USAF Air Division
Encyclopedia
In the United States Air Force
, a Division was an intermediate level of command, subordinate to a Numbered Air Force, controlling one or more Wings
. It also controlled squadrons without associated same-function wings, i.e., 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron
had no associated wing, but its function was part of the 24th Air Division. It is now considered obsolete.
as a separate and equal element of the United States armed forces. Earlier, on 21 March 1946, General Carl A. Spaatz had undertaken a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces that had included the establishment of the Major Command echelon as the first level of command below Headquarters, USAAF.
The World War II commands, which had been subordinate to the Numbered Air Forces, were eliminated in the reorganization of 1946, and the Numbered Air Forces were made components of the major commands at home and overseas.
The new organizational hierarchy thus contained the following levels : squadron, group, wing, air force, command. In 1948, and afterward, the World War II wings were redesignated Divisions, and placed immediately below the numbered air forces in the organizational pyramid. The "Wing" was redefined to be the USAF basic organizational unit which exercised command and control over a "Base", the physical facility that included the airfield and the support units (groups, squadrons) to support the operation of a wing.
In the years after 1948, the Air Force "Division" carried several designations of the name "Strategic Aerospace Division"; "Strategic Missile Division"; "Space Division", however the most common designation was "Air Division".
, 7th Air Division, and 1st Strategic Aerospace Division
.
Following the initiation of Major Command-controlled (MAJCON) four-digit Table of Distribution (T/D) organizations in 1948, the major commands were briefly authorized to organize air divisions, provided they secured USAF approval. Two four-digit air divisions (4310th Air Division and 7217th Air Division) were subsequently organized.
Besides numbered Air Divisions, a Named Air Division was an organization within a large support command that was assigned a major or important segment of that command's mission—e.g., the Electronic Systems Division handled a large part of the Air Force Systems Command's work-load in electronic systems. Because they were usually technical or highly specialized in nature, named divisions generally had a large number of personnel. One named division of an operational command was the USAF Southern Air Division
which absorbed resources of the United States Air Forces Southern Command in 1976, and was part of Tactical Air Command
.
An Air Division's numerical identification was usually unique to a Major Command, however when inactivated, the numerical identification could and was used by a different Major Command if it was reactivated.
During the Vietnam War
Air Divisions were commonly used as 'placeholder' organizations when the Operational Wing at an Air Force Base
was deployed
to Southeast Asia and commanded the remaining groups and squadrons at a single or multiple Air Force bases.
Air Divisions were gradually phased out of the Air Force command structure after the end of the Vietnam War, with the Numbered Air Force assuming direct command of its subordinate Wings. The last existed into the early 1990s and their usage ended with the 1992 major reorganization of the USAF Major Commands.
.
The ALCE's were commanded by Lieutenant Colonels, usually had several supervising Majors, a supervising senior NCO (usually an E-7) over AFSC 27150 (Mission Monitors or Mission Controllers) E-3s to E-6s. Two famous ALCE's in South Vietnam were Rocket Alley ALCE (pronounce Al-See) at Bien Hoa AB and Sandbox ALCE at Cam Rahn Bay AB
. Rocket Alley ALCE was a hard-luck combat assignment while Sandbox ALCE was essentially free from enemy attack and considered a day at the beach assignment with an in country R&R center.
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...
, a Division was an intermediate level of command, subordinate to a Numbered Air Force, controlling one or more Wings
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
. It also controlled squadrons without associated same-function wings, i.e., 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron
17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron
The 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 24th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
had no associated wing, but its function was part of the 24th Air Division. It is now considered obsolete.
History
On 16 September 1947, the United States Army Air Force became the United States Air ForceUnited 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...
as a separate and equal element of the United States armed forces. Earlier, on 21 March 1946, General Carl A. Spaatz had undertaken a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces that had included the establishment of the Major Command echelon as the first level of command below Headquarters, USAAF.
The World War II commands, which had been subordinate to the Numbered Air Forces, were eliminated in the reorganization of 1946, and the Numbered Air Forces were made components of the major commands at home and overseas.
The new organizational hierarchy thus contained the following levels : squadron, group, wing, air force, command. In 1948, and afterward, the World War II wings were redesignated Divisions, and placed immediately below the numbered air forces in the organizational pyramid. The "Wing" was redefined to be the USAF basic organizational unit which exercised command and control over a "Base", the physical facility that included the airfield and the support units (groups, squadrons) to support the operation of a wing.
In the years after 1948, the Air Force "Division" carried several designations of the name "Strategic Aerospace Division"; "Strategic Missile Division"; "Space Division", however the most common designation was "Air Division".
Usage
Air Divisions were found in all Major Commands between 1948 and 1992, when the last Air Division was inactivated. Official policy dictated the use of Arabic numerals for numbered air and aerospace divisions. Examples: 2nd Air Division2nd Air Division
The 2d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-Third Air Force, being stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida...
, 7th Air Division, and 1st Strategic Aerospace Division
1st Strategic Aerospace Division
The 1st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California...
.
Following the initiation of Major Command-controlled (MAJCON) four-digit Table of Distribution (T/D) organizations in 1948, the major commands were briefly authorized to organize air divisions, provided they secured USAF approval. Two four-digit air divisions (4310th Air Division and 7217th Air Division) were subsequently organized.
Besides numbered Air Divisions, a Named Air Division was an organization within a large support command that was assigned a major or important segment of that command's mission—e.g., the Electronic Systems Division handled a large part of the Air Force Systems Command's work-load in electronic systems. Because they were usually technical or highly specialized in nature, named divisions generally had a large number of personnel. One named division of an operational command was the USAF Southern Air Division
Air Forces Panama
The Air Forces Panama, formerly 830th Air Division, is an inactive United States Air Force Division. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Howard Air Force Base, Panama. It was inactivated on 11 February 1992.The USAF Southern Airlift...
which absorbed resources of the United States Air Forces Southern Command in 1976, and was part of Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
.
An Air Division's numerical identification was usually unique to a Major Command, however when inactivated, the numerical identification could and was used by a different Major Command if it was reactivated.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
Air Divisions were commonly used as 'placeholder' organizations when the Operational Wing at an Air Force Base
Air Force Base
An Air Force Base is a military airbase of any of a number of air forces, such as the United States Air Force or South African Air Force ....
was deployed
Military deployment
Military deployment is the movement of armed forces and their logistical support infrastructure around the world.-United States:The United States Military defines the term as follows:...
to Southeast Asia and commanded the remaining groups and squadrons at a single or multiple Air Force bases.
Air Divisions were gradually phased out of the Air Force command structure after the end of the Vietnam War, with the Numbered Air Force assuming direct command of its subordinate Wings. The last existed into the early 1990s and their usage ended with the 1992 major reorganization of the USAF Major Commands.
Vietnam War
In Vietnam the USAF's 834th Air Division also had small Divisional lateral units called an "Elements." The 834th Air Division Airlift Command Center (ALCC commonly called "mother") operated eight Airlift Command Elements (ALCE's) throughout South VietnamSouth Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
.
The ALCE's were commanded by Lieutenant Colonels, usually had several supervising Majors, a supervising senior NCO (usually an E-7) over AFSC 27150 (Mission Monitors or Mission Controllers) E-3s to E-6s. Two famous ALCE's in South Vietnam were Rocket Alley ALCE (pronounce Al-See) at Bien Hoa AB and Sandbox ALCE at Cam Rahn Bay AB
Cam Ranh Air Base
Cam Ranh Air Base is located on Cam Ranh Bay in the province of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. It was one of several South Vietnamese Air Force air bases built and used by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War...
. Rocket Alley ALCE was a hard-luck combat assignment while Sandbox ALCE was essentially free from enemy attack and considered a day at the beach assignment with an in country R&R center.
See also
List of all Air Divisions- Air Division Emblems in the Strategic Air Command emblem gallery
- Air Division Emblems in the Tactical Air Command emblem gallery
- Air Division Emblems in the Air (Aerospace) Defense Command emblem gallery