20th Air Division
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (December 2012) |
| 20th Air Division | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 20th Air Division |
|
| Active | 1955-1983 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Command and Control |
| Part of | Tactical Air Command (ADTAC) |
The 20th Air Division (20th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, being stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 March 1983.
Contents |
History [edit]
The 20th AD was assigned to Air Defense Command (ADC) for most of its existence, primarily being a mid-level command and control echelon, controlling Fighter-Interceptor and Aircraft Control and Warning (Radar) units over several different Areas of Operation (AOR) within the CONUS during the Cold War era.
Initially activated as a command and control organization of the Central Air Defense Force at Grandview (later, Richards-Gebaur) AFB in June 1955, the command was responsible for the interceptor and radar units within an area that covered parts of Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and virtually all of Kansas and Missouri.
On 1 October 1959, the 20th AD activated the Sioux City Air Defense Sector and its Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) DC-22 Direction Center. It also operated the Manual Control Center (MCC-2) at Richards-Gebaur. It was inactivated in 1960 when ADC reorganized its structure with Air Defense Sectors, with the Kansas City Air Defense Sector (Manual) and Chicago Air Defense Sector (SAGE) taking over its former units.
It was reactivated in 1966 under Tenth Air Force as a SAGE organization, assuming responsibility for the Chicago ADS and provided air defense from the Truax Field, Wisconsin DC-7/CC-2 SAGE blockhouse for parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and all of Illinois. Assumed additional designation of 20th 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.
In addition to the active duty interceptor and radar units, the 20th AD supervised Air National Guard units that flew interception sorties using, among others, F-101 and F-106 aircraft, while at the same time controlling numerous radar squadrons. It was inactivated in 1967 as part of an ADC consolidation of intermediate level command and control organizations, driven by budget reductions required to fund USAF operations in Southeast Asia.
The 20th AD was activated for a third time in November 1969 under Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM). The command provided air defense for virtually all of the southeastern United States, except for most of Louisiana from the SAGE DC-4 blockhouse at Fort Lee AFS, Virginia. Also in 1969 the Division controlled a CIM-10 Bomarc surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile squadron near Langley AFB until its inactivation in October 1972.
ADCOM was reorganized on 1 October 1979. The atmospheric defense resources (interceptors and warning radars) of ADCOM. including the 20th AD were reassigned to Tactical Air Command (TAC). After 1981, it controlled units equipped with F-15 aircraft, while its subordinate units continued to participate in intensive academic training, numerous multi-region simulated (non-flying) exercises, and flying exercises.
The 20th AD was inactivated most recently in March 1983, with the 20th NORAD Region taking over its units and responsibilities.
Lineage [edit]
- Established as 20 Air Division (Defense) on 8 June 1955
- Activated on 8 October 1955
- Inactivated on 1 January 1960
- Reactivated on 20 January 1966
- Organized on 1 April 1966 by redesignation of Chicago Air Defense Sector
- Assumed additional designations 20th NORAD/CONRAD Region, 1 April 1966
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 31 December 1967
- Re-established and activated on 19 November 1969
- Assumed additional designation 20th ADCOM Region, 8 December 1978
- Inactivated on 1 March 1983, assets transferred to Southeast Air Defense Sector.
Assignments [edit]
- Central Air Defense Force, 8 October 1955 – 1 January 1960
- Air Defense Command, 20 January 1966
- Tenth Air Force, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1967
- Aerospace Defense Command, 19 November 1969
- Tactical Air Command (ADTAC), 1 October 1979 – 1 March 1983.
Stations [edit]
- Grandview (later, Richards Gebaur) AFB, Missouri, 8 October 1955 – 1 January 1960.
- Truax Field, Wisconsin, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1967
- Fort Lee AFS, Virginia, 19 November 1969
- Tyndall AFB, Florida, 1 March 1983 – 1 March 1983.
Components [edit]
Sector [edit]
- Sioux City Air Defense Sector: 1 October 1959 – 1 January 1960.
Groups [edit]
- 53d Fighter Group: 1 March 1956 – 1 January 1960
- 327th Fighter Group: 1 – 25 April June 1966
- 328th Fighter Group: 1 March 1956 – 1 January 1960
- 678th Air Defense Group: 1 March 1970 – 1 March 1983
- 701st Air Defense Group: 1 March 1970 – 17 January 1974
Squadrons [edit]
Fighter-Interceptor [edit]
- 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 19 November 1969 – 1 March 1983
- 85th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 March 1956 – 1 July 1959
- 95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 19 November 1969 – 31 January 1973
- Dover AFS, Delaware
Missile [edit]
- 22d Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC): 19 November 1969 – 31 October 1972
Radar [edit]
|
|
See also [edit]
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
References [edit]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
- A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1)
- Air Force Historical Research Agency: 20th Air Division
- A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
