40th Air Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 40th Air Division


caption= 40th Air Division emblem
dates= 15 January 1943–25 December 1946
14 March 1951–1 April 1957
1 July 1959–8 June 1988
7 July 1989–14 June 1991
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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decorations= see "Lineage and Honors" section below
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History

The 40th Bomb Wing was established on January 15 1943 and officially activated on January 21 1943. In May of that year, the Wing deployed to Brampton Grange, England. During the war, the wing went through a succession of name chages starting on May 3 1943 when they were redesignated the 40 Bombardment Wing (Heavy). This was quickly followed by another change on August 30 1943 when they were redesignated the 40 Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy). In September 1943, the wing received three bombardment groups and began combat operations against Nazi Germany, striking such targets as Nantes, Emden, Wilhelmshaven, and Bremen. Its units participated in a mission to Schweinfurt on October 14 1943 that resulted in the loss of over half of the aircraft dispatched. The final name change came on August 13 1943 when they became 40 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy. For the remainder of World War II, the wing flew numerous missions against military targets throughout occupied Europe and Germany. Following the end of the war the Wing was deactivated on December 25 1946.

Redesignated the 40th Air Division in March 1951, it assumed a supervisory role over assigned units of the Strategic Air Command, ensuring that they were manned, trained, and equipped to conduct long range bombardment missions using either nuclear or conventional weapons. It also developed and maintained the capability for effective air refueling and Minuteman II (intercontinental ballistic missile) operations. In these roles the division conducted staff assistance visits and participated in numerous exercises such as Buy None, Buckskin Rider and Busy Player.

After July 1989, the 40th Air Division established policies to ensure support for wartime execution of a strategic ICBM wing and a strategic air refueling wing in accordance with the Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP) and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) directed conventional war-fighting commitments.

Background of name

Mission

Operations

Lineage and honors

Established as 40 Bombardment Wing on 15 January 1943;Activated on 21 January 1943;Redesignated: 40 Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 3 May 1943;40 Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 30 August 1943;40 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 13 August 1944;40 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 9 June 1945;Inactivated on 25 December 1946.

Redesignated 40 Air Division on 2 March 1951;Organized on 14 March 1951;Discontinued on 1 July 1952.

Activated on 1 July 1952;Inactivated on 1 April 1957.

Activated on 1 July 1959;Inactivated on 8 June 1988.

Activated on 7 July 1989;Inactivated on 14 June 1991.

= Service streamers =

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

= Campaign streamers =

none

Armed Forces expeditionary streamers

none

Decorations

* Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 11 January 1944

Awards

Emblem

On a shield of blue, a stylized comet, red and white, in the upper right, with a tail, curved toward the base, of red, white, and red stripes alternating; overall four lightning flashes yellow, slanting, points to right, one above the other. (Approved 14 April 1952)

Assignments

Third Air Force, 21 January 1943;
Eighth Air Force, 6 June 1943;
VIII Bomber Command, 8 June 1943;1 Bombardment (later, 1 Air) Division, 13 September 1943;
United States Air Forces in Europe, c.31 October 1945;
European Air Materiel Command, 20 December 1946–25 December 1946.

Second Air Force, 14 March 1951–1 July 1952.

Second Air Force, 1 July 1952–1 April 1957.

Second Air Force, 1 July 1959; Eighth Air Force, 1 January 1975–8 June 1988.

Fifteenth Air Force, 7 July 1989–14 June 1991.

Components

Wings:
* 17 Bombardment: 1 February 1963–1 July 1963; 1 July 1971–1 July 1973.
* 31 Fighter Escort (later, 31 Strategic Fighter; 31 Fighter Bomber): 14 March 1951–1 July 1952; 1 July 1952–1 April 1957 (detached 10 July 1952–11 October 1952 and 10 November 1953–12 February 1954).
* 108 Fighter: 14 March 1951–16 November 1951.
* 146 Fighter: 17 April 1951–c.1 September 1951.
* 301 Air Refueling: 2 July 1966–31 March 1970; 1 July 1973–1 July 1975; 7 July 1989–14 June 1991.
* 305 Air Refueling: 1 July 1973–1 December 1982.
* 341 Strategic Missile: 7 July 1989–14 June 1991.
* 351 Strategic Missile: 1 July 1973–1 December 1982.
* 379 Bombardment: 9 January 1961–8 June 1988.
* 410 Bombardment: 1 February 1963–1 September 1964; 31 March 1970–8 January 1988.
* 416 Bombardment: 30 June 1971–1 July 1973; 1 December 1982–8 June 1988.
* 449 Bombardment: 1 February 1963–30 September 1977.
* 499 Bombardment: 1 February 1963–30 September 1977.
* 500 Air Refueling: 1 July 1963–15 December 1964.
* 508 Fighter Escort (later, 508 Strategic Fighter): 1 July 1952–11 May 1956 (detached c.8 February 1953–c.13 May 1953 and 12 February 1954–c.7 May 1954).
* 4026 Strategic: 1 July 1959–9 January 1961.
* 4042 Strategic: 1 July 1959–9 January 1961.
* 4043 Strategic: 1 July 1959–9 January 1961.
* 4080 Strategic Reconnaissance: 1 May 1956–1 April 1957.
* 4239 Strategic: 1 July 1959–9 January 1961.

Groups:
* 2 Bombardment: 15 December 1945–28 February 1946.
* 92 Bombardment: 13 September 1943–28 February 1946.
* 305 Bombardment: 13 September 1943–16 May 1945; 31 December 1945–25 December 1946.
* 306 Bombardment: 13 September 1943–16 May 1945; 16 December 1945–25 December 1946.
* 384 Bombardment: 31 May 1945–28 February 1946.
* 492 Bombardment: c.31 October 1944–c. May 1945.

Squadrons:
* 100 Air Refueling: 20 January 1953–23 May 1953; 24 November 1953–25 November 1953.

Stations

MacDill Field (later MacDill Air Force Base), Florida, 21 January 1943–May 1943;
Brampton Grange, England, 6 June 1943;
RAF Thurleigh, England, c.16 September 1943;
Istres Air Base, France, 26 June 1945;Erlangen, Germany, 15 November 1945–25 December 1946.

Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, 14 March 1951–1 July 1952.

Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, 1 July 1952–1 April 1957.

Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, 1 July 1959–8 June 1988.

Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, 7 July 1989–14 June 1991.

Commanders

Major Charles Normand, c.21 January 1943;Brigadier General Howard M. Turner, 16 September 1943;Colonel Anthony Q. Mustoe, 22 October 1944;Brigadier General Emil C. Kiel, 1 March 1946;Colonel Hilbert M. Wittkop, 1 June 1946;Brigadier General Emil C. Kiel, c. 1 July 1946–25 December 1946.

Colonel Eugene H. Snavely, 14 March 1951;Colonel Thayer S. Olds, 1 June 1951–1 July 1952.

Brigadier General Thayer S. Olds, 1 July 1952;Colonel Hubert Zemke, 11 October 1955–1 April 1957.

Lieutenant General C. Hunter Smith, 1 July 1959;Lieutenant General Clare H. Royce, 10 February 1960;Lieutenant General Warner F. Gardner, 21 March 1960;Major General Harold E. Humfeld, 1 April 1960;Brigadier General John A. Roberts, 3 July 1963;Brigadier General Albert J. Bowley, 15 August 1966;Brigadier General James E. Hill, 11 July 1967;Colonel Frederick R. Ramputi, 10 June 1968;Brigadier General Carlton L. Lee, 5 August 1968;Colonel Colin C. Hamilton, 25 February 1970–7 March 1970;no commander assigned, 8 March 1970–30 April 1970;Brigadier General Eugene L. Hudson, 1 May 1970;Brigadier General Billy J. Ellis, 22 February 1972;Colonel Richard A. Campbell, 20 January 1973;Brigadier General Donald M. Davis, 7 March 1973;Brigadier General Walter B. Ratliff, 12 February 1975;Brigadier General William E. Masterson, 5 August 1977;Colonel Paul F. Cottrell, 8 March 1979;Brigadier General Walter C. Schrupp, 29 May 1979;Brigadier General Robert E. Messerli, 26 June 1980;Brigadier General William M. Constantine, 28 February 1982;Brigadier General Richard B. Goetze Jr., 13 February 1984;Brigadier General Orthus K. Lewis Jr., 25 June 1985;Brigadier General Ramund E. O'Mara, 15 January 1988–8 June 1988.

Brigadier General Teddy E. Rinebarger, 7 July 1989–unknown.

Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1946;
B-24 Liberator, 1944–1945;
C-47 Skytrain, 1944–1945;
A-26 Invader, 1945;
P-51 Mustang, 1945;
de Havilland Mosquito, 1945.

F-84 Thunderjet, 1951–1952.

F-84 Thunderjet, 1952–1957;
KB-29 Superfortress, 1953–1956;
B-57 Canberra, 1956–1957.

B-52 Stratofortress, 1961–1988;
KC-135 Stratotanker, 1961–1988.
KC-97 Stratotanker, 1963–1964;
Minuteman-II (LGM-30F), 1973–1988.

KC-135 Stratotanker, 1989–1991;Minuteman-II (LGM-30F), 1989–1991;
Minuteman-III (LGM-30G), 1989–1991.

ee also

* Second Air Force

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0040ad.asp USAF Historic Research Agency: 40th Air Division]