23rd Air Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 23d Air Division


caption= 23d Air Division emblem
dates= 18 November 1969–1 July 1987
country= United States
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The 23d Air Division (23 AD) was the direct precursor to the Southeast Air Defense Sector (SEADS). When the 23 AD stood down 1 July 1987, all command, mission, components, and assets were immediately transferred to the newly organized SEADS, thus completing the official turn-over.

History

The 23d assumed responsibility for the air defense of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Kentucky on 19 November 1969. By 1973, this area expanded to include parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The division and its subordinate units participated in numerous exercises such as Amalgam Fairplay, Feathered Indian, and Feathered Brave. In addition, its subordinate units exercised with surface to air missiles.

Background of name

Mission

Operations

Lineage and honors

Established as 23 Air Division on 18 November 1969.Activated on 19 November 1969.Inactivated on 1 July 1987.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

none

Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

none

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations:

none

Awards

Emblem

Azure, issuing from sinister base a demi sphere bendwise vert gridlined and rimmed or edged with a styled cloud formation argent, surmounted by a lightning flash originating in base and extending to chief in bend of the last voided gules and charged in base with an oval of the first bearing a mullet argent, all within a diminished bordure of the like. (Approved 28 July 1970)

Assignments

Aerospace Defense Command, 19 November 1969;
Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979;
First Air Force, 6 December 1985–1 July 1987.

Components

Wing:
* 1 Fighter: 1 December 1969–31 December 1969.

Group:
* 343 Fighter: 19 November 1969–28 August 1970.

Squadrons:
* 2 Fighter Interceptor: 1 July 1971–31 March 1973.
* 37 Air Defense Missile: 19 November 1969–31 July 1972.
* 48 Fighter Interceptor: 1 March 1983–1 July 1987.
* 62 Fighter Interceptor: 19 November 1969–30 April 1971.
* 74 Air Defense Missile: 19 November 1969–30 April 1972.
* 87 Fighter Interceptor: 28 August 1970–1 August 1981.
* 94 Fighter Interceptor: 1 December 1969–1 July 1971.

Stations

Duluth International Airport, Minnesota, 19 November 1969;
Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, 15 April 1982–1 July 1987.

Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

BOMARC missile, 1969–1972;
F-106 Delta Dart, 1969–1981;
F-15 Eagle, 1983–1987.

Commanders

Brigadier General Clayton M. Isaacson, 19 November 1969;Brigadier General Guy Hurst Jr., 1 August 1970;Brigadier General Louis G. Leiser, 13 March 1972;Colonel James J. Kleckner, 26 July 1974 (interim);Brigadier General George C. Cannon Jr., 19 August 1974;Brigadier General Mervin M. Taylor, 12 July 1976;Colonel Kenneth W. Ohlinger, 27 September 1976 (temporary);Brigadier General Edward L. Ellis, 7 March 1977;Colonel Rondall H. Stull, 22 January 1979;Brigadier General Charles E. Bishop, 28 January 1980;Colonel John F. Manning, 23 November 1981;None (not manned), 15 April 1982–February 1983;Brigadier General Paul D. Wagoner, 1 March 1983;Brigadier General Charles A. Horner, 23 May 1983;Brigadier General Donald R. Delauter, 11 October 1983;Brigadier General James M. Rhodes Jr., 11 April 1986–1 July 1987.

ee also

* First Air Force
* Aerospace Defense Command

References

* Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0023ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 23d Air Division]