26th Air Division explained

Unit Name:26th Air Division
Dates:1948–1952; 1952–1969; 1969–1990
Country: United States
Role:Command of air defense forces
Command Structure:Tactical Air Command
Decorations:Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Identification Symbol Label:26th Air Division emblem (Approved 17 November 1960)[1]

The 26th Air Division (26th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Tactical Air Command, assigned to First Air Force, being stationed at March Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 30 September 1990.

History

Was established in October 1948 by Air Defense Command (ADC) as intermediate level of command.[1] Initially responsible for atmospheric air defense of middle Atlantic region from North Carolina to greater New York City area east of the Appalachian mountains. Commanded Manual Direction Center (MDC) at Roslyn Air Force Station, New York (P-3) 1948–1958 directing interceptor units to aircraft identified by Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons at radar stations in AOR. It employed off shore naval picket ships, fixed "Texas Tower" radar sites, airborne early warning units, and a civilian Ground Observer Corps program. The latter phased down when the SAGE program was implemented.

Improved radar and communications equipment and fighter interceptors, and better techniques and methods, eventually led to the 26th Air Division becoming the first operational Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE Direction Center (DC-1) within Air Defense Command[1] at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.[2] Moved to Syracuse Air Force Station New York[1] and commanded SAGE DC-3 Direction Center and first SAGE Command Center (CC-01) beginning in 1958 and assumed operational control of the MDC at Topsham Air Force Station, Maine in August 1958 and the SAGE DC-4 at Fort Lee Air Force Station, Virginia in September 1958.

In 1961 the division assumed air defense training responsibility for Air National Guard (ANG) units within the area. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the division deployed fighter aircraft and part of its airborne early warning and control force to Florida.[1]

The 26th's area of control expanded until by 1963 its boundaries extended from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico and well toward the center of the United States. Expanded responsibilities in 1963 assuming command of SAGE DC-9 at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama in July and DC-6 at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan in September and GCI stations in Newfoundland and Labrador formerly under the 64th Air Division.

In April 1966, the division was replaced by the First Air Force, and moved without personnel or equipment to Adair Air Force Station, Oregon, where it assumed responsibility for the defense of Oregon, part of California and Nevada[1] by the inactivation of the Portland and Reno Air Defense Sectors. Assumed additional designation of 26th NORAD Region and 26th CONAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado and reporting was transferred to NORAD from ADC at Ent Air Force Base in April 1966.

The division was gradually phasing down until it replaced the 27th Air Division at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in November 1969,[1] when in an ADCOM reorganization of atmospheric defense forces, the command became responsible for the air defense of a large area of the southwest. In October 1979, it transferred to Tactical Air Command (ADTAC) and continued to supervise atmospheric defense forces of its assigned AOR. Assumed additional designation 26th ADCOM Region on 8 December 1978.

Began phase-down of operations with activation of new Southwest Air Defense Sector (SWADS) in July 1987. Engaged chiefly in transfer of mission to SWADS 1987–1990. Inactivated on 1 October 1990.[1]

Lineage

Activated on 16 November 1948

Re-designated: 26th Air Division (Defense) on 20 June 1949

Inactivated on 1 February 1952

Redesignated 26th Air Division (SAGE) on 8 August 1958

Redesignated 26th Air Division on 1 April 1966

Inactivated on 30 September 1969

Organized on 19 November 1969

Inactivated on 30 September 1990[1]

Assignments

Stations

Components

Air Force

Keflavik Airport, Iceland, 1 July – 4 September 1963[1]

Sectors

Topsham Air Force Base, Maine, 15 August 1958 – 1 April 1966

Hancock Field, New York, 1 April 1966

Custer Air Force Station, Michigan, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966

Goose AB, Labrador, 1 July 1963 – 1 April 1966

Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama, 1 July 1963 – 1 April 1966

McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 8 January 1957 – 1 April 1966

Syracuse Air Force Station, New York, 15 August 1958 – 4 September 1963

Fort Lee Air Force Station, Virginia, 1 September 1958 – 1 April 1966[1]

Wings

Hamilton Air Force Base, California, 31 December 1969 – 10 October 1970

Hamilton Air Force Base, California, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969; 19 November – 31 December 1969

Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 1 July 1959 – 1 April 1966

Paramus, New Jersey, 1 July – 1 October 1963

McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 18 October 1956 – 8 January 1957

Stewart Air Force Base, New York, 18 October 1956 – 8 January 1957

Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 1 March – 18 October 1956

McGuire Air Force Base, New York, 16 February 1953 – 1 September 1954

New Castle Air Force Base, Delaware, 16 February 1953 – 1 September 1954[1]

Groups

Kingsley Field, Oregon, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969

Oxnard Air Force Base, California, 19 November – 31 December 1969

Roslyn Air Force Base, New York, 1 January 1951 – 6 February 1952

Mount Laguna Air Force Station, California, 1 March 1970 – 1 January 1974

Fallon Air Force Station, Nevada, 1 March 1970 – 1 January 1974[1]

Interceptor squadrons

Travis Air Force Base, California, 1 April – 25 June 1966

Hamilton Air Force Base, California, 1 October 1970 – 1 September 1973

Castle Air Force Base, California, 1 September 1973 – 1 July 1987

Castle Air Force Base, California, 1 April 1966 – 18 July 1968[1]

Radar squadrons

Burns Air Force Station, Oregon, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969

Condon Air Force Station, Oregon, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969

Highlands Air Force Station, New Jersey, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953

Quantico Air Force Station, Virginia, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953

Benton Air Force Station, Pennsylvania, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953

Bedford Air Force Station, Virginia, 26 May 1953 – 1 May 1954

Winnemucca Air Force Station, Nevada, 1 April 1966 – 18 June 1968

Mill Valley Air Force Station, California, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969; 19 November 1969 – 30 September 1980

San Pedro Hill Air Force Station, California, 19 November 1969 – 1 April 1976

Almaden Air Force Station, California, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969; 19 November 1969 – 1 April 1980

Boron Air Force Station, California, 19 November 1969 – 30 June 1975

Mount Laguna Air Force Station, California, 19 November 1969 – 30 November 1981

North Bend Air Force Station, Oregon, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969

Palermo Air Force Station, New Jersey, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953

Cape Charles Air Force Station, Virginia, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953

Claysburg Air Force Station, Pennsylvania, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953

Montauk Air Force Station, New York, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953

Madera Air Force Station, California, 1 April – 25 June 1966

Cambria Air Force Station, California, 19 November 1969 – 30 September 1980

Point Arena Air Force Station, California, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969; 19 November 1969 – 30 September 1980

Klamath Air Force Station, California, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969

Baker Air Force Station, Oregon, 1 April 1966 – 18 June 1968

Kingsley Field, Oregon, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969

Fallon Air Force Station, Nevada, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969; 19 November 1969 – 1 March 1970

Red Bluff Air Force Station, California, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969; 19 November 1969 – 30 September 1970

Tonopah Air Force Station, Nevada, 1 April 1966 – 15 September 1969; 19 November 1969 – 1 July 1970

Radar evaluation squadron

Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, 1 July – 20 October 1959[1]

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Factsheet 26 Air Division . 5 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110103517/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10079 . 10 November 2012 . 9 April 2014.
  2. 1958b . 30 April 2013. "USAF also set down a new schedule (see table preceding). This schedule was to be included in an entirely new SAGE schedule (Schedule A) to be prepared by the SAGE Project Office. The phasing was to be as follows. The last combat center, AN/FSQ-8, to be installed under SAGE Schedule 7 (Improved), was to be at McChord AFB (25th Air Division). Subsequent combat facilities and equipment were to be cancelled with the exception of (1) one AN/FSQ-8 that was to be converted to an AN/FSQ-7, using FY 1959 funds, to be installed at the Sioux City DC, and (2) the combat center building at Minot." (improved) On 1 April 1966, Combat Center CC-03 at McChord AFB, WA was inactivated in conjunction with the activation of Combat Center CC-05 at Hamilton AFB, CA, and the combining of 25th, 26th and 27th NORAD divisions into the new Headquarters Western NORAD Region at HAFB. CC-05 utilized a 3-String AN/GSA-51 computer system. CC-05 and Headquarters Western NORAD Region were inactivated at Hamilton AFB on 31 December 1969.
  3. The simultaneous activation and reactivation on 1 February 1952 reflects a change from a Table of Organization unit to a Table of Distribut8on unit.

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