25 June 1965[22]
Components
Wings
- 308th Bombardment Wing: 15 July 1959 – 25 June 1961
- 380th Bombardment Wing (later 380 Strategic Aerospace Wing): 1 February 1956 – 25 June 1965 (attached to 7th Air Division, 3 April 1957 – 3 July 1957)[3]
- 497th Air Refueling Wing: 1 January 1963 – 15 September 1964
- 4038th Strategic Wing: 1 January 1959 – 1 April 1961
- Dow Air Force Base, Maine
- 4039th Strategic Wing: 5 January 1959 – 1 April 1961
- Griffiss Air Force Base, New York
- 4060th Air Refueling Wing: 1 January 1959 – 1 February 1960
- Dow Air Force Base, Maine
- 4108th Air Refueling Wing: 1 January 1961 – 1 January 1963[22]
Groups
- 820th Air Base Group (later 820th Combat Support Group): 1 June 1956 – 1 January 1960,[4] 1 April 1961 – 15 September 1964[9][23][24]
- 820th Medical Group: 1 May 1959 1 January 1960, 1 April 1961 – 15 September 1964[24][25]
Squadrons
- 11th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1964 – 25 June 1965
- 26th Air Refueling Squadron: 7 August 1957 – 1 August 1959[1] (attached to 380th Bombardment Wing)[3]
- 556th Strategic Missile Squadron: 1 October 1961 – 15 September 1964
- 4365th Support Squadron (later 4365 Post Attack Command Control Squadron): 20 July 1962 – 24 December 1964[22] (attached to 380th Bombardment Wing)[3]
Other
- 4020th USAF Hospital: 1 June 1956 – 1 May 1959[26]
Aircraft and Missiles
- Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1956–1965
- Boeing EB-47 Stratojet, 1962–1964
- Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, 1956–1965
- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1969–1961; 1964–1965
- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1960–1961
- Convair SM-65 (later CGM-16) Atlas, 1961–1965[22]
Commanders
- Brig Gen Kenneth O. Sanborn, 23 Feb 1956
- Brig Gen James W. Wilson, 24 Mar 1958
- Col John B. Paine, 22 Jun 1959 (Interim)
- Brig Gen Perry M. Hoisington II, 27 Jul 1959
- Brig Gen Alvan C. Gillem II, 1 Apr 1961
- Brig Gen Winton R. Close, 15 Sep 1961
- Col Richard R. Stewart, by 31 Oct 1963 – 25 Jun 1965[22]
See also
- List of United States Air Force air divisions
- List of MAJCOM wings of the United States Air Force
- List of USAF Bomb Wings and Wings assigned to Strategic Air Command
- List of USAF Strategic Wings assigned to the Strategic Air Command
- List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
- List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- proper, all within a diminished bordure of the fifth [color mentioned] fimbriatedof the third [color mentioned].
- Biggs Air Force Base, Texas, but its move was cancelled in November 1958 because of inadequate housing in the Plattsburgh area. "Abstract (Unclassified), History 820 Air Division Nov 1958 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014..
- ^ Photo taken at Site 6. Au Sable Forks, New York.
- ^ Although the 497th Wing was a new organization, it continued, through temporary bestowal, the history, and honors of the World War II 497th Bombardment Group. It was also entitled to retain the honors (but not the history or lineage) of the 4108th Air Refueling Wing. This temporary bestowal ended in January 1984, when the wing and group were consolidated into a single unit. See Ravenstein, Combat Wings, Appendix V, USAF Bestowed History.
- Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Factsheet 820 Strategic Aerospace Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Mueller, p. 475
- ^ a b c d e f g Ravenstein, Combat Wings, pp. 205–206
- ^ a b "Abstract, History 820 Air Division Jun 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Abstract, History 820 Air Division Dec 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ Mueller, pp. 478, 581
- ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ Knaack, p. 252
- ^ a b c "Abstract, History 820 Air Division Apr 1961". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ Ravenstein, Combat Wings, pp. 156–158
- ^ "Abstract, History 820 Air Division Feb 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ Mueller, p. 478
- ^ "Factsheet 6 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ Maurer, pp. 657–658
- ^ Ravenstein, Guide to Air Force Lineage, p. 12
- ^ See Ravenstein, Combat Wings, Appendix V, USAF Bestowed History
- ^ a b Ravenstein, Combat Wings, pp. 271–272
- ^ See Mueller, p. 478
- ^ "Abstract, History 820 Strategic Aerospace Division Nov 1962". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ Ravenstein, Combat Wings, p. 272
- ^ a b "USAFHRC Form 5, USAF Lineage and Honors History, 11th Air Refueling Squadron" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 October 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g Lineage, including assignments, stations, components, aircraft, missiles and commanders in AFHRA Factsheet for the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division, except as noted.
- ^ See Mueller, pp. 476–478
- ^ a b "Abstract, History 380 Bombardment Wing Mar 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "Abstract, History 380 Strategic Aerospace Wing Jul–Sep 1964". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ See "Abstract, History 4020 Hospital Plattsburgh Air Force Base NY Jul–Dec 1957". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2d, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Historical Research Center.
External links
- "Atlas F Missile Bases: 556 SMS Plattsburgh New York".
- "820th Air Division". Strategic Air Command.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "SAC Bases: Plattsburgh AFB". Strategic Air Command.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.