823d Air Division
823d Air Division | |
---|---|
Active | 1956–1971 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Command and Control of strategic strike forces |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Gen Seth J. McKee; Gen Jack J. Catton; Lt Gen Keith K. Compton; Lt Gen John B. McPherson |
Insignia | |
823d Air Division emblem[a][1] |
The 823d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s Second Air Force at McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, where it was inactivated on 30 June 1971.
The division was first activated in June 1956 at
In 1961, after the 379th Wing at Homestead inactivated and the 19th Wing had begun its conversions to the
The division's wings maintained half their combat ready aircraft on alert, except when their aircraft or aircrews were deployed. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, all combat ready aircraft were on ground or airborne alert, although the wings in Florida deployed to other stations as their bases were needed for shorter range tactical and air defense aircraft. Beginning in 1965, division B-52s began to deploy to the Pacific, where they flew Operation Arc Light missions, while its tankers supported Arc Light and tactical aircraft as part of the Young Tiger Task Force.
The division moved to
History
Command of bombardment wings at Homestead Air Force Base
The 823d Air Division was activated 1 June 1956 at
In March 1957, the 379th Wing deployed as a unit to Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco, followed in May by the 19th Wing. As long as these wings continued to fly the Stratojet, they continuously maintained a portion of their aircraft on alert in Morocco, although they made no further deployments as complete units.[2][3] In addition to its SAC mission, and because of its Florida location, the division was occasionally called upon to provide support for space launches from Cape Canaveral.[6] The Florida location, unfortunately, also meant that the division had to evacuate its base when hurricanes threatened.[7]
The division's responsibilities as the host for Homestead expanded in July 1960, when the
Conversion to the B-52
In October 1960, the 379th wing began to transfer its aircraft to
Changes in the division strength for the next few years were brought on as its wings converted from the B-47 to the
As they became combat ready, one third of the division's B-52 and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled, armed and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. This was increased to half the division's aircraft in 1962.[16]
The last B-47 wings assigned to the division were terminated on 1 April 1963. At Hunter Air Force Base, the 2d Bombardment Wing had been disposing of its Stratojets, preparing to transfer the base to
On 1 October 1962, shortly before the start of the
Cuban Missile Crisis
Soon after detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba, SAC withdrew its forces from MacDill, McCoy and Homestead as these bases became saturated with tactical forces.
On 20 October all the division's B-52 units except the 19th Wing were directed to put two additional aircraft on alert. On 22 October 1/8 of the B-52s were placed on airborne alert.[25] Additional KC-135 were placed on alert to replace KC-135s devoted to maintaining the B-52 bomber force on airborne alert.[25] On 24 October SAC went to DEFCON 2, placing all aircraft on alert.[25] They remained in this state until 21 November, when SAC returned to its normal airborne alert posture and went to DEFCON 3.[26][27] The dispersed B-47s and their supporting tankers were recalled on 24 November. On 27 November SAC returned to normal alert posture and began coordinating the return of its Florida aircraft to their home bases.[27]
Vietnam War
The division's B-52D and B-52G wings[h] converted to conventional bombing configuration for use in the Vietnam War. Between 1965 and 1971, the division's subordinate units deployed aircraft and crews to Strategic Air Command organizations in Southeast Asia in support of Operation Arc Light combat operations.[1]
In September 1966, the
On 1 July 1968, Homestead was transferred from SAC to Tactical Air Command as SAC withdrew its forces from the base.[33] The division moved to McCoy Air Force Base the following day.[1] The 19th wing remained at Homestead until 25 July to dispose of the remaining SAC assets there before moving on paper to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, where it replaced the 465th Bombardment Wing and was reassigned. While assigned to the 823d, each of those wings periodically lacked full combat capability because nearly all their aircraft and personnel were deployed for combat operations in the Pacific.[2][34]
Exactly one year later, the division saw the last change of wings under its command. On 2 July 1969, the 19th Bombardment Wing returned to the division along with the
The 823d was inactivated at the end of June 1971 and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the
Lineage
- Established as the 823 Air Division on 19 June 1956
- Activated on 1 June 1956
- Inactivated on 30 June 1971[37]
Assignments
- Second Air Force, 1 June 1956
- Eighth Air Force, 1 January 1959
- Second Air Force, 31 March 1970 – 30 June 1971[37]
Stations
- Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, 1 June 1956
- McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, 2 July 1968 – 30 June 1971[37]
Components
Wings
- 2d Bombardment Wing, 1 April 1961 – 1 April 1963
- 19th Bombardment Wing, 1 June 1956 – 25 July 1968 (attached to 5th Air Division 8 May – 7 June 1957);[2] 2 July 1969 – 30 June 1971
- Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, 1969–1971[2]
- 68th Bombardment Wing, 2 July 1969 – 30 June 1971
- Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina[35]
- 72nd Bombardment Wing, 1 October 1962 – 30 June 1971
- Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico[20]
- 306th Bombardment Wing, 6 February 1961 – 30 June 1971
- MacDill Air Force Base, Florida until 1 April 1963, then McCoy Air Force Base, Florida[19]
- 321st Bombardment Wing, 6 February – 25 October 1961
- McCoy Air Force Base, Florida[15]
- 379th Bombardment Wing, 1 June 1956 – 9 January 1961 (attached to 5th Air Division 6 March – 12 May 1957)[3]
- 484th Bombardment Wing, 2 September 1966 – 25 March 1967
- Turner Air Force Base, Georgia[28]
- 4047th Strategic Wing, 1 July 1961 – 1 April 1963[37]
- McCoy Air Force Base, Florida[15]
Groups
- 484th Combat Support Group, 25 March – 30 June 1967[32]
- Turner Air Force Base, Georgia[32]
- 823d Air Base Group (later 823d Combat Support Group), 1 June 1956 – c. 1 July 1961[38][39]
- 823d Medical Group, 1 November 1968 – 1 October 1961[37]
Other
Aircraft
- Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1956–1963
- Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, 1956–1963
- Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1962–1968; 1969–1971
- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1962–1968; 1969–1971[37]
Commanders
- Brig Gen Keith K. Compton, 1 June 1956
- Col Travis M. Hetherington, 1 June 1957
- Col Seth J. McKee, 30 August 1958
- Col John B. McPherson, 18 September 1959
- Brig Gen Jack J. Catton, 3 July 1962
- Maj Gen Alvan C. Gillem II, c. Aug 1963
- Maj Gen William E. Creer, 29 July 1964
- Maj Gen Kenneth R. Powell, 28 June 1966 – unknown
- Brig Gen Salvador E. Felices, 12 April 1969
- Col Howard P. McClain, 26 May 1970
- Brig Gen Woodrow A. Abbott, 1 August 1970 – 30 June 1971[37]
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
- ^ Approved 21 January 1959. Description: Per bend argent and azure, a sphere light blue with grid lines of the first [color mentioned] surmounted overall by two parallel olive branches, the upper issuant from dexter chief, the lower issuant from sinister base both bendwise and terminating in fess or, radiant from sinister chief, two lightning flashes gules surmounted by an arc of five chain links issuant from sinister chief of the fifth [color mentioned], in dexter base an arc of four mullets silver all within a diminished border gold.
- Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) on 19 November 1965, declared excess on 23 October 1968 and scrapped. Baugher, Joe (15 July 2023). "1952 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- Spanish Air Force. Baugher, Joe (5 August 2023). "1953 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 August 2023. The 100th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the division's 2d Bombardment Wing. Ravenstein, pp. 36–39.
- Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Centeron 2 December 1992. Baugher, Joe (27 July 2023). "1958 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 August 2023. The 911th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the division's 19th Bombardment Wing. Ravenstein, pp. 7–9.
- ^ Pinecastle Air Force Base had been renamed McCoy Air Force Base on 25 May 1958. "Abstract, History 76 Fighter Interceptor Squadron January 1958 – December 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2015..
- ^ Major Command controlled (MAJCON) units, such as the 4047th, could not maintain a permanent history or lineage, so SAC replaced tham with units controlled by Headquarters, USAF, which could. See Ravenstein, p. 12. (explaining the difference between the two types of unit).
- ^ Aircraft is Boeing B-52D-60-BO Serial 55-104. This plane was transferred to MASDC on 27 May 1982 and later scrapped. Baugher, Joe (27 July 2023). "1955 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 11 August 2023..
- ^ The 19th Wing, equipped with B-52H aircraft, did not deploy bombers to the Pacific to support Southeast Asia operations.
- ^ Subordinate units were stationed on the same base as division headquarters except as noted. The 19th wing briefly remained at Homestead when the division moved to McCoy in 1968. Ravenstein, pp. 36–39.
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Factsheet 823 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ravenstein, pp. 36–39
- ^ a b c d e f Ravenstein, pp. 204–205
- ^ Mueller, p. 256
- ^ See Ravenstein, pp. 36–39 (19th Bombardment Wing assumed host responsibilities on 9 January 1961)
- ^ "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Nov–Dec 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015. (support for Discoverer XVII launch)
- ^ "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Sep 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015. (evacuation for Hurricane Donna)
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 230–231
- ^ "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Jul–Aug 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Oct 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Jul–Aug 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Feb–Apr 1961". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 430–431
- ^ a b c Ravenstein, pp. 172–173
- ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. 1 April 1975. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ a b Ravenstein, pp. 7–9
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 100–102
- ^ a b c Ravenstein, pp. 151–153
- ^ a b Ravenstein, pp. 112–113
- ^ Kipp, et al., p. 30
- ^ a b Kipp, et al., pp. 31–32
- ^ Kipp, et al., p. 50
- ^ Kipp, et al., p. 52
- ^ a b c Kipp, et al., pp. 34–35
- ^ Kipp, et al., p. 47
- ^ a b Kipp, et al., p. 61
- ^ a b Ravenstein, pp. 270–271
- ^ "Abstract, History 484 Bombardment Wing Oct–Dec 1966". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Abstract, History 484 Bombardment Wing Jan–Mar 1967". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Abstract, History 484 Bombardment Wing Jan–Mar 1967". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ a b c "Abstract, History 484 Combat Support Group Apr–Jun 1967". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ Mueller, p. 255
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 260–261
- ^ a b Ravenstein, pp. 107–109
- ^ "Factsheet 42 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lineage, including assignments, stations, components, aircraft and commanders in AFHRA Factsheet, 823 Air Division, except as noted.
- ^ a b "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Jul 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ See "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Jun–Jul 1961". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015. (staff visit to 823d Combat Support Group)
- ^ "Abstract, History 823 Air Division Oct 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Kipp, Robert; Peake, Lynn; Wolk, Herman. "Strategic Air Command Operations in the Cuban Crisis of 1962, SAC Historical Study No. 90 (Top Secret NOFORN, FRD, redacted and declassified)". Strategic Air Command. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- 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.