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23rd Air Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 23rd Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force
intermediate echelon command and control organization. It was last assigned to First Air Force
, Tactical Air Command
(ADTAC). It was inactivated on 1 July 1987 at Tyndall AFB, Florida.
in November 1969, replacing the 29th Air Division in an Aerospace Defense Command
(ADCOM) realignment and re-organization of assets. Assigned additional designation of 23rd NORAD Region upon activation with reporting to the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain
, Colorado.
The 23rd AD was responsible for the air defense of a large area of the upper Midwest south of the 97th meridian west
, bordered by the southern boundary of the Canada – United States border to the Ohio
/Pennsylvania
border; south and west along the western ridge of the Appalachian Mountains
to the 38th parallel north
. This encompassed most of Minnesota, Iowa, Northern Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and all of Michigan. It was also the command organization for the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Data Center (DC-10) at Duluth AFS.
The division and its subordinate interceptor, missile and radar units participated in numerous exercises such as Amalgam Fairplay, Feathered Indian, and Feathered Brave. In addition, its subordinate units exercised with surface to air missiles. The scope of responsibility for the 23rd AD was expanded in 1973 with further ADCOM unit inactivations and consolidations to include the area south along the 88th meridian west
to the 33rd parallel north
, west to the 97th meridian west
. This added all of Missouri and Arkansas, as well as western Tennessee and northern Mississippi to the Division's Area of Responsibly.
In 1979 it was incorporated into Tactical Air Command
with the inactivation of ADCOM as a major command. Under Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC) it continued its mission until 15 April 1982 when it was reassigned to Tyndall AFB, Florida and assumed responsibility for most of the region previously commanded by the inactivated 20th Air Division.
In 1985 most active-duty units were inactivated or reassigned to other missions, and the air defense mission came under Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
units under First Air Force
. The Division stood down on 1 July 1987, its command, mission, components, and assets were transferred to the ADTAC Southeast Air Defense Sector
.
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...
intermediate echelon command and control organization. It was last assigned to First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(ADTAC). It was inactivated on 1 July 1987 at Tyndall AFB, Florida.
History
The Division was activated at Duluth AirportDuluth Air National Guard Base
Duluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
in November 1969, replacing the 29th Air Division in an Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
(ADCOM) realignment and re-organization of assets. Assigned additional designation of 23rd NORAD Region upon activation with reporting to the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain is a mountain located just outside the southwest side of Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S., and is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and its Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, formerly known as the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center .Throughout the Cold War and...
, Colorado.
The 23rd AD was responsible for the air defense of a large area of the upper Midwest south of the 97th meridian west
97th meridian west
The 97th meridian west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
, bordered by the southern boundary of the Canada – United States border to the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
/Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
border; south and west along the western ridge of the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
to the 38th parallel north
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
. This encompassed most of Minnesota, Iowa, Northern Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and all of Michigan. It was also the command organization for the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
(SAGE) Data Center (DC-10) at Duluth AFS.
The division and its subordinate interceptor, missile and radar units participated in numerous exercises such as Amalgam Fairplay, Feathered Indian, and Feathered Brave. In addition, its subordinate units exercised with surface to air missiles. The scope of responsibility for the 23rd AD was expanded in 1973 with further ADCOM unit inactivations and consolidations to include the area south along the 88th meridian west
88th meridian west
The meridian 88° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, Central America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
to the 33rd parallel north
33rd parallel north
The 33rd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 33 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean....
, west to the 97th meridian west
97th meridian west
The 97th meridian west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
. This added all of Missouri and Arkansas, as well as western Tennessee and northern Mississippi to the Division's Area of Responsibly.
In 1979 it was incorporated into Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
with the inactivation of ADCOM as a major command. Under Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC) it continued its mission until 15 April 1982 when it was reassigned to Tyndall AFB, Florida and assumed responsibility for most of the region previously commanded by the inactivated 20th Air Division.
In 1985 most active-duty units were inactivated or reassigned to other missions, and the air defense mission came under Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
units under First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
. The Division stood down on 1 July 1987, its command, mission, components, and assets were transferred to the ADTAC Southeast Air Defense Sector
Southeast Air Defense Sector
The Southeast Air Defense Sector , was a unit of the US Air Force located at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida. It provided air defense and surveillance of the southeastern region of the US...
.
Lineage
- Established as 23rd Air Division on 18 November 1969
- Activated on 19 November 1969
- Assumed additional designations 23rd NORAD/CONRAD Region, 1 April 1966
- Assumed additional designation 23rd ADCOM Region, 8 December 1978
- Inactivated on 1 July 1987, assets transferred to Southeast Air Defense SectorSoutheast Air Defense SectorThe Southeast Air Defense Sector , was a unit of the US Air Force located at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida. It provided air defense and surveillance of the southeastern region of the US...
Assignments
- Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
, 19 November 1969 - Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, 1 October 1979 - First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 6 December 1985-1 July 1987
Interceptor units
- 1st Fighter Wing1st Fighter WingThe 1st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Ninth Air Force. It is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va...
(Air Defense)
- Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1–31 December 1969
- 343rd Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Duluth AirportDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, Minnesota, 19 November 1969-28 August 1970
- 2nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, 1 July 1971-31 March 1973
- 94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, 1 December 1969-1 July 1971
- 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Langley AFB, Virginia, 1 March 1983-1 July 1987
- 62nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 19 November 1969-30 April 1971
- 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 28 August 1970-1 August 1981
Missile units
- 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)
- Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 19 November 1969-31 July 1972
- 74th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)
- Duluth AFS, Minnesota, 19 November 1969-30 April 1972
Radar units
- 661st Radar Squadron661st Radar SquadronThe 661st Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 23d Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
- Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 19 November 1969-1 July 1974
- 665th Radar Squadron
- Calumet AFS, Michigan, 19 May 1969
- Re-designated 665th Air Defense Group, 1 March 1970-1 January 1974
- 674th Radar Squadron
- Osceola AFS, Wisconsin, 19 November 1969-31 March 1975
- 676th Radar Squadron
- Antigo AFS, Wisconsin, 19 November 1969-30 June 1977
- 692nd Radar Squadron
- Baudette AFS, Minnesota, 19 November 1969
- Re-designated 692nd Air Defense Group, 1 March 1970-1 January 1974
- 739th Radar Squadron
- Wadena AFS, Minnesota, 19 November 1969-30 September 1970
- 752nd Radar Squadron
- Empire AFS, Michigan, 19 November 1969-1 April 1978
- 753rd Radar Squadron
- Sault Sainte Marie AFS, Michigan, 19 November 1969-30 October 1979
- 754th Radar Squadron
- Port Austin AFS, Michigan, 19 November 1969-30 September 1988
- 756th Radar Squadron
- Finland AFS, Minnesota, 19 November 1969-5 August 1980
Stations
- Duluth AirportDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, 19 November 1969 - Tyndall AFB, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, 15 April 1982-1 July 1987.
See also
- List of United States Air Force air divisions
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsAerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsThe second iteration of Aerospace Defense Command was established on 21 March 1946 as a component of the United States Army Air Forces, with the mission of planning for and executing the air defense of the United States...