821st Strategic Aerospace Division
Encyclopedia
The 821st Strategic Aerospace Division (821st SAD) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command
, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force
, being stationed at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
. It was inactivated on 30 June 1971.
Activated in 1958 as an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command, providing command and control, manning, training, and equipping of B-52 Stratofortress
Strategic Wings in the Upper Midwest United States for long range bombardment missions using either nuclear or conventional weapons. It also developed and maintained the capability for effective air refueling operations. Redesignated as a Strategic Aerospace Division in 1962 when Strategic Wings were inactivated and the command assumed control over Titan I Wings for strategic aerospace warfare using intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Between 1966 and 1970, the division's subordinate units loaned B-52 and KC-135 aircraft and crews to Strategic Air Command organizations in Southeast Asia
in support of Arc Light
combat missions. The 821st conducted numerous staff assistance visits, and participated in tactical exercises such as Chrome Dome and Buckskin Rider.
Inactivated in 1971 as part of SAC's withdrawal from Southeast Asia and also as a result of budgetary reductions
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 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...
, assigned to 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....
, being stationed at Ellsworth AFB, 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...
. It was inactivated on 30 June 1971.
Activated in 1958 as an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command, providing command and control, manning, training, and equipping of 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...
Strategic Wings in the Upper Midwest United States for long range bombardment missions using either nuclear or conventional weapons. It also developed and maintained the capability for effective air refueling operations. Redesignated as a Strategic Aerospace Division in 1962 when Strategic Wings were inactivated and the command assumed control over Titan I Wings for strategic aerospace warfare using intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Between 1966 and 1970, the division's subordinate units loaned B-52 and KC-135 aircraft and crews to Strategic Air Command organizations in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
in support of Arc Light
Arc Light
Arc Light is the debut novel by Eric L. Harry, a techno-thriller about limited nuclear war published in 1994 and written in 1991-2.As China and Russia clash in Siberia in June 1999, nuclear missiles strike the United States. The U.S. retaliates against Russia, and World War III begins...
combat missions. The 821st conducted numerous staff assistance visits, and participated in tactical exercises such as Chrome Dome and Buckskin Rider.
Inactivated in 1971 as part of SAC's withdrawal from Southeast Asia and also as a result of budgetary reductions
Lineage
- Established as 821 Air Division on 22 August 1958
- Activated on 1 January 1959
- Redesignated 821 Strategic Aerospace Division on 15 February 1962
- Inactivated on 30 June 1971.
Components
Wings- 90th Strategic Missile Wing: 2 July 1966-30 June 1971 (F. E. Warren AFB)
- 91st Bombardment Wing: 1 September 1964-1 July 1966 (Glasgow AFB)
- 44th Strategic Missile Wing: 1 January 1962-30 June 1971 (Ellsworth AFB)
- 341st Strategic Missile Wing: 1 July 1962-1 July 1964 (Malmstrom AFB)
- 28th Bombardment Wing: 1 January 1959-30 June 1971 (Ellsworth AFB)
- 4133d Strategic Wing: 1 January 1959-1 July 1962 (Grand Forks AFB)
- 4136th Strategic Wing: 1 January 1959-1 July 1962 (Minot AFB)
- 4141st Strategic Wing: 1 July 1959-1 July 1962 (Glasgow AFB)
Aircraft
- B-52, 1959–1971
- KC-135, 1959–1971
- KC-97, 1962–1964
- Titan I, 1962–1965
- Minuteman I, 1963–1971
- EC-135, 1965-1971.