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34th Air Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 34th Air Division (34th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan
. It was inactivated on 31 December 1969.
, New Mexico
, and parts of Nevada
, Utah
, Colorado
, and Texas
. Redesignated Albuquerque Air Defense Sector
on 1 January 1960.
Reactivated on 1 April 1966, to perform Air Defense including all or part of Michigan
, Indiana
, Ohio
, New York
, Pennsylvania
, West Virginia
, Kentucky
, Tennessee
, and Virginia
assuming responsibility for the missions of the Detroit
and parts of the Syracuse Air Defense Sector
s.
Assumed additional designation of 34th NORAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain
, Colorado and reporting was transferred to NORAD from ADC at Ent AFB in April 1966. The division participated in numerous live and simulated exercises such as Fainting Echo, Apache Arrow, and Fainting Knife.
Inactivated in December 1969 as ADC phased down its interceptor mission as the chances of a Soviet bomber attack on the United States seemed remote, its mission being consolidated into North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD).
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...
organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was inactivated on 31 December 1969.
History
Assigned to Air Defense Command (ADC) for most of its existence, from January 1951 – until 1960 the 34th administered, trained, operated and supported assigned units, and placed all available combat capable elements in a maximum state of readiness. Initially, its area of responsibility included ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and parts of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Redesignated Albuquerque Air Defense Sector
Albuquerque Air Defense Sector
The Albuquerque Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 33d Air Division, being stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 1 November 1960.-History:...
on 1 January 1960.
Reactivated on 1 April 1966, to perform Air Defense including all or part of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, New York
New York
New 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...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
assuming responsibility for the missions of the Detroit
Detroit Air Defense Sector
The Detroit Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan...
and parts of the Syracuse Air Defense Sector
Syracuse Air Defense Sector
The Syracuse Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Syracuse Air Force Station, New York.- History :...
s.
Assumed additional designation of 34th NORAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain is a mountain located just outside the southwest side of Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S., and is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and its Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, formerly known as the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center .Throughout the Cold War and...
, Colorado and reporting was transferred to NORAD from ADC at Ent AFB in April 1966. The division participated in numerous live and simulated exercises such as Fainting Echo, Apache Arrow, and Fainting Knife.
Inactivated in December 1969 as ADC phased down its interceptor mission as the chances of a Soviet bomber attack on the United States seemed remote, its mission being consolidated into North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(NORAD).
Lineage
- Established as 34 Air Division (Defense) on 1 January 1951
- Activated on 5 January 1951
- Inactivated on 1 February 1952
- Organized on 1 February 1952
- Inactivated on 1 January 1960
- Redesignated 34 Air Division, and activated, on 20 January 1966
- Organized on 1 April 1966 as redesignation of Detroit Air Defense SectorDetroit Air Defense SectorThe Detroit Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan...
- Inactivated on 31 December 1969
Assignments
- Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense ForceThe Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
, 5 January 1951 – 1 February 1952 - Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense ForceThe Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 16 February 1953 – 1 January 1960 - Air Defense Command, 20 January 1966
- 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....
, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969.
Stations
- Kirtland AFB, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, 5 January 1951 – 1 January 1960 - Custer AFS, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969
Wing
- 1st Fighter Wing1st Fighter WingThe 1st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Ninth Air Force. It is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va...
(Air Defense)
- Selfridge AFB, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 1 April 1966-1 December 1969
Group
- 343d Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Duluth MAPDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, Minnesota, 15 September-14 November 1969
Interceptor squadrons
- 15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron15th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command Phoenix Air Defense Sector stationed at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona...
: 20 April 1953 – 1 January 1960
- Davis-Monthan AFB, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- 58th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 August 1959 – 1 January 1960
- Walker AFB, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- 62d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 15 September – 14 November 1969
- K.I. Sawyer AFB, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
- 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 30 September 1968 – 30 November 1969
- Wurtsmith AFB, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
- 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1968
- Duluth MAPDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
. MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
- 93d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron93d Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 93d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Albuquerque Air Defense Sector, stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was de-activated on 8 July 1960.-World War II:...
:
- 93d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Attached 10 August 1951 – 1 February 1952; 1–5 February 1952
- Assigned 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1960
- Kirtland AFB, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1968
- Wurtsmith AFB, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Missile squadron
- 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)
- Niagara Falls Air Force Missile SiteNiagara Falls Air Force Missile SiteNiagara Falls Air Force Missile Site is a closed United States Air Force CIM-10 Bomarc missile site. It was located adjacent to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, east-northeast of Niagara Falls, New York. It was closed in 1969.-History:...
, 15 September-19 November 1969
Radar squadrons
- 612th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Ajo AFS, Arizona, 1 January 1958-1 January 1960
- 661st Radar Squadron661st Radar SquadronThe 661st Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 23d Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
- 661st Radar Squadron
- Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1966-14 November 1969
- 662d Radar Squadron
- Brookfield AFS, Ohio, 1 April 1966-30 September 1969
- 664th Radar Squadron
- Bellefontaine AFS, Ohio, 1 April 1966-30 September 1969
- 674th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Osceola AFS, Wisconsin, 15 September-14 November 1969
- 676th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Antigo AFS, Wisconsin, 1 July 1968-14 November 1969
- 684th Aircraft Control and Radar Squadron
- Mount Lemmon AFS, Arizona, 1 April 1956-1 January 1960
- 685th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron685th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 685th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Las Cruces Air Force Station, New Mexico...
- 685th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Las Cruces AFS, New Mexico, 1 January 1954-1 January 1960
- 686th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron686th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 686th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico...
- 686th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Walker AFB, New Mexico, 1 October 1953-1 January 1960
- 687th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- West Mesa AFS, New Mexico, 1 April 1954-1 January 1960
- 697th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron697th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 697th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Pyote Air Force Station, Texas...
- 697th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Pyote AFS, Texas, 8 December 1956-1 January 1960
- 739th Radar Squadron
- Wadena AFS, Minnesota, 15 September-14 November 1969
- 752d Radar Squadron
- Empire AFS, Michigan, 1 April-14 November 1966
- 753d Radar Squadron
- Sault Sainte Marie AFS, Michigan, 15 September-14 November 1969
- 754th Radar Squadron
- Port Austin AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1966-14 November 1969
- 755th Radar Squadron755th Radar SquadronThe 755th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 34th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Arlington Heights Air Force Station, Illinois...
- 755th Radar Squadron
- Arlington Heights AFS, Illinois, 1 July 1968-30 September 1969
- 756th Radar Squadron
- Finland AFS, Minnesota, 15 September-19 November 1969
- 763d Radar Squadron
- Lockport AFS, New York, 1 April 1966-15 September 1969
- 767th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Tierra Amarilla AFS, New Mexico, 1 May 1951-8 February 1959
- 768th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Moriarty AFS, New Mexico, 1 May 1951-1 January 1960
- 769th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Continental Divide AFS, New Mexico, 1 May 1951-1 January 1960
- 783d Radar Squadron
- Guthrie AFS, West Virginia, 1 April 1966-18 June 1968
- 784th Radar Squadron
- Snow Mountain AFS, Kentucky, 1 April 1966-18 June 1968
- 904th Aircraft Warning and Control Squadron
- Winslow AFS, Arizona, 1 April 1955-1 January 1960
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsAerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsThe second iteration of Aerospace Defense Command was established on 21 March 1946 as a component of the United States Army Air Forces, with the mission of planning for and executing the air defense of the United States...
- List of United States Air Force air divisions