57th Air Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 57th Air Division


caption= 57th Air Division emblem
dates= 19 October 1940–1 November 1941;
6 July 1942–12 September 1945;
10 April 1951–2 July 1969;
22 January 1975–14 June 1991
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= Air Force
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command_structure= see "Assignments" section below
garrison= see "Stations" section below
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equipment= see "Aerospace vehicles" section below
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battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
see "Lineage and honors" section below
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commander1=
commander1_label= Current commander
commander2=
commander2_label= Current vice-commander
commander3=
commander3_label= Current command chief
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History

Mission

Operations

Established as the 8th Pursuit Wing, it conducted training from 1940 to 1941. As a paper unit, it moved to India and then to Egypt in December 1942, finally gained personnel and aircraft, and became operational in March 1944. Initially, the 57th flew close air support missions against enemy troops and gun emplacements in the vicinity of Anzio, Italy; later, it flew bombing missions against railway marshalling yards at Foligno, Littoria, and Terni, Italy. Between 19 March 1944 and 11 May 1944 the 57th took part in Operation Strangle to destroy Italian marshalling yards, railroad repair facilities and other rail targets such as bridges, tunnels, and viaducts. It continued to fly close air support and interdiction missions in Italy throughout the war, and supported the invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944. Redesignated 57th Air Division in 1951, it assumed a supervisory role of subordinate bombardment units. Its units trained to conduct long range bombardment, air refueling, and strategic reconnaissance operations around the world. Between 1965 and 1969, division units supported Operation Arc Light bombing and Operation Young Tiger air refueling operations in Southeast Asia. In 1980 the 57th reorganized to employ Strategic Air Command conventional strategic forces (bomber, tanker, and reconnaissance) in crisis situations worldwide.

Lineage and honors

Established as 8 Pursuit Wing on 19 October 1940.Activated on 6 November 1940.Inactivated on 1 November 1941.

Redesignated 8 Fighter Wing on 6 July 1942.Activated on 24 July 1942.Redesignated 57 Bombardment Wing on 6 April 1943.Inactivated on 12 September 1945.

Redesignated 57 Air Division on 10 April 1951.Organized on 16 April 1951.Discontinued and inactivated on 16 June 1952.

Activated on 16 June 1952.Inactivated on 2 July 1969.

Activated on 22 January 1975.Inactivated on 14 June 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 European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) theater: Naples-Foggia (Air); Rome-Arno.

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

This unit earned the following organizational expeditionary streamers:

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

none

Awards

Emblem

Per bend azure and gules, a bend argent between in chief a globe of the third lined sable emitting three lightning flashes or and issuing from base a hand holding a torch of the fourth garnished of the fifth flammant of the second and silver. (Approved 7 April 1954).

Assignments

General Headquarters Air Force, 6 November 1940;Southeast Air District (later, Third Air Force), 16 January 1941;Interceptor Command (of Third Air Force), 21 April 1941;
III Interceptor Command, c.1 July 1941–1 November 1941.

IX Fighter Command, 24 July 1942 (attached to III Fighter Command, 26 July 1942–c.28 October 1942);
Ninth Air Force, 22 December 1942 (attached to IX Fighter Command, 22 December 1942–c. 1943);
Twelfth Air Force, c.23 August 1943;
XII Air Support Command, 31 August 1943;
XII Bomber Command, 1 January 1944;Twelfth Air Force, 1 March 1944;Army Air Forces Service Command, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, 15 August 1945–12 September 1945.

Fifteenth Air Force, 16 April 1951–16 June 1952.

Fifteenth Air Force, 16 June 1952;
Eighth Air Force, 4 September 1956–2 July 1969.

Fifteenth Air Force, 22 January 1975–14 June 1991.

Components

Wings:
* 5 Bombardment: 22 January 1975–14 June 1991.
* 17 Bombardment: 1 July 1965–2 July 1968.
* 19 Bombardment: 25 July 1968–2 July 1969.
* 28 Bombardment: 1 May 1982–23 January 1987.
* 44 Strategic Missile: 1 May 1982–23 January 1987.
* 55 Strategic Reconnaissance: 1 April 1980–1 October 1982.
* 68 Bombardment: 1 July 1964–1 July 1965; attached 10 August 1966–1 September 1966, assigned 2 September 1966–2 July 1969.
* 91 Strategic Missile: 22 January 1975–14 June 1991.
* 92 Bombardment: 16 April 1951–16 June 1952; 16 June 1952–4 September 1956 (detached 14 October 1954–12 January 1955 and 26 April 1956–6 July 1956); 23 January 1987–15 June 1988.
* 98 Bombardment: 16 April 1951–16 June 1952 (detached 16 April 1951–16 June 1952); 16 June 1952–25 November 1953 (detached entire period).
* 99 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 99 Bombardment): 1 January 1953–2 July 1969 (detached 29 January 1956–25 April 1956; c.1 October 1967–c.1 April 1968 and c.23 September 1968–c.1 April 1969).
* 111 Bombardment (later, 111 Strategic Reconnaissance): 21 April 1951–1 January 1953.
* 301 Air Refueling: 15 November 1965–2 July 1966.
* 319 Bombardment: 22 January 1975–1 May 1982; 23 January 1987–16 June 1988.
* 321 Strategic: 22 January 1975–1 May 1982; 23 January 1987–16 June 1988.
* 416 Bombardment: 2 July 1966–2 September 1966 (detached 10 August 1966–2 September 1966).
* 465 Bombardment: attached 10 August 1966–1 September 1966, assigned 2 September 1966–25 July 1968.
* 499 Air Refueling: 1 January 1963–25 June 1966.
* 4050 Air Refueling: 4 September 1956–1 January 1963.

Groups:
* 12 Bombardment: 1 November 1943–1 January 1944 (detached 1 November 1943–1 January 1944).
* 47 Bombardment: 6 October 1943–10 December 1943 (detached entire period).
* 49 Pursuit: 24 May 1941–2 October 1941 (detached 6 August 1941–2 October 1941).
* 57 Fighter: 1 November 1943–1 January 1944 (detached entire period).
* 79 Fighter: 1 November 1943–1 January 1944 (detached entire period).
* 310 Bombardment: 15 March 1944–12 September 1945 (detached 20 August 1945–12 September 1945).
* 319 Bombardment: 10 November 1944–10 January 1945.
* 321 Bombardment: 1 November 1943–1 January 1944 (detached 4 November 1943–1 January 1944); 1 March 1944–12 September 1945 (detached 20 August 1945–12 September 1945).
* 340 Bombardment: 1 November 1943–1 January 1944 (detached 1 November 1943–1 January 1944); 1 March 1944–26 July 1945.
* 454 Bombardment: 1 May 1951–16 June 1951.

Squadron:
* 99 Fighter: 1 November 1943–1 January 1944 (detached entire period).

Stations

Maxwell Field, Alabama, 6 November 1940;West Palm Beach Air Base (later, Morrison Field), Florida, 16 May 1941–1 November 1941.

Drew Field, Florida, 24 July 1942–29 October 1942;Bombay, India, 29 November 1942;Declali, India, 3 December 1942;Port Tewfik, Egypt, 22 December 1942;Landing Ground 91 (near Cairo), Egypt, 23 December 1942;El Kabrit, Egypt, 12 February 1943;Deversoir, Egypt, 5 June 1943;Tunis, Tunisia, 28 August 1943;Lentini, Sicily, 4 September 1943;Naples, Italy, 7 October 1943;Foggia, Italy, 29 October 1943;Trocchia, Italy, 4 January 1944;Ghisonaccia, Corsica, 20 April 1944;Migliacharo, Corsica, c.5 October 1944;Fano, Italy, 7 April 1945;Pomigliano Staging Airdrome No. 2, Italy, 23 August 1945–12 September 1945.

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 16 April 1951–16 June 1952.

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 16 June 1952;
Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 4 September 1956–2 July 1969.

Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, 22 January 1975–14 June 1991.

Aerospace vehicles

P-35, 1941;
P-40 Warhawk, 1941.

B-25 Mitchell, 1941–1945;
B-26 Marauder, 1944.

B-26 Invader, 1951;
B-29 Superfortress, 1951–1952;
RB-29 Superfortress, 1951–1952;
B-36 "Peacemaker", 1951–1954, 1954–1956;
RB-36 "Peacemaker", 1952–1956;
GRB-36 "Peacemaker", 1955–1956;
RF-84 Thunderflash, 1955–1956;
B-52 Stratofortress, 1956–1969;
KC-97 Stratotanker, 1956–1965;
KC-135 Stratotanker, 1957–1969;
EC-135 Looking Glass, 1964–1969.

B-52 Stratofortress, 1975–1991;KC-135 Stratotanker, 1975–1991;
Minuteman III, 1975–1991;
C-135 Stratolifter, 1980–1982;
E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post, 1980–1982;EC-135 Looking Glass, 1980–1982;
RC-135 Cobra Ball, 1980–1982;
Minuteman II, 1982–1987.

Commanders

Captain Harold H. Fulk, 6 November 1940–c. 1941.

"Unknown", 24 July 1942–c. March 1943;Colonel Thomas C. Darcy, c. March 1943–unkn;"Unknown", c. June 1943–20 August 1943;Captain John J. Darmody, 21 August 1943;Colonel William S. Gravely, 15 October 1943–1 January 1944;"Unknown" (manned as a paper unit), 2 January 1944;Brigadier General Robert D. Knapp, 1 March 1944;Colonel Anthony G. Hunter, 24 May 1945–c.12 September 1945.

Brigadier General Charles J. Bondley Jr., 16 April 1951–16 June 1952.

Brigadier General Charles J. Bondley Jr., 16 June 1952;Brigadier General David Wade, 1 November 1952;Brigadier General James V. Edmundson, 20 March 1954;Brigadier General Edwin B. Broadhurst, 18 January 1955;Colonel Bryson R. Bailey, 14 May 1956 (acting);Colonel Clarence A. Neely, 8 August 1956;Colonel Selmon D. Wells, 4 September 1956 (temporary);Brigadier General Donald W. Saunders, 24 September 1956;Colonel George W. R. Zethren, 28 June 1958;Brigadier General Perry M. Hoisington II, 1 August 1958;Colonel Olbert F. Lassiter, 3 August 1959 (additional duty);Brigadier General John C. Meyer, 9 September 1959;Colonel Delmore P. Wood, 13 September 1961 (additional duty);Brigadier General Alvan C. Gillem II, 25 September 1961;Brigadier General Howard A. Davis, c.29 July 1963;Brigadier General Edward M. Nichols Jr., 19 February 1964;Colonel Wallace Wall Jr., 1 July 1966;Colonel Warren D. Johnson, by 10 July 1967;Brigadier General Alan C. Edmunds, 22 August 1968–2 July 1969.

Brigadier General George D. Miller, 30 January 1975;Brigadier General James E. Light, by 4 August 1976;Brigadier General Clyde H. Garner, 18 October 1977;Brigadier General James D. Gormley, 8 September 1978;Brigadier General Stanley C. Beck, 12 September 1979;Brigadier General John A. Shaud, 25 August 1980;Brigadier General Samuel H. Swart Jr., c. December 1982;Brigadier General Frederick A. Fiedler, c. January 1986;Brigadier General John L. Borling, 11 June 1987;Brigadier General Raymund E. O'Mara, 8 June 1988;Brigadier General Robert E. Linhard, 20 September 1989;Brigadier General Mark A. Lillard III, 29 January 1991;Colonel David L. Young, 25 May 1991–14 June 1991.

ee also

* Eighth Air Force

References

External links

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil Air Force Historical Research Agency ]