85th Air Division explained
The 85th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Eastern Air Defense Force of Air Defense Command at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It was inactivated on 1 September 1958.
History
During World War II, the 85th Fighter Wing was a command and control organization of Fifth Air Force, operating primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater. It had no units assigned before departing overseas from California. In the Southwest Pacific Area its units fought in "New Guinea and the Philippine Islands (February 1944 – August 1945) [flying] cover missions for convoys, patrols, escorted bombers, attacked enemy airfields, and support[ing] ground forces."[2]
"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 [the units inactivation in] June 1948."[2]
During the Cold War the unit was reactivated as an Air Division by Air Defense Command. "It was assigned to the Eastern Air Defense Force in September 1955 with a mission to intercept unidentified aircraft over the Washington, D.C. area. It participated in numerous training exercises. It also took part in gunnery and air-launched training and readiness tests."[2] Inactivated in September 1958.
Lineage
- Established as the 85th 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[2]
Assignments
Stations
- Hamilton Field, California, 10 November 1943
- San Francisco Airport, California, 10 November 1943 – 10 January 1944
- Gusap Airfield, New Guinea, 25 February 1944
- Hollandia Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 24 July 1944
- Bayug Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, 24 October 1944
- Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippines, c. 15 June 1945
- Basa Air Base, Luzon, Philippines, c. 15 July 1946
- Nagoya Airfield, Japan, 1 June 1947 – 30 June 1948
- Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 8 September 1955 – 1 September 1958[2]
Components
Wing
- 4625th Air Defense Wing (later Washington Air Defense Sector): 1 December 1956 – 1 September 1958[2]
Groups
Squadrons
See also
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
Bibliography
- Book: Cornett, Lloyd H. Johnson, Mildred W. A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980. 1980. Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Peterson AFB, CO. 30 June 2012. 23 November 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061123115752/http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf. dead.
- Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. reprint. 1983. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-02-1. 61060979.
- Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.
- Book: Winkler, David F.. Searching the skies: The legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191330/http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a331231.pdf . live . 29 October 2013 . US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. 1997. Champaign, IL. 97020912. Webster, Julie L.
Notes and References
- Approved 26 December 1956.
- Web site: Factsheet 85 Air Division (Defense) . 5 October 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency . https://web.archive.org/web/20121030120148/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10118 . 30 October 2012 . 1 April 2014.
