History

The 47th Air Division (47th AD) is an inactive 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...

 unit. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command

Strategic Air Command

The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...

, based at Fairchild Air Force Base

Fairchild Air Force Base

Fairchild Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately southwest of Spokane, Washington.The host unit at Fairchild is the 92d Air Refueling Wing assigned to the Air Mobility Command's 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force...

, Washington. It was inactivated on 27 February 1987.

The unit's origins begin with its predecessor, the 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...

 47th Bombardment Wing (47th BW) was part of Fifteenth Air Force

Fifteenth Air Force

The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....

. Although earmarked for Eighth Air Force

Eighth Air Force

The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....

, it served instead with the Twelfth, and later, Fifteenth Air Forces, first as a fighter wing, then as a medium bomb wing, and finally as a heavy bomb wing. In the 1942 early 1943 period many of its assigned components did not actually operate under wing control, while other components were temporarily attached. Its components supported the bombing of Pantelleria Island and the invasions of Sicily, Italy, and southern France in 1943–1944. Wing aircraft also flew missions to the Balkans, Austria, France, and Germany, with the Rumanian oil fields as primary targets from April–August 1944. The final mission on 25 April 1945 struck marshalling yards at Linz, Austria. It returned to the United States in May 1945 to prepare for bombardment operations in the Pacific as a very heavy bombardment wing. On 7 September 1945, the wing became a paper unit and in mid Oct inactivated at Sioux City, Iowa.

Reactivated an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command in June 1952, the 47th Air Division served as an intermediate echelon between Strategic Air Command's Eighth Air Force and operational units in the field. From April 1955 to March 1970, it filled the same role for the Fifteenth Air Force and from March 1970 to July 1971, for the Second Air Force. In July 1971 the 47th returned to Fifteenth Air Force control where it continued to supervise subordinate unit training and other activities.

The eruption of Mount St Helens in the state of Washington in May 1980 seriously affected division operations. Aircraft were dispersed to various bases while around the clock shifts removed the volcanic ash. The division as inactivated in February 1987 as a result of budget restraints.

World War II

The organization traces its origins to the 7th Pursuit Wing which was activated on 19 October 1940 as part of the United States Army Air Corps

United States Army Air Corps

The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...

. It was assigned to the Northeast Air District and its mission was air defense of the Northeastern United States, based at Mitchel Field on Long Island, New York. After a short period of inactivation, the unit was reactivated by the United States Army Air Forces

United States Army Air Forces

The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....

 in May 1942 as the 7th Fighter Wing as part of First Air Force

First Air Force

The 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....

, based at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as a command and control organization, preparing fighter groups to be deployed to the European Theater.

The Wing deployed to England in June 1942 while remaining attached to First Air Force, but instead of being assigned to VIII Fighter Command, it was, instead, assigned to the new Twelfth Air Force and was programmed as a combat fighter wing as part of "Task Force A", during Operation Torch

Operation Torch

Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....

, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942.

Shortly after the Allied landings, the Wing established its headquarters in Casablanca

Casablanca

Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...

, French Morocco

French Morocco

French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...

 on 11 November 1942, and commenced combat operations, being attached to the Moroccan Composite Wing (Provisional). The 7th Fighter wing moved its headquarters and units to Algeria in January 1943 as the Allies moved eastward across North Africa, its units flying P-40 Warhawks, and long-range P-38 Lightning

P-38 Lightning

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...

s, attacking German and Italian targets in advance of the ground forces. In the 1942 to early 1943 period, many of its assigned components did not actually operate under wing control, while other components were temporarily attached.

In January 1943, the wing was reassigned to XII Bomber Command and was redesignated as the 47th Bombardment Wing (Medium). (The reason for the designation change was that Seventh Air Force

Seventh Air Force

The Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....

 in Hawaii was reorganizing the air defense forces for the islands, and wanted to designate the wing there as the "seventh".) The wing was assigned B-26 Marauder

B-26 Marauder

The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....

 and A-20 Havoc medium bomber groups, employing them in tactical roles across Algeria and Tunisia

Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...

. Throughout 1943, the wing began to have heavy (B-24 Liberator

B-24 Liberator

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...

) units attached, eventually becoming a heavy bomber organization. Its components supported the bombing of Pantelleria Island

Pantelleria

Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...

 and the invasions of Sicily

Allied invasion of Sicily

The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...

, Italy

Allied invasion of Italy

The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied landing on mainland Italy on September 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group during the Second World War. The operation followed the successful invasion of Sicily during the Italian Campaign...

, moving to Manduria Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 in October 1943.

The wing was transferred to the new Fifteenth Air Force

Fifteenth Air Force

The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....

 on 1 November 1943 along with four B-24 Bomb Groups (98th, 376th, 449th and 450th). The 47th Bomb Wing was named "The Pyramidiers", as the groups aircraft all carried a Pyramid symbol on their vertical stabilizers.

its groups flying missions to the Balkans

Balkans

The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...

, Austria, France, and Germany, with the Rumanian oil fields

Romania

Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...

 as primary targets from April through August 1944. The wings groups flew missions over Southern France in August 1944 in support of Operation Dragoon

Operation Dragoon

Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...

, the Invasion of Southern France. The final combat mission on 25 April 1945 struck marshalling yards at Linz, Austria.

With the war in Europe ended, the 47th Bomb Wing returned to the United States in May 1945 to prepare for bombardment operations in the Pacific as a very heavy bombardment wing. It was assigned to Continental Air Forces, Second Air Force and was redesignated as a "Very Heavy" wing. The 47th Bomb Wing was and assigned first to Sioux Falls AAF, South Dakota, then to Sioux City Army Air Base in Iowa to organize the B-29 Superfortress

B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...

 groups it would command under Eighth Air Force

Eighth Air Force

The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....

 in the Pacific Theater

Pacific Ocean theater of World War II

The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....

.

The Atomic bombings and the end of World War II in August 1945. All personnel was transferred out of the wing on 17 September and the wing was inactivated on 15 October 1945.

Strategic Air Command

Redesignated as an Air Division, the 47th served as an intermediate echelon between Strategic Air Command

Strategic Air Command

The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...

's Eighth Air Force and operational units in the field. From April 1955 to March 1970, it filled the same role for the Fifteenth Air Force and from March 1970 to July 1971, for the Second Air Force. In July 1971 the 47th returned to Fifteenth Air Force control where it continued to supervise subordinate unit training and other activities. The May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, a stratovolcano located in Washington state, in the United States, was a major volcanic eruption. The eruption was the only significant one to occur in the contiguous 48 U.S. states since the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak in California...

 in the state of Washington seriously affected division operations; aircraft were dispersed to various bases, while around-the-clock shifts removed the volcanic ash.

Lineage

• Established as 7th Pursuit Wing on 19 October 1940.

Activated on 18 December 1940.

Inactivated on 31 August 1941.

• Redesignated: 7th Fighter Wing on 30 May 1942.

Activated on 7 June 1942.

Redesignated: 47th Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 23 February 1943

Redesignated: 47th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 20 August 1943

Redesignated: 47th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 9 April 1945

Redesignated: 47th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 23 May 1945.

Inactivated on 15 October 1945.

• Redesignated 47th Air Division on 1 February 1951.

Organized on 10 February 1951.

Discontinued on 16 June 1952.

Activated on 16 June 1952.

Redesignated: 47th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 May 1962

Redesignated: 47th Air Division on 1 July 1963.

Inactivated on 27 February 1987.

Assignments

• GHQ Air Force

Apparently further assigned to: Northeast Air District [later, 1st Air Force

First Air Force

The 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....

], 16 January 1941

Apparently further assigned to: 1st Interceptor Command

I Fighter Command

The I Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force, based at Mitchel Army Airfield, New York...

, 5 June – 31 August 1941, 18 December 1940 – 31 August 1941

• Eighth Air Force
  Eighth Air Force
  The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
  
  , 7 June 1942

Attached to First Air Force

First Air Force

The 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....

, 7 June 1942

• XII Ground Air (later, XII Air) Support Command, 27 September 1942

Remained attached to First Air Force

First Air Force

The 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....

 to c. 17 October 1942

Attached to Task Force A, c. 17 October-c. 8 November 1942

Attached to Moroccan Composite Wing [Provisional], 31 December 1942 – 6 January 1943

• XII Bomber Command
  XII Bomber Command
  The XII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force, based in Corsica, France...
  
  , 7 January 1943
• Northwest African Strategic Air Force, 18 February 1943
• XII Bomber Command
  XII Bomber Command
  The XII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force, based in Corsica, France...
  
  , 1 September 1943
• Fifteenth Air Force
  Fifteenth Air Force
  The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
  
  , 1 November 1943 – 15 May 1945
• Army Service Forces
  Army Service Forces
  The Army Service Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces. They were created on February 28, 1942 by Executive Order Number 9082 "Reorganizing the Army and the War Department"...
  
  , 16–25 May 1945
• Second Air Force
  Second Air Force
  The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
  
  , 26 May – 15 October 1945
• Eighth Air Force
  Eighth Air Force
  The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
  
  , 10 February 1951 – 16 June 1952, 16 June 1952
• Fifteenth Air Force
  Fifteenth Air Force
  The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
  
  , 1 April 1955
• Second Air Force
  Second Air Force
  The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
  
  , 31 March 1970
• Fifteenth Air Force
  Fifteenth Air Force
  The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
  
  , 1 July 1971 – 27 February 1987.

Wings

• 5th Bombardment
  5th Bomb Wing
  The 5th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is also the host unit at Minot...
  
  :

30 June 1971 – 30 November 1972

15 January 1973 – 22 January 1975

• 6th Bombardment
  6th Air Mobility Wing
  The United States Air Force's 6th Air Mobility Wing is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force....
  
   (later, 6th Strategic Aerospace; 6th Strategic)

10 February 1951 – 16 June 1952

16 June 1952 – 1 July 1963 (detached 31 October 1955 – 26 January 1956)

1 October 1976 – 1 October 1985

• 22d Bombardment
  22d Air Refueling Wing
  The 22d Air Refueling Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas and also functions as the host wing for McConnell AFB....
  
  

1 January 1962 – 31 March 1970

30 June 1971 – 1 August 1972

1 October 1985 – 23 January 1987

• 28th Bombardment
  28th Bomb Wing
  The 28th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota...
  
  : 30 June 1971 – 15 January 1973
• 91st Strategic Missile: 15 January 1973 – 22 January 1975
• 92d Strategic Aerospace

(later, 92d Bombardment): 30 June 1971 – 23 January 1987

• 93d Bombardment: 1 July 1959 – 30 June 1971
• 319th Bombardment
  319th Air Refueling Wing
  The 319th Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's USAF Expeditionary Center. It is stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is also the host unit at Grand Forks....
  
  : 30 June 1971 – 15 January 1973
• 320th Bombardment
  320th Air Expeditionary Wing
  The 320th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. It is stationed at Bolling AFB, District of Columbia...
  
  

2 July 1966 – 31 March 1970

30 June 1971 – 1 October 1972

1 October 1982 – 23 January 1987

• 341st Strategic Missile
  341st Missile Wing
  The United States Air Force's 341st Missile Wing is an intercontinental ballistic missile unit headquartered at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
  
  : 15 January 1973 – 23 January 1987
• 456th Strategic Aerospace

(later, 456th Bombardment): 30 June 1971 – 1 October 1972

• 509th Bombardment
  509th Bomb Wing
  The 509th Bomb Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command, Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri....
  
  

10 February 1951 – 16 June 1952

(detached 1 March – c. 6 May 1951; 4 – 16 June 1952)

16 June 1952 – 1 July 1958

(detached 16 June – 2 September 1952; 10 July – 9 October 1954, and 26 January – 30 April 1956).

• 4128th Strategic: 5 January – 1 July 1959.

Groups

• 8th Pursuit
  8th Fighter Wing
  The United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and is assigned to Seventh Air Force...
  
  : 16 January – 31 August 1941
• 14th Fighter
  14th Flying Training Wing
  The 14th Flying Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.-Mission:...
  
  : 18 February – 14 March 1943
• 17th Bombardment
  17th Training Wing
  The 17th Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Second Air Force. It is stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas...
  
  

attached C. 31 December 1942 – 17 February 1943

assigned 18 February – 7 June 1943.

• 33d Pursuit
  33d Fighter Wing
  The 33d Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida where it is a tenant unit....
  
   (later, 33 Fighter)

16 January – 31 August 1941; 27 September – 6 December 1942

3 – 14 March 1943.

• 57th Pursuit
  57th Wing
  The 57th Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Warfare Center, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.The 57 WG's mission is to provide well trained and well equipped combat forces ready to deploy into a combat arena to conduct integrated combat operations.-Mission:The 57...
  
  : 16 January – 31 August 1941
• 68th Tactical Reconnaissance

attached 4 – 31 December 1943

assigned 1 January – c. June 1944 (not operational

27 May – June 1944).

• 81st Fighter
  81st Training Wing
  The 81st Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The 81st Training Wing has the Air Force’s largest Technical Training Group and trains more than 40,000 students annually...
  
  : 27 September 1942 – 5 January 1943

Detached c. November 1942 – 5 January 1943

• 82d Fighter
  82d Training Wing
  The 82d Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Second Air Force. It is stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas where it also is the host unit....
  
  

c. November – c. 31 December 1942

attached 1 – 17 February 1943

assigned 18 February 1943 – 13 January 1944

• 98th Bombardment
  98th Range Wing
  The 98th Range Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Air Warfare Center. The unit is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada as a tenant unit....
  
  

24 September – 1 November 1943

17 November 1943 – 19 April 1945

• 310th Bombardment
  310th Space Wing
  The 310th Space Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force. It is a tenant unit at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo....
  
  : 18 February – 3 November 1943
• 319th Bombardment
  319th Air Refueling Wing
  The 319th Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's USAF Expeditionary Center. It is stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is also the host unit at Grand Forks....
  
  

attached c. February 1943 – unkn

assigned c. 1 – 7 June 1943

• 320th Bombardment
  320th Air Expeditionary Wing
  The 320th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force District of Washington. It is stationed at Bolling AFB, District of Columbia...
  
  : 18 February – 7 June 1943
• 321st Bombardment
  321st Air Expeditionary Wing
  The 321st Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force United States Air Forces Central unit. The unit was reestablished on 1 Nov 2008. The unit is a nexus of all Coalition Air Force Training Teams and the Iraqi Air Force....
  
  : 27 March – 3 November 1943
• 325th Fighter
  325th Fighter Wing
  The 325th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.-Mission:The 325th Fighter Wing’s primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to support the combat Air...
  
  : 27 March – 7 June 1943
• 376th Bombardment
  376th Air Expeditionary Wing
  The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force Air Combat Command unit. It is currently stationed at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic...
  
  

24 September – 1 November 1943

17 November 1943 – 19 April 1945

• 449th Bombardment
  449th Air Expeditionary Group
  The 449th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the 17th Air Force supporting United States Africa Command. It was last known to be stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti....
  
  : 11 December 1943 – 15 May 1945
• 450th Bombardment: 11 December 1943 – 15 May 1945
• 451st Bombardment
  451st Air Expeditionary Group
  The 451st Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force Air Combat Command unit. It is one of two AEWs in Afghanistan, presently assigned to Kandahar Airfield and is also the host unit at Kandahar....
  
  : 11 December 1943 – 7 April 1944

Transferred to 49th Bombardment Wing

49th Air Division

The 49th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, based at RAF Sculthorpe, England. It was inactivated on 1 July 1956.-History:...

Squadrons

• 11th Air Refueling Squadron
  11th Air Refueling Squadron
  The 11th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma...
  
  : 31 March 1970 – 30 June 1971
• 15th Bombardment Squadron
  15th Bombardment Squadron
  The 15th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force, based at Nouvion Airfield, Algeria...
  
  : attached c. January – 10 February 1943
• 81st Bombardment Squadron: attached 2 February – 25 March 1943
• 82d Bombardment Squadron: attached 2 February – 25 March 1943
• 91st Air Refueling
  91st Air Refueling Squadron
  The 91st Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...
  
  : 1 July 1971 – 1 April 1972
• 95th Fighter
  95th Fighter Squadron
  The 95th Fighter Squadron was part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducted advanced fighter training for the F-15 Eagle aircraft.-History:...
  
  : attached 31 December 1942 – 5 January 1943
• 307th Air Refueling Squadron
  307th Air Refueling Squadron
  The 307th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 410th Bombardment Wing, stationed at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. It was inactivated on 1 August 1990.-History:...
  
  : attached 1 August 1951 – 2 February 1953

Further attached to 6th Bombardment Wing, 1 August 1951 – 15 June 1952

• 916th Air Refueling Squadron
  916th Air Refueling Squadron
  The 916th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 307th Air Refueling Group, stationed at Travis AFB, California. It was inactivated on 31 December 1983...
  
  : 26 July 1968 – 30 June 1977

Stations

• Mitchel Field
  Mitchel Air Force Base
  Decommissioned in 1961, Mitchel Field became a multi-use complex currently home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.-Origins:...
  
  , New York, 18 December 1940 – 31 August 1941
• Olmsted Field
  Olmsted Air Force Base
  Harrisburg Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Harrisburg International Airport, Pennsylvania. It is located west-southwest of Middletown, Pennsylvania....
  
  , 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...
  
  , 7 June 1942
• Langley Field, 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...
  
  , 17 – 24, October 1942
• Casablanca
  Casablanca
  Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
  
  , French Morocco
  French Morocco
  French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
  
  , 11 November 1942
• Chateaudun Du Rhumel Airfield, Algeria, 11 January 1943
• El Guerrah, Algeria
  Algeria
  Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
  
  , 1 March 1943
• Souk-el-Arba Airfield
  Souk-el-Arba Airfield
  Souk-el-Arba Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, located approximately 2.3 km southeast of Jendouba; 130 km west-southwest of Tunis...
  
  , Tunisia, 8 June 1943
• Hammamet Airfield, Tunisia, 7 August 1943

• Manduria
  Manduria
  Manduria is a city and comune of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Taranto. With c. 30,000 inhabitants, it is located 35 km east of Taranto, and 14 km north of the coast.-History:...
  
  , Italy,

1 October 1943 (advance echelon)

11 November 1943 – 15 May 1945 (main body)

• Sioux Falls AAF
  Sioux Falls Regional Airport
  Sioux Falls Regional Airport , also known as Joe Foss Field, is a joint civil and military use airport located three nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Sioux Falls, a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States...
  
  , South Dakota
  South Dakota
  South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
  
  , 29 May 1945
• Sioux City AAB
  Sioux Gateway Airport
  -History:The construction of Sioux City Army Air Base began in March 1942, about three months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Opened on 5 July 1942, it became a major training center during World War II for crew members of B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses...
  
  , Iowa
  Iowa
  Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
  
  , 10 July – 15 October 1945
• Walker AFB, 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...
  
  , 10 February 1951 – 16 June 1952
• Castle AFB, California, 11 July 1959
• Fairchild AFB, Washington, 30 June 1971 – 27 February 1987.

Aircraft and missiles

• P-39 Airacobra 1941; 1943-1944
• 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...
  
   1941; 1942-1944
• B-26 Marauder
  B-26 Marauder
  The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
  
   1942 – 1943;
• P-38 Lightning
  P-38 Lightning
  The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
  
   1942 – 1944;
• A-20 Havoc
  Douglas DB-7
  The Douglas A-20/DB-7 Havoc was a family of American attack, light bomber and night fighter aircraft of World War II, that served with several Allied air forces, principally those of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and United States. The DB-7 was also used by the air forces of Australia, South...
  
   1943 – 1944;
• A-36 Apache
  North American A-36
  The North American A-36 Apache was the ground-attack/dive bomber version of the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, from which it could be distinguished by the presence of rectangular, slatted dive brakes above and below the wings...
  
   1943 – 1944;
• B-17 Flying Fortress 1943 – 1944;
• B-24 Liberator
  B-24 Liberator
  The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
  
   1943 – 1945;
• B-25 Mitchell
  B-25 Mitchell
  The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
  
   1943;
• P-51 Mustang
  P-51 Mustang
  The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
  
   1943 – 1944.
• B-29 Superfortress
  B-29 Superfortress
  The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
  
   1951 – 1952;
• B-50 Superfortress
  B-50 Superfortress
  The Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber was a post-World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber designed by Boeing for...
  
   1951 – 1952;1952-1955

• KB-29 Superfortress
  B-50 Superfortress
  The Boeing B-50 Superfortress strategic bomber was a post-World War II revision of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, fitted with more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, stronger structure, a taller fin, and other improvements. It was the last piston-engined bomber designed by Boeing for...
  
   1951 – 1952; 1952-1954
• B-36 Peacemaker
  Convair B-36
  The Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" was a strategic bomber built by Convair and operated solely by the United States Air Force from 1949 to 1959. The B-36 was the largest mass-produced piston engine aircraft ever made. It had the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft ever built , although there have...
  
   1952 – 1957;
• KC-97 Stratotanker
  KC-97 Stratotanker
  The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
  
   1954 – 1958 1962;
• B-47 Stratojet
  B-47 Stratojet
  The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
  
   1955 – 1958 1962 – 1963;
• B-52 Stratofortress
  B-52 Stratofortress
  The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
  
   1957 – 1987;
• KC-135 Stratotanker
  KC-135 Stratotanker
  The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
  
   1958 – 1987;
• Atlas (CGM-16)
  Atlas (missile)
  The SM-65 Atlas was the first intercontinental ballistic missile developed and deployed by the United States. It was built for the U.S. Air Force by Convair Division of General Dynamics at the Kearny Mesa assembly plant north of San Diego, California...
  
   1962 – 1963;
• EC-135
  Boeing EC-135
  The Boeing EC-135 was a command & control version of the C-135 Stratolifter. Modified for the "Looking Glass" program, during the Cold War EC-135 were airborne 24 hours a day to serve as flying command platforms for the military in the event of nuclear war...
  
   1963 – 1973;
• Minuteman-II (LGM-30F) 1973 – 1987;
• Minuteman-III (LGM-30G) 1973 – 1987;
• RC-135 1976 – 1987;
• KC-10 Extender
  KC-10 Extender
  The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is the military adaptation of the three-engined DC-10 airliner for the United States Air Force . The KC-10 incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of transport and aerial refueling. It was developed to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker...
  
   1985 – 1987.

See also

• List of United States Air Force air divisions

External links