6th Air Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 6th Air Division


caption= 6th Air Division emblem
dates= 19 October 1940–7 December 1941
30 May 1942–13 September 1943
5 August 1946–28 July 1948
1 February 1951–2 July 1966
5 July 1968–15 December 1969
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role=
size=
command_structure=
garrison= see "Stations" section below
garrison_label=
equipment= see "Aircraft / Missiles / Space Vehicles" section below
equipment_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations= see "Lineage and Honors" section below
battle_honours=
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=

History

This US organization briefly existed as the 6th Pursuit Wing between December 1940 and December 1941. As the 6th Fighter Wing, it moved to England in August, where it trained replacement pilots for fighter organizations until September 1943. The wing served in the Canal Zone 1946–1948. After becoming an Air Division in February 1951, it experienced several inactivations and activations, but its mission remained one of organizing and training assigned units for sustained long–range offensive bombardment and air to air refueling operations around the world. It supervised numerous deployments, exercises, and operations. In the 1960s, units under the division's control participated in Arc Light missions and controlled aircraft that flew weather reconnaissance missions in Southeast Asia.

Background of Name

In Popular Culture

Lineage and Honors

Established as 6 Pursuit Wing on 19 October 1940.Activated on 18 December 1940.Inactivated on 7 December 1941.

Redesignated 6 Fighter Wing on 30 May 1942.Activated on 7 June 1942.Disestablished on 13 September 1943.

Reestablished on 5 August 1946.Activated on 25 August 1946.Inactivated on 28 July 1948.

Redesignated 6 Air Division on 1 February 1951.Organized on 10 February 1951.Discontinued on 16 June 1952.

Activated on 16 June 1952.Discontinued, and inactivated, on 2 July 1966.

Activated on 5 July 1968.Organized on 1 August 1968.Inactivated on 15 December 1969.

= Service Streamers =

* World War II: European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater.

= Campaign Streamers =

none

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

none

Decorations

Awards

Emblem

On a shield per chevron argent and gules, in chief, a stylized silhouetted jet aircraft, issuing from chief, nose toward base azure; in base a sphere with land areas of the first and water areas of the third, grid lines black, over a branch of olive or, between two lightning bolts argent; superimposed overall and flanking the dexter and sinister, two stylized arrows or. (Approved 5 October 1955)

Assignments

GHQ Air Force (apparently further assigned to Northeast Air District, later First Air Force, 16 January 1941; I Interceptor Command, 5 June 1941–7 December 1941), 18 December 1940–7 December 1941.

Eighth Air Force, 7 June 1942–13 September 1943 (attached First Air Force, 7 June 1942–c.5 August 1942).

Caribbean Air Command, 25 August 1946–28 July 1948.

Second Air Force, 10 February 1951–16 June 1952.

Second Air Force, 16 June 1952;Eighth Air Force, 1 January 1959–2 July 1966.

Pacific Air Forces, 5 July 1968;
Thirteenth Air Force, 1 August 1968–15 December 1969.

Components

Wings:
* 2 Bombardment: 1 November 1959–1 April 1961.
* 17 Bombardment: 1 July 1963–1 July 1965.
* 36 Fighter: attached 2 July 1948–28 July 1948.
* 305 Bombardment: 10 February 1951–1 June 1959 (detached 4 September 1953–5 December 1953, 3 November 1955–8 January 1956, and 7 January 1957–8 March 1957).
* 306 Bombardment: 10 February 1951–6 February 1961 (detached 11 June 1953–7 September 1953, 5 January 1955–21 February 1955, 23 October 1956–9 January 1957 and 9 October 1957–15 October 1957).
* 307 Bombardment: 10 February 1951–11 October 1954 (detached entire period).
* 321 Bombardment: 1 January 1959–1 February 1959; 1 July 1959–6 February 1961.
* 397 Bombardment: 1 February 1963–2 July 1966.
* 405 Fighter: 1 August 1968–15 December 1969.
* 416 Bombardment: 1 February 1963–2 July 1966.
* 463 Tactical Airlift: 1 November 1968–15 December 1969.
* 4038 Strategic: 1 April 1961–1 February 1963.
* 4039 Strategic: 1 April 1961–1 February 1963.

Groups:
* 1 Pursuit: 3 December 1940–4 September 1941.
* 31 Pursuit: 16 January 1941–1 October 1941.
* 36 Fighter: 15 October 1946–c.13 August 1948.
* 52 Pursuit: 16 January 1941–1 October 1941.

Squadrons:
* 1 Test: 15 October 1969–15 December 1969.
* 4 Tactical Reconnaissance: 1 June 1948–26 July 1948.
* 20 Operations: 15 October 1969–15 December 1969.
* 28 Fighter: 25 August 1946–15 October 1946.
* 32 Fighter: 25 August 1946–15 October 1946.
* 43 Fighter: 25 August 1946–15 October 1946.
* 51 Fighter: 25 August 1946–15 October 1946.
* 98 Air Refueling: 1 July 1953–22 November 1953.
* 319 Fighter: 1 June 1948–26 July 1948.
* 414 Night Fighter: 24 March 1947–1 September 1947.
* 6400 Test: 1 August 1968–15 October 1969.
* 6485 Operations: 1 December 1968–15 October 1969.

Stations

Selfridge Field, Michigan, 18 December 1940–7 December 1941.

Harrisburg Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 7 June 1942–c.4 August 1942;Bushey Hall, England, c.16 August 1942;
Atcham, England, c.24 August 1942–13 September 1943.

Howard Field (later, Howard Air Force Base), Panama Canal Zone, 25 August 1946–28 July 1948.

MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 10 February 1951–16 June 1952.

MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 16 June 1952;Dow Air Force Base (later, Bangor International Airport), Maine, 1 April 1961–2 July 1966.
Clark Air Base, Philippines, 1 August 1968–15 December 1969.

Commanders

Unknown, 18 December 1940;Brigadier General Henry B. Clagett, c.16 January 1941;Colonel Lawrence P. Hickey, c.8 April 1941–c.7 December 1941.

Unknown, 7 June 1942;Lieutenant Colonel Paul M. Jacobs, 13 July 1942;Lieutenant Colonel John W. Ranson, c.17 September 1942;Lieutenant Colonel Jack W. Hickman, 13 March 1943;Colonel Ross G. Hoyt, 18 March 1943;Colonel Jack W. Hickman, c.4 June 1943–unknown.

Brigadier General Morris R. Nelson, August 1946;Colonel William R. Morgan, 29 December 1947;Colonel Murray C. Woodbury, 17 February 1948–28 July 1948.

Colonel Thayer S. Olds, 10 February 1951;Major General Frank A. Armstrong Jr., May 1951–16 June 1952.

Major General Frank A. Armstrong Jr., 16 June 1952;Brigadier General Henry K. Mooney, 16 November 1952;Brigadier General Kenneth O. Sanborn, 31 July 1954;Colonel Paul S. Emrick, 17 February 1955;Brigadier General Kenneth O. Sanborn, c.1 June 1955;Brigadier General Paul S. Emrick, 17 February 1956;Brigadier General Paul W. Tibbets Jr., 2 January 1958;Colonel Brooks A. Lawhon, 1 February 1961;Brigadier General Perry M. Hoisington II, 1 April 1961;Colonel George W. R. Zethren, 10 July 1961;Colonel Harry R. Burrell, 2 June 1962;Brigadier General Richard C. Neeley, 6 July 1962;Colonel Robert J. Nolan, by 11 February 1965–2 July 1966.

Colonel Phillip C. Rawlins, 1 August 1968;Colonel Ernest W. Pate, 1 January 1969–15 December 1969.

Aircraft / Missiles / Space Vehicles

P-39 Airacobra, 1940–1941;
P-40 Warhawk, 1941.

P-38 Lightning, 1946;
P-39 Airacobra, 1946;
P-47 Thunderbolt, 1946–1948;
F-80 Shooting Star, 1946–1948;
P-51 Mustang, 1947;
P-61 Black Widow, 1947–1948;
F-6 Skyray, 1948;
FP-80 Shooting Star, 1948;
F-82 Twin Mustang, 1948.

B-29 Superfortress, 1951–1952;
B-47 Stratojet, 1951–1952;
B-50 Superfortress, 1951;
KC-97 Stratotanker, 1951–1952.

B-29 Superfortress, 1952–1954;
B-47 Stratojet, 1952–1961;
KC-97 Stratotanker, 1952–1961, 1963–1964;
RB-47 Stratojet, 1958;
C-124 Globemaster II, 1959–1961;
KC-135 Stratotanker, 1959, 1963–1966;
B-52 Stratofortress, 1963–1966.

B-57 Canberra, 1968;
C-130 Hercules, 1968–1969;
F-4 Phantom II, 1968–1969;
F-102 Delta Dagger, 1968–1969.

ee also

* Second Air Force
* Eighth Air Force

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0006ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 6th Air Division]