327th Air Division
Encyclopedia
The 327th Airlift Division (327th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force
air division
. It was assigned to Pacific Air Forces' Thirteenth Air Force
throughout its existence. It was last stationed at Taipei
AS, Taiwan
. It was inactivated on 7 January 1976.
. It then assumed responsibility for the defense of the Mariana Islands
against air attack. To accomplish this mission, the division controlled the 832d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, and the 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (flying F-86 Sabre
s). In addition to Air Force training, these units also trained with naval organizations and participated in military exercises. It was discontinued on 8 March 1960.
On 8 February 1966, the division assumed responsibility for Air Force units in the Taiwan
Island area, being stationed at Taipei
AS, Taiwan
. It was a redesignation of the previous Air Task Force 13 (Provisional). Air Task Force 13 had been active as early as 1955, under the commander of then-Brigadier General
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
, who at the time was Vice Commander, Thirteenth Air Force
, with additional duty as Commander, Air Task Force 13.
Until January 1976, the revived 327th Air Division provided logistics, administrative, and service support for military and U.S. Government agencies on Taiwan. In addition, it coordinated air defense operations and plans with the Republic of China Air Force
to integrate combined forces into the overall Pacific Command. In fulfilling its mission, the 327th participated in numerous military exercises such as Eagle, Lark, and Blue Sky. It was inactivated on 7 January 1976.
Squadron
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...
air division
USAF Air Division
In the United States Air Force, a Division was an intermediate level of command, subordinate to a Numbered Air Force, controlling one or more Wings. It also controlled squadrons without associated same-function wings, i.e., 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron had no associated wing, but its...
. It was assigned to Pacific Air Forces' Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
throughout its existence. It was last stationed at Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
AS, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It was inactivated on 7 January 1976.
History
The division was established as the 327th Air Division on 22 June 1957, and activated on 1 July 1957 at Andersen AFB, GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. It then assumed responsibility for the defense of the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
against air attack. To accomplish this mission, the division controlled the 832d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, and the 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (flying F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
s). In addition to Air Force training, these units also trained with naval organizations and participated in military exercises. It was discontinued on 8 March 1960.
On 8 February 1966, the division assumed responsibility for Air Force units in the Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
Island area, being stationed at Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
AS, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. It was a redesignation of the previous Air Task Force 13 (Provisional). Air Task Force 13 had been active as early as 1955, under the commander of then-Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. was an American born United States Air Force general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen....
, who at the time was Vice Commander, Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
, with additional duty as Commander, Air Task Force 13.
Until January 1976, the revived 327th Air Division provided logistics, administrative, and service support for military and U.S. Government agencies on Taiwan. In addition, it coordinated air defense operations and plans with the Republic of China Air Force
Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force is the aviation branch of the Republic of China Armed Forces. The ROCAF's primary mission is the defense of the airspace over and around Taiwan...
to integrate combined forces into the overall Pacific Command. In fulfilling its mission, the 327th participated in numerous military exercises such as Eagle, Lark, and Blue Sky. It was inactivated on 7 January 1976.
Lineage
- Established as 327th Air Division on 22 Jun 1957
- Activated on 1 Jul 1957
- Discontinued on 8 Mar 1960
- Organized on 8 Feb 1966
- Inactivated on 7 Jan 1976
Components
Wings- 314th Troop Carrier (later, Tactical Airlift) Wing314th Airlift WingThe 314th Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas.-World War 2 and aftermath:...
- Attached 8 February 1966-1 November 1968
- Assigned 1 November 1968-31 May 1971
- 374th Tactical Airlift Wing374th Airlift WingThe 374th Airlift Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Fifth Air Force. It is stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is part of Pacific Air Forces ....
: 31 May 1971-15 November 1973.
- 374th Tactical Airlift Wing
- These units were equipped with the C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, 1966-1973, and the C-47/C-54 Skytrain, 1971-1972.
Squadron
- 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron41st Flying Training SquadronThe 41st Flying Training Squadron is part of the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates T-6 Texan II aircraft conducting flight training.-Mission:...
: 1 October 1957-8 March 1960 - 852d Aircraft Control and Warning: 1 July 1957-8 March 1960.
Stations
- Andersen AFB, GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, 1 Jul 1957-8 Mar 1960 - Taipei AS, Taiwan, 8 Feb 1966-7 Jan 1976.
Controlled aircraft
- F-86 SabreF-86 SabreThe North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
, 1957-1960 - C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, 1966-1973 - C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, 1971-1972 - C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1971-1972.