85th Air Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 85th Air Division


caption= 85th Air Division (Defense) emblem
dates= 10 November 1943–30 June 1948;
8 September 1955–1 September 1958.
country= United States
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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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decorations=
see "Lineage and honors" section below
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commander1_label= Current commander
commander2=
commander2_label= Current vice-commander
commander3=
commander3_label= Current command chief
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History

Mission

Operations

During World War II, the 85th participated in aerial combat in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands from February 1944 through August 1945. Subordinate units flew cover missions for convoys, patrols, escorted bombers, attacked enemy airfields, and supported ground forces. After the war's end, the organization provided fighter protection for the Philippine Islands and conducted an intensive training program in aerial combat, gunnery, and instrument flying, until June 1948. It was assigned to the Eastern Air Defense Force in September 1955. Until its deactivation in September 1958, the division intercepted unidentified aircraft and participated in numerous training exercises. It also took part in gunnery and air launched training and readiness tests.

Lineage and honors

Established as 85 Fighter Wing on 4 November 1943.Activated on 10 November 1943.Inactivated on 30 June 1948.

Redesignated 85 Air Division (Defense) on 3 May 1955.Activated on 8 September 1955.Inactivated on 1 September 1958.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

none

Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

* World War II Asiatic-Pacific Theater: Leyte; Luzon; New Guinea.

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

This unit earned the following organizational expeditionary streamers:

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

* Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Awards

Emblem

A shield, per bend azure and of the sky proper, a sinister quarter pointed or; overall in chief, a silhouetted futuramic jet aircraft bendwise, volant, sable, with speed lines gules; in base a lightning bolt, bendwise of the third, over a checky grid throughout proper (red). (Approved 26 December 1956).

Assignments

Fourth Air Force, 10 November 1943;
IV Fighter Command, 28 November 1943–10 January 1944;
Army Service Forces, 10 January 1944–17 February 1944;
Fifth Air Force, 18 February 1944;
Far East Air Forces, 11 May 1945;
Thirteenth Air Force, 1 September 1945;Fifth Air Force, 1 June 1947–30 June 1948.

Eastern Air Defense Force, 8 September 1955–1 September 1958.

Components

Wings:
* 4625 Air Defense (SAGE) (later, Washington Air Defense Sector): 1 December 1956–1 September 1958.

Groups:
* 18 Fighter: 15 March 1946–1 May 1947.
* 49 Fighter: 19 April 1944–c.22 June 1944.
* 348 Fighter: c.15 June 1944–c.25 July 1945.
* 414 Fighter: c.15 December 1945–c.30 September 1946.
* 475 Fighter: 16 June 1944–18 May 1945.

Squadrons:
* 17 Photographic Reconnaissance: 1 February 1946–22 March 1946.
* 48 Fighter-Interceptor: 1 March 1956–1 September 1958.
* 95 Fighter-Interceptor: 1 March 1956–1 September 1958.
* 419 Night Fighter: 10 January 1946–20 February 1947.
* 482 Fighter-Interceptor: 8 April 1956–1 September 1958.
* 550 Night Fighter: 7 April 1945–c.30 June 1945.

Stations

Hamilton Field, California, 10 November 1943;
San Francisco Municipal Airport, California, 10 November 1943–10 January 1944;Gusap, New Guinea, 25 February 1944;Hollandia, New Guinea, 24 July 1944;
Leyte, Philippine Islands, 24 October 1944;
Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippine Islands, c.15 June 1945;Floridablanca, Luzon, Philippine Islands, c.15 July 1946;Nagoya, Japan, 1 June 1947–30 June 1948.

Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 8 September 1955–1 September 1958.

Aerospace vehicles

P-38 Lightning, 1944–1946;
P-40 Warhawk, 1944;
P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944–1945, 1947;
P (later, F)-51, 1945–1947;
B-25 Mitchell, 1946;
F-5 Lightning, 1946;
F-6 Mustang, 1946;
P-61 Black Widow, 1946;
P (later, F)-80, 1946–1947.

F-86 Sabre, 1956–1958;
F-94 Starfire, 1956–1957;
F-102 Delta Dagger, 1957–1958.

Commanders

Colonel John M. Bartella, 10 November 1943;Colonel Harlan T. McCormick, 6 December 1943;Colonel Philip H. Greasley, 11 November 1944;Colonel George A. Walker, 23 April 1945;Brigadier General George P. Tourtellot, 20 May 1945;Lieutenant Colonel Vernon L. Head, 2 October 1945;Colonel Raymond J. Reeves, 1 February 1946;Brigadier General William M. Morgan, 26 February 1946;"Unknown", 2 May 1947–30 June 1948.

Brigadier General Emmett F. Yost, 8 September 1955;Brigadier General Ernest H. Beverly, 1 August 1958–1 September 1958.

See also

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0085ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 85th Air Division (Defense)]