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24th Air Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 24th 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 30 September 1990 at Griffiss Air Force Base
, New York.
(ADCOM) realignment and re-organization of assets. Assigned additional designation of 24th NORAD Region upon activation with reporting to the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain
, Colorado.
The 24th AD was responsible for the air defense of a large area of the upper Great Plains from the 115th meridian west
eastward to the 97th meridian west
; from the 49th parallel north
south to the 41st parallel north
. This area encompassed most of Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and most of Nebraska. It was also the command organization for the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Data Center (DC-20) at Malmstrom AFB.
Tactical units assigned to the 24th participated in numerous training exercises such as Feudal Indian, Vigilant Overview, and Feudal Keynote. The scope of responsibility for the 24th AD was expanded in 1973 with further ADCOM unit inactivations and consolidations to include the area south along the 104th meridian west
to the 33rd parallel north
, east to the 97th meridian west
. This included most of Kansas, Oklahoma and the panhandle region of Texas.
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 Griffiss AFB, New York and assumed responsibility for most of New England, the northern Mid-Atlantic States and the upper Midwest.
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 30 September 1990, its command, mission, components, and assets were immediately transferred to the ADTAC Northeast Air Defense Sector and 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 30 September 1990 at Griffiss Air Force Base
Griffiss Air Force Base
Griffiss Air Force Base, is a former United States Air Force base, located in Rome, New York, about NW of Utica. Missions at Griffiss AFB included fighter interceptors, electronic research, installation, and support activities, aerial refueling, and bombers...
, New York.
History
The Division was activated at Malmstrom AFB, Montana in November 1969, replacing the 28th Air Division in an Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace 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 24th 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 24th AD was responsible for the air defense of a large area of the upper Great Plains from the 115th meridian west
115th meridian west
The meridian 115° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
eastward 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....
; from the 49th parallel north
49th parallel north
The 49th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 49 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
south to the 41st parallel north
41st parallel north
The 41st parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 41 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 area encompassed most of Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and most of Nebraska. 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-20) at Malmstrom AFB.
Tactical units assigned to the 24th participated in numerous training exercises such as Feudal Indian, Vigilant Overview, and Feudal Keynote. The scope of responsibility for the 24th AD was expanded in 1973 with further ADCOM unit inactivations and consolidations to include the area south along the 104th meridian west
104th meridian west
The meridian 104° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North 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....
, east 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 included most of Kansas, Oklahoma and the panhandle region of Texas.
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 Griffiss AFB, New York and assumed responsibility for most of New England, the northern Mid-Atlantic States and the upper Midwest.
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 30 September 1990, its command, mission, components, and assets were immediately transferred to the ADTAC Northeast Air Defense Sector and 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 24th Air Division on 18 November 1969
- Activated on 19 November 1969
- Assumed additional designations 24th NORAD/CONRAD Region, 1 April 1966
- Assumed additional designation 24th ADCOM Region, 8 December 1978
- Inactivated on 30 September 1990, assets transferred to Northeast Air Defense Sector.
Assignments
- Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 19 November 1969 - 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...
(ADCOM), 1 December 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 1985-30 September 1990.
Stations
- Malmstrom AFB, MontanaMontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, 19 November 1969 - Griffiss AFB, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 1 December 1983 – 30 September 1990.
Sectors
- Northeast Air Defense: 1 July 1987 – 30 September 1990
- Southeast Air DefenseSoutheast 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...
: 1 July 1987 – 30 September 1990
Groups
- 778th Air Defense Group
- Harve AFS, Montana, 1 March 1970
- Re-designated: 778th Radar Squadron, 1 January 1974-29 September 1979
- 779th Air Defense Group
- Opheim AFS, Montana, 1 March 1970
- Re-designated: 779th Radar Squadron, 1 February 1974-29 September 1979
- 780th Air Defense Group
- Fortuna AFS, North Dakota, 1 March 1970
- Re-designated: 780th Radar Squadron, 1 January 1974-29 September 1979
Evaluation Squadrons
- 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron17th Defense Systems Evaluation SquadronThe 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 24th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1 July 1974-13 July 1979
- 4677th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron
- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 2 October 1972-1 July 1974
Interceptor Squadrons
- 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 19 November 1969-1 June 1983
- 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 19 November 1969–15 April 1971
- 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 16 April 1971-30 June 1974
- 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Griffiss AFB, New York 23 September 1983-7 July 1987
- 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 19 November 1979-1 July 1971
- 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron319th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 319th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Aerospace Defense Command's Interceptor Weapons School at Tyndall AFB, Florida...
- 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1 July 1971-30 April 1972
- 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 23 September 1983-1 October 1985
Radar Squadrons
- 694th Radar Squadron
- Lewistown AFS, Montana, 19 November 1969-30 June 1971
- 778th Radar Squadron
- Harve AFS, Montana, 19 November 1969-29 September 1979
- 779th Radar Squadron
- Opheim AFS, Montana, 19 November 1969-29 September 1979
- 780th Radar Squadron
- Fortuna AFS, North Dakota, 19 November 1969-29 September 1979
- 785th Radar Squadron
- Finley AFS, North Dakota, 19 November 1969-30 December 1979
- 786th Radar Squadron
- Minot AFS, North Dakota, 19 November 1969-29 September 1979
Emblem
"Per quarter fimbriated or, first quarter chequy alternating sable and argent, second and third quarter azure, on the second quarter a head in armor couped at the neck with visor open gray and of the second, on the third quarter thirteen mullets of five points argent, fourth quarter gray bearing two flight symbols bend sinisterwise sable, overall in pale a sword, point to chief blade gray and sable, base gray, hilt and guard or, all within a diminished bordure of the last."Significance
- "The emblem is symbolic of the unit and the Air Force colors, untramarine blue and golden yellow are used. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations and yellow to the sun and the excellence required of personnel in their assigned tasks. The black and white checked design is representative of the unit's day and night commitment to the air defense mission. The knight's head in armor is symbolic of the personnel of the unit who stand alert, ever ready and maintain constant watch. The blue field not only symbolizes the sky, but space and the challenge of detecting and defending against threats from space. The stars on the field of blue represent the 13 original colonies. The sword symbolizes the armed might of the unit and ability to detect, intercept and deter any armed opposition. Interceptor forces are symbolized by the interceptor MACH symbols being directed skyward. Radar control and direction of defense forces are symbolized by lightning impulses radiating from the sword."
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...