12th Air Division

12th Air Division
12th Air Division
	12th Air Division emblem
Active	19 October 1940–6 March 1942; 23 August 1942–9 October 1944; 3 July 1947–27 June 1949; 1 February 1951–31 July 1990
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ	see "Stations" section below
Equipment	see "Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles" section below
Decorations	see "Lineage and honors" section below
Commanders
Commanders	see "Commanders" section below

The 12th Air Division an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment waa with the Eighth Air Force, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on on 31 July 1990.

History

Heraldry

Or, a globe azure grid lined of the first between in dexter an airplane palewise ascending argent, exhaust gules and in sinister a missile palewise of the like, overall a gauntlet of the third, grasping an olive branch vert and a lightning flash of the fourth bend sinisterwise and two lightning flashes of the last bendwise, on a chief of the second per chevron inverted seme of mullets argent; all within a diminished bordure of argent (silver gray) (approved on 30 Dec 1988).

Lineage

Established as: 12 Pursuit Wing on 19 Oct 1940

Activated on 20 Nov 1940

Inactivated on 6 Mar 1942

Redesignated: 12 Bombardment Wing on 23 Aug 1942

Activated on 8 Sept 1942

Disestablished on 9 Oct 1944

Reestablished, and redesignated 12 Bombardment Wing, Light on 3 Jul 1947

Activated in the Reserve on 3 Aug 1947

Redesignated: 12 Air Division, Bombardment on 16 Apr 1948

Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949

Redesignated: 12 Air Division on 1 Feb 1951

Organized on 10 Feb 1951

Discontinued on 16 Jun 1952

Activated on 16 Jun 1952

Redesignated: 12 Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 Jun 1962

Redesignated: 12 Strategic Missile Division on 30 Jun 1971

Redesignated: 12 Air Division on 1 Mar 1973

Inactivated on 31 Jul 1990

Assignments

VI Interceptor Command, 20 Nov 1940-6 Mar 1942
Eighth Air Force, 8 Sept 1942
VIII Bomber Command (later, Eighth Air Force), c. Dec 1942-9 Oct 1944
Eleventh Air Force, 3 Aug 1947
First Air Force, 1 Jul 1948
Ninth Air Force, 23 Feb-27 Jun 1949
Fifteenth Air Force, 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952
Fifteenth Air Force, 16 Jun 1952
Eighth Air Force, 1 Jul 1989-31 Jul 1990

Components

Wings

6 Strategic Aerospace (later, 6 Strategic): 1 Jul 1965-25 Mar 1967; 2 Jul 1968-30 Jun 1971
22 Bombardment (later, 22 Air Refueling): 10 Feb 1951-1 Jan 1962 (detached 5 Sep-4 Dec 1951, 7 Dec 1953-5 Mar 1954, 1 Apr-5 Jul 1957); 1 Aug 1972-1 Oct 1985
28 Bombardment: 15 Jul 1988-31 Jul 1990
44 Bombardment (later, 44 Strategic Missile): 10 Feb-4 Aug 1951; 15 Jul 1988-31 Jul 1990
55 Strategic Reconnaissance: 2 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1971; 1 Oct 1982-1 Oct 1985
93 Bombardment: 1 Oct 1985-15 Jul 1988
95 Bombardment: 1 Jul 1964-25 Jun 1966
96 Bombardment: 1 Jul 1973-15 Jul 1988
99 Strategic Weapons: 10 Aug 1989-31 Jul 1990

100 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 100 Air Refueling): 25 Jun 1966-30 Jun 1971; 1 Aug 1972-30 Sept 1976
106 Bombardment: by Sept 1951-1952
303 Bombardment: 15 Mar 1960-15 Jun 1964
308 Strategic Missile: 30 Jun 1971-1 Apr 1973
320 Bombardment: 1 Dec 1952-15 Sept 1960 (detached 3 Jun-4 Sept 1954, 5 Oct 1956-11 Jan 1957); 23 Jan 1987-15 Jul 1988. 330 Bombardment: attached 1 May-16 Jun 1951 (not operational for entire period).
381 Strategic Missile: 30 Jun 1971-1 Jul 1973
384 Air Refueling: 1 Dec 1972-1 Jul 1973
390 Bombardment (later, 390 Strategic Missile): 1 Jan 1962-31 Jul 1984
4080 Strategic: 12 Jul 1963-25 Jun 1966

Groups

16 Pursuit: c. 1 Dec 1940-c. 6 Mar 1942
32 Pursuit: c. 1 Jan 1941-c. 6 Mar 1942
37 Pursuit: c. 1 Feb 1940-6 Mar 1942
53 Pursuit: c. 1 Jan-6 Mar 1942
321 Bombardment: 17 Oct 1947-27 Jun 1949
322 Bombardment: 17 Oct 1947-27 Jun 1949

Stations

Albrook Field, Canal Zone, 10 Nov 1940-6 Mar 1942
MacDill Field, Florida, 8 Sept-28 Nov 1942
Gourock, Scotland, 15-16 Dec 1942
RAF Chelveston, England, c. 17 Dec 1942-12 Jan 1943
Marks Hall, England, 12 Jan 1943-9 Oct 1944
Cleveland Municipal Airport, Ohio, 3 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949
March AFB, California, 10 Feb 1951-16 Jun 1952
March AFB, California, 16 Jun 1952
Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, 1 Jan 1962
Dyess AFB, Texas, 30 Sept 1976
Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, 15 Jul 1988-31 Jul 1990

Operations

The wing operated in the Panama Canal Zone 20 November 1940–6 March 1942. It moved to England in November 1942, with assignment to the Eighth Air Force. All personnel and equipment were withdrawn in January 1943, and the organization did not serve in combat. As an Air Division, from February 1951, it conducted training for worldwide bombardment operations. From 1963–1984 and 1988–1990, it maintained an ICBM capability, conducted staff assistance visits, and monitored programs such as retention, domestic actions, and medical capabilities of its subordinate units.

Assure unit Emergency War Order (EWO) capability and combat crew training conducted at Castle and Dyess Air Force bases, continually evaluate qualification training, direct correction or improvement when appropriate, and represent training concerns to higher headquarters.