20th Air Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 20th Air Division


caption= Emblem of the 20th Air Division
dates= 1955-1983
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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role= Command and Control
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command_structure= Tactical Air Command (ADTAC)
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battle_honours=The 20th Air Division (20th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, being stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 Mar 1983.

History

Lineage

* Established as 20 Air Division (Defense) on 8 Jun 1955: Activated on 8 Oct 1955: Inactivated on 1 Jan 1960
* Redesignated 20 Air Division, and activated, on 20 Jan 1966: Organized on 1 Apr 1966: Discontinued, and inactivated, on 31 Dec 1967
* Activated on 19 Nov 1969: Inactivated on 1 Mar 1983.

Assignments

* Air Defense Command: Central Air Defense Force, 8 Oct 1955-1 Jan 1960
* Air Defense Command, 20 Jan 1966: Tenth Air Force, 1 Apr 1966-31 Dec 1967
* Aerospace Defense Command, 19 Nov 1969
* Tactical Air Command, 1 Oct 1979-1 Mar 1983.

Stations

* Grandview (later, Richards Gebaur) AFB, Missouri, 8 Oct 1955-1 Jan 1960.
* Truax Field, Wisconsin, 1 Apr 1966-31 Dec 1967
* Fort Lee AFS, Virginia, 19 Nov 1969
* Tyndall AFB, Florida, 1 Mar 1983-1 Mar 1983.

Components

Sector
* Sioux City Air Defense: 1 Oct 1959-1 Jan 1960.

Groups
* 53 Fighter: 1 Mar 1956-1 Jan 1960: Sioux Gateway Airport, Iowa
* 327 Fighter: 1 Apr-25 Jun 1966: Truax Field, Wisconsin
* 328 Fighter: 1 Mar 1956-1 Jan 1960: Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri
* 678 Air Defense: 1 Mar 1970-1 Mar 1983: Tyndall AFB, Florida
* 701 Air Defense: 1 Mar 1970-17 Jan 1974: Fort Lee AFS, VirginiaSquadrons
* 22 Air Defense Missile (BOMARC): 19 Nov 1969-31 Oct 1972: Langley AFB, Virginia
* 48 Fighter Interceptor: 19 Nov 1969-1 Mar 1983: Langley AFB, Virginia
* 85 Fighter Interceptor: 1 Mar 1956-1 Jul 1959: Scott AFB, Illinois
* 95 Fighter Interceptor: 19 Nov 1969-31 Jan 1973: Dover AFS, Delaware

Operational History

On 8 June 1955, the 20th Air Division (Defense) assumed responsibility for the air defense of an area that covered parts of Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and virtually all of Kansas and Missouri. In 1966, it provided air defense for parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and all of Illinois. It supervised Air National Guard units that flew interception sorties using, among others, F-101 and F-106 aircraft, while at the same time controlling numerous radar squadrons. Beginning in November 1969, the 20th provided air defense for virtually all of the southeastern United States, except for most of Louisiana. After 1981, it controlled units equipped with F-15 aircraft, while its subordinate units continued to participate in intensive academic training, numerous multi-region simulated (non-flying) exercises, and flying exercises.

References

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

External links

* [http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0020ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 20th Air Division]