Air Forces Panama

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= USAF Southern Air Division
830th Air Divisionz
Air Forces Panama


caption= Emblem of the USAF Southern Air Division
830th Air Division
Air Forces Panama
dates= 1976-1992
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Command and Control
size=
command_structure= Tactical Air Command
garrison=
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nickname=
patron=
motto=
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battle_honours=The Air Forces Panama 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 Feb 1992.

History

Lineage

* Established as USAF Southern Air Division on 24 Nov 1975: Activated on 1 Jan 1976: Redesignated: 830 Airlift Division on 1 Jan 1989: Redesignated: Air Forces Panama on 15 Feb 1991: Inactivated on 11 Feb 1992.

Assignments

* Tactical Air Command, 1 Jan 1976: Twelfth Air Force, 31 Jan 1987-11 Feb 1992.

Stations

* Albrook AFS, Canal Zone, 1 Jan 1976
* Howard AFB, Canal Zone (later, Panama), 15 Aug 1977
* Albrook AFS, Panama, 1 Mar 1989
* Howard AFB, Panama, 15 Feb 1991-11 Feb 1992.

Components

Wings
* 24 Composite (See 24 Composite Group)

Group
* 24 Composite (later, 24 Composite Wing): 1 Jan 1976-31 Jan 1987; 1 Jan 1989-15 Feb 1991.

Squadron
* 24 Tactical Air Support: 31 Jan 1987-1 Jan 1989; 15 Feb-1 Mar 1991.

Aircraft

Rotational aircraft:
* A-7, 1974-1990
* A-10, 1985-c.1988
* C-130, 1976-1984
* F-15, 1990-1992
* F-16, 1990-1992

Assigned aircraft
* A-37, 1985-1992
* O-2, 1976-1986
* UH-1, 1976-1986.

Operational History

The USAF Southern Airlift Division replaced the USAF Southern Air Command as the Air Force component of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Panama Canal Zone in Jan 1976.

It assumed responsibility for the air defense of the Panama Canal and for USAF relations, including foreign military sales (FMS) and disaster relief assistance, with the Latin American nations. The division supported disaster relief to countries such as Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Colombia. It also assisted Mexico in its purchase of F-5s and trained Mexican technicians in logistics and maintenance for the new aircraft.

In 1984 the division, through the FMS program, delivered T-33s to Ecuador and A-37Bs to the Dominican Republic. The division participated annually in various training exercises, including paratroop drops and close air support for Army troops. It also conducted numerous combined exercises with various Latin American countries. Through the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, it provided technical training and education for airmen and officers from approximately 14 Latin American countries.

ee also

* Sixth Air Force

References

External links