42d Air Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 42d Air Division


caption= 42d Air Division emblem
dates= 8 February 1943–25 October 1945
2 March 1951–8 January 1958
15 July 1959–2 July 1969
1 January 1970–9 July 1991
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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The 42d Air Division is an organization of the United States Air Force. It was established as the 42 Bombardment Wing (Dive) on 8 February, 1943. The wing first saw combat in the September 1943. It was inactivated in 1991.

History

The wing first saw combat in the invasion of Italy, where its units flew close support missions to stop the German counterattack on the beachhead at Salerno during September 1943. As the Allied forces progressed, the 42d took a leading part in interdicting Axis road and rail transport, and later in 1944, in the attacks against the monastery at Cassino. In August 1944, it supported the Allied landings in southern France. As the war drew to a close the 42d attacked German positions along the Siegfried Line and, in support of the Allied forces in their sweep across southern Germany, bombed enemy strong points, and communications and supply facilities. Becoming an Air Division in March 1951, the 42d equipped and trained its assigned units to conduct strategic air warfare using nuclear or conventional weapons anywhere in the world. It also trained and maintained air refueling assets. Tankers from units assigned to the 42d supported the Eielson Tanker Task Force and, over the years, occasionally deployed to Spain for Spanish Area Support. The division conducted numerous staff assistance visits and simulated no notice inspections, and participated in exercises such as Buy None and Global Shield. Aircraft and personnel from units assigned to the division, at various times in the late 1960s and early 1970s, deployed to Southeast Asia and took part in Operation Arc Light and Operation Young Tiger missions. Subordinate units of the 42d deployed aircraft and personnel in support of the war in Southeast Asia.

Background of name

Mission

Operations

Lineage and honors

Established as 42 Bombardment Wing (Dive) on 8 February 1943.Activated on 16 February 1943.Redesignated 42 Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 31 July 1943; 42 Bombardment Wing, Medium on 23 October 1944.Inactivated on 25 October 1945.

Redesignated 42 Air Division on 2 March 1951.Organized on 10 March 1951.Discontinued on 16 June 1952.

Activated on 16 June 1952.Inactivated on 8 January 1958.

Activated on 15 July 1959.Redesignated: 42 Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 June 1962; 42 Air Division on 1 July 1963.Inactivated on 2 July 1969.

Activated on 1 January 1970.Inactivated on 9 July 1991.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

none

Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

* World War II: Rhineland.

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations:

* French Croix de Guerre with Palm, April 1944–June 1944.

Awards

Emblem

Per chevron inverted azure and light blue between in chief a fleur de lis or enarched with four mullets of four points above two of same argent, all between two lightning bolts gules fimbriated of the fourth and in base saltirewise a palm and an olive branch of the last, in fess point a cloud formation of the like and over all in pale a winged mace displayed or, all within a diminished border of the last. (Approved 29 December 1965)

Assignments

Third Air Force, 16 February 1943;
Twelfth Air Force, 31 July 1943;
Northwest African Strategic Air Force, 21 August 1943;
XII Bomber Command, 1 September 1943;
Fifteenth Air Force, 1 November 1943;Twelfth Air Force, 1 January 1944;
XII Tactical Air Command, 27 November 1944;
First Tactical Air Force (Provisional), 6 January 1945;XII Tactical Air Command, 21 May 1945;
United States Air Forces in Europe, 26 July 1945;
Army Service Forces, 13 October 1945–25 October 1945.

Eighth Air Force, 10 March 1951–16 June 1952.

Eighth Air Force, 16 June 1952;
Second Air Force, 1 April 1955;
Ninth Air Force, 1 July 1957;
Eighteenth Air Force, 1 October 1957;Twelfth Air Force, 1 January 1958–8 January 1958.

Second Air Force, 15 July 1959–2 July 1969.

Second Air Force, 1 January 1970;Eighth Air Force, 1 January 1975–9 July 1991.

Components

Wings:
* 2 Bombardment: 1 July 1965–2 July 1969; 1 December 1982–16 June 1988.
* 12 Fighter Escort (later, 12 Strategic Fighter; 12 Fighter Day): 9 April 1951–16 June 1952 (detached 20 July 1951–20 November 1951); 16 June 1952–8 January 1958 (detached 18 May 1953–10 August 1953 and 10 May 1954–7 August 1954).
* 17 Bombardment: 1 July 1973–30 September 1975.
* 19 Bombardment (later, 19 Air Refueling): 30 June 1971–16 June 1988.
* 27 Fighter Escort (later, 27 Strategic Fighter, 27 Fighter Bomber): 6 August 1951–16 June 1952; 16 June 1952–8 January 1958 (detached 6 October 1952–13 February 1953 and 7 May 1955–17 August 1955).
* 43 Bombardment: 1 January 1970–31 January 1970.
* 68 Bombardment: 30 June 1971–30 September 1982.
* 97 Bombardment: 1 July 1963–2 July 1969; 1 January 1970–30 June 1971; 1 July 1973–16 June 1988.
* 131 Fighter Bomber: c.10 March 1951–c.31 July 1951.
* 301 Air Refueling: 31 March 1970–1 July 1973; 1 July 1975–30 September 1979.
* 305 Air Refueling: 1 January 1970–1 July 1973; 1 December 1982–16 July 1988.
* 306 Bombardment: 30 June 1971–1 July 1974.
* 308 Strategic Missile: 1 January 1970–31 March 1970; 1 April 1973–1 December 1982.
* 319 Bombardment: 16 June 1988–9 July 1991.
* 321 Strategic Missile: 16 June 1988–9 July 1991.
* 381 Strategic Missile: 1 March 1962–1 July 1963.
* 454 Bombardment: 1 July 1963–2 July 1969.
* 4347 Combat Crew Training: 15 July 1959–15 June 1963.
* 4397 Air Refueling: 15 July 1959–15 June 1962.

Groups:
* 1 Fighter: 24 August 1953–15 December 1953.
* 17 Bombardment: 24 August 1943–29 May 1945.
* 31 Bombardment (French Air Force): attached 6 January 1945–c.1 May 1945.
* 34 Bombardment (French Air Force): attached 6 January 1945–c.1 May 1945.
* 68 Air Refueling: 30 September 1982–16 June 1988.
* 319 Bombardment: 24 August 1943–10 November 1944.
* 320 Bombardment: 24 August 1943–29 May 1945.
* 325 Fighter: 24 August 1943–22 October 1943.

Squadrons:
* 307 Air Refueling: attached 2 February 1953–30 June 1953, assigned 1 July 1953–8 November 1953.
* 506 Air Refueling: 15 August 1955–1 July 1957.

Stations

Birmingham Army Air Base, Alabama, 22 February 1943–31 July 1943 (deployed at Anniston Army Air Field, Alabama, 16 June 1943–30 June 1943);Ariana, Tunisia, 21 August 1943;Elmas Field, Sardinia, 15 November 1943;Borgo, Corsica, 21 September 1944;Dijon, France, 24 November 1944;
Camp Shanks, New York, 24 October 1945–25 October 1945.

Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, 10 March 1951–16 June 1952.

Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, 16 June 1952–8 January 1958.

McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, 15 July 1959;
Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas, 1 July 1963–2 July 1969.

Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas, 1 January 1970;
McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, 30 June 1971;Blytheville Air Force Base (later, Eaker Air Force Base), Arkansas, 1 September 1973;
Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, 16 June 1988–9 July 1991.

Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

P-40 Warhawk, 1940;
B-26 Marauder, 1943–1945;
P-38 Lightning, 1943.

B-36 Peacemaker, 1951–1952;
F-84 Thunderjet, 1951–1952.

B-36 Peacemaker, 1952–1957;F-84 Thunderjet, 1952–1958;
KB-29 Superfortress, 1953–1957;
F-101 Voodoo, 1957–1958;
KC-97 Stratotanker, 1957–1958.

B-52 Stratofortress, 1963–1969;
KC-135 Stratotanker, 1963–1969;
Titan II (LGM-25C), 1963–1969;
EC-135, 1966–1969.

B-52 Stratofortress, 1970, 1973–1988;KC-135 Stratotanker, 1972–1988;Titan II (LGM-25C), 1970, 1973–1982;EC-135, 1970–1973, 1982–1988;
KC-10 Extender, 1982–1988;
B-1 Lancer, 1988–1991;
Minuteman-III (LGM-30G), 1988–1991.

Commanders

Unknown, 16 February 1943–23 August 1943;Brigadier General Robert M. Webster, 24 August 1943;Brigadier General John P. Doyle, 1 September 1944–c.31 October 1945.

Brigadier General Clarence T. Edwinson, c.15 March 1951–c.16 June 1952.

Brigadier General Clarence T. Edwinson, c.16 June 1952;Colonel Ivan W. McElroy, 4 July 1957–8 January 1958.

Major General Kenneth O. Sanborn, 15 July 1959;Colonel Norton H. Van Sicklen, 2 July 1960;Brigadier General Murray A. Bywater, 1 July 1962;Brigadier General William B. Martensen, c.1 July 1963;Colonel Sherman F. Martin, 1 July 1964;Colonel John W. Livingston, 14 July 1965;Brigadier General Harold W. Ohlke, 18 July 1965;Brigadier General Roger L. Hicks Jr., 18 August 1966;Colonel Ralph T. Holland, c.1 July 1967;Colonel William H. Cooper, 18 August 1968–2 July 1969.

Brigadier General James E. Hill, 1 January 1970;Brigadier General Woodrow A. Abbott, 30 June 1971;Brigadier General Edward O. Martin, 16 August 1971;Brigadier General John J. Murphy, 29 June 1973;Brigadier General James R. McCarthy, 9 May 1975;Brigadier General Louis C. Buckman, 19 July 1978;Brigadier General Rudolph F. Wacker, 15 August 1979;Brigadier General Donald L. Marks, 19 August 1982;Brigadier General Larry D. Fortner, 23 May 1984;Brigadier General David J. Pederson, 1 February 1987;Brigadier General Patrick P. Caruana, 14 September 1989;Colonel Harvard L. Lomax (additional duty), 7 August 1990;Colonel James H. Reid (additional duty), 19 November 1990;Brigadier General Patrick P. Caruana, 18 March 1991–9 July 1991.

ee also

* Second Air Force
* Eighth Air Force
* Ninth Air Force

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0042ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 42d Air Division]