1st Strategic Aerospace Division
Encyclopedia
The 1st Strategic Aerospace Division (1st SAD) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command
, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force
, being stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base
, California. It was inactivated on 1 September 1991.
The division directed and supervised heavy bombardment (1943–1945) and fighter (1944–1945) operations during World War II
in the European Theater.
Replacing the Eighth Air Force
in Okinawa in June 1946, the division directed fighter reconnaissance and bomber organizations, and provided air defense for the Ryukyu Islands
, Japan until December 1948.
From 1954 to 1955, the division served as a holding unit at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts
, for personnel of Eighth Air Force, who moved to the base as part of a transfer of Eighth's headquarters from Carswell Air Force Base
, Texas.
Activated again under the Air Research and Development Command
in April 1957, it was the first division level organization controlling intermediate range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. It became an operational component of Strategic Air Command
(SAC) in January 1958 and began operational testing of missile systems, supporting missile launchings by SAC and other agencies, and training SAC missilemen. These missions continued until the final disbandment on 1 September 1991.
Wings
Groups
Squadrons
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, being stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
, California. It was inactivated on 1 September 1991.
The division directed and supervised heavy bombardment (1943–1945) and fighter (1944–1945) operations during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the European Theater.
Replacing the Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in Okinawa in June 1946, the division directed fighter reconnaissance and bomber organizations, and provided air defense for the Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
, Japan until December 1948.
From 1954 to 1955, the division served as a holding unit at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, for personnel of Eighth Air Force, who moved to the base as part of a transfer of Eighth's headquarters from Carswell Air Force Base
Carswell Air Force Base
Carswell Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located about northwest central of Fort Worth, Texas, United States; the air force base is mostly within the Fort Worth city limits and has portions within Westworth and White Settlement...
, Texas.
Activated again under the Air Research and Development Command
Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
in April 1957, it was the first division level organization controlling intermediate range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. It became an operational component of Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC) in January 1958 and began operational testing of missile systems, supporting missile launchings by SAC and other agencies, and training SAC missilemen. These missions continued until the final disbandment on 1 September 1991.
Lineage
- Established as 1st Bombardment Division on 30 August 1943
- Activated on 13 September 1943
- Redesignated 1st Air Division on 19 December 1944
- Inactivated on 31 October 1945
- Activated on 7 June 1946
- Inactivated on 1 December 1948
- Activated on 1 July 1954
- Inactivated on 1 April 1955
- Redesignated 1st Air Division (Meteorological Survey) on 12 April 1955
- Activated on 15 April 1955
- Inactivated on 20 May 1956
- Redesignated 1st Missile Division on 18 March 1957
- Activated on 15 April 1957
- Redesignated 1st Strategic Aerospace Division on 21 July 1961
- Redesignated 1st Strategic Missile Center on 31 July 1990
- Inactivated on 1 September 1991.
Assignments
- VIII Bomber Command (later, Eighth Air Force)Eighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 13 September 1943 - VIII Fighter CommandVIII Fighter CommandThe VIII Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, being stationed at RAF Honington, England. It was inactivated on 20 March 1946....
, 16 July – 31 October 1945 - Pacific Air Command, U.S. Army (later, Far East Air Forces), 7 June 1946 – 1 December 1948
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 1 July 1954 – 1 April 1955 - Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 15 April 1955 – 20 May 1956 - Air Research and Development Command, 15 April 1957
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 1 January 1958 - Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, 1 September 1988 – 1 September 1991.
Stations
- Brampton GrangeBrampton, CambridgeshireBrampton – in Huntingdonshire , England – is a village near Godmanchester south west of Huntingdon. It has a population over 5000...
, England, 13 September 1943 - RAF AlconburyRAF AlconburyRAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station in Cambridgeshire, England. The airfield is adjacent to the Stukeleys [Great and Little] and located about northwest of Huntingdon; about north of London....
, England, 16 September – 31 October 1945 - Kadena (later, Kadena Army Air Base; Kadena Air Force Base)Kadena Air Base, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
, Okinawa, 7 June 1946 – 1 December 1948 - Westover AFB, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, 1 July 1954 – 1 April 1955 - Offutt AFB, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 15 April 1955 – 20 May 1956 - Inglewood, CA, 15 April 1957
- Cooke (later, Vandenberg) AFB, California, 16 July 1957 – 1 September 1991.
Components
Divisions- 301st Fighter (Provisional)301st Fighter WingThe 301st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve fighter wing, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Carswell Field, Texas. It is equipped with the F-16C+ Fighting Falcon...
: 18 August – 16 September 1948 (not operational entire period)
Wings
- (World War II)
- l Combat Bombardment (later, l Bombardment): 13 September 1943 – 12 August 1945
- 2d Bombardment: 31 July – 12 August 1945
- 40th Combat Bombardment (later, 40th Bombardment): 13 September 1943 – 26 September 1945
- 41st Combat Bombardment (later, 41st Bombardment)41st Air Division (United States)The 41th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force, stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 15 January 1968.-History:...
: 13 September 1943 – 1 June 1945 - 67th Fighter67th Fighter Wing (World War II)The 67th Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the VIII Fighter Command, being stationed at RAF Troston, England...
: attached 6 October – 31 December 1944, assigned 1 January – 12 August 1945 - 92d Combat Bombardment: 1 December – c. 11 December 1943
- 94th Combat Bombardment (later, 94 Bombardment)94th Bombardment Wing (World War II)The 94th Bombardment Wingis an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Eighth Air Force, 1st Air Division, based at RAF Alconbury, England...
: 12 December 1943 – 18 June 1945 - 101st Provisional Heavy Bombardment Combat: attached 13–16 September 1943
- 102d Provisional Heavy Bombardment Combat: attached 13–16 September 1943
- 103d Provisional Heavy Bombardment Combat: attached 13–16 September 1943
- (United States Air Force)
- 32d Composite32d Tactical Fighter WingThe 32d Air Operations Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. It was last assigned to the USAFE Theater Air and Space-operations Center, Kapaun Air Station, Germany...
: 24 August – 1 December 1948 - 51st Fighter51st Fighter WingThe 51st Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Osan Air Base, South Korea.The 51st Fighter Wing is under Pacific Air Forces' Seventh Air Force...
: 18 August – 1 December 1948. - 71st Tactical Reconnaissance71st Flying Training WingThe 71st Flying Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma where it also is the host unit....
: 18 August – 25 October 1948 (not operational, and detached, 24 August – 25 October 1948) - 301st Fighter301st Fighter WingThe 301st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve fighter wing, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Carswell Field, Texas. It is equipped with the F-16C+ Fighting Falcon...
: 7 June 1946 – 1 December 1948 (not operational, 18 August – 1 December 1948) - 316th Bombardment316th WingThe 316th Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was the host wing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland...
: 7 June 1946 – 21 June 1948 - 392d Strategic Missile: 18 October – 20 December 1961
- 456th Troop Carrier: attached c. 15 April 1955 – 26 March 1956
- 703d Strategic Missile703d Strategic Missile WingThe 703d Strategic Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 13th Air Division, being stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. It was inactivated on 1 July 1961....
: 25 September 1958 – 15 January 1959 - 704th Strategic Missile704th Strategic Missile WingThe 404th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. It is attached to Seventeenth Air Force [Air Forces Africa], stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
: 1 August 1957 – 1 July 1959 (not operational 6 April – 1 July 1959) - 706th Strategic Missile: 23 February 1958 – 16 January 1959
- 4320th Strategic (Missile): 1–23 February 1958
- 4392nd Aerospace Support Wing: 21 July – 20 December 1961, 1 July 1987 – 15 January 1991
- Strategic Missile, Provisional: attached 1 January – 1 February 1958.
- 32d Composite
Groups
- 6th Bombardment6th Air Mobility WingThe United States Air Force's 6th Air Mobility Wing is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force....
: 1 June 1947 – 18 October 1948 (not operational) - 71st Tactical Reconnaissance71st Flying Training WingThe 71st Flying Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma where it also is the host unit....
: attached 18 August – 1 November 1948 - 93d Bombardment: attached 24 May – 25 August 1948
- 94th Bombardment94th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 94th Airlift Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command Twenty-Second Air Force organization stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia....
: 12 August – 26 September 1945 - 96th Bombardment96th Air Base WingThe 96th Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Air Armament Center. It is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida...
: 12 August – 26 September 1945 - 98th Bombardment98th Range WingThe 98th Range Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Air Warfare Center. The unit is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada as a tenant unit....
: attached 25 August – 1 December 1948 - 100th Bombardment100th Air Refueling WingThe 100th Air Refueling Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Third Air Force. It is stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England. It is also the host wing at RAF Mildenhall....
: 12 August – 26 September 1945.
Squadrons