40th Air Division
Encyclopedia
The 40th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana
. It was inactivated on 14 June 1991.
As the 40th Bombardment Wing, the unit was one of the primary B-17 Flying Fortress heavy strategic bombardment wings of VIII Bomber Command
and later, Eighth Air Force
in World War II
.
, striking such targets as Nantes
, Emden
, Wilhelmshaven
, and Bremen. Its units participated in a mission to Schweinfurt
on 14 October 1943 that resulted in the loss of over half of the aircraft dispatched. The final name change came on 13 August 1943 when they became 40 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy. For the remainder of World War II, the wing flew numerous missions against military targets throughout occupied Europe and Germany. Following the end of the war the Wing was deactivated on 25 December 1946.
Redesignated the 40th Air Division in March 1951, it assumed a supervisory role over assigned units of the Strategic Air Command
, ensuring that they were manned, trained, and equipped to conduct long range bombardment missions using either nuclear or conventional weapons. It also developed and maintained the capability for effective air refueling
and Minuteman II (intercontinental ballistic missile) operations. In these roles the division conducted staff assistance visits and participated in numerous exercises such as Buy None, Buckskin Rider and Busy Player.
After July 1989, the 40th Air Division established policies to ensure support for wartime execution of a strategic ICBM wing and a strategic air refueling wing in accordance with the Single Integrated Operational Plan
(SIOP) and Joint Chiefs of Staff
(JCS) directed conventional war-fighting commitments.
Groups
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...
unit. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana
Montana
Montana 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,...
. It was inactivated on 14 June 1991.
As the 40th Bombardment Wing, the unit was one of the primary B-17 Flying Fortress heavy strategic bombardment wings of VIII Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
The VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
and later, 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 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...
.
History
The 40th Bomb Wing was established on 15 January 1943 and officially activated on 21 January 1943. In May of that year, the Wing deployed to Brampton Grange, England. During the war, the wing went through a succession of name changes starting on 3 May 1943 when they were redesignated the 40 Bombardment Wing (Heavy). This was quickly followed by another change on 30 August 1943 when they were redesignated the 40 Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy). In September 1943, the wing received three bombardment groups and began combat operations against Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, striking such targets as Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
, and Bremen. Its units participated in a mission to Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
on 14 October 1943 that resulted in the loss of over half of the aircraft dispatched. The final name change came on 13 August 1943 when they became 40 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy. For the remainder of World War II, the wing flew numerous missions against military targets throughout occupied Europe and Germany. Following the end of the war the Wing was deactivated on 25 December 1946.
Redesignated the 40th Air Division in March 1951, it assumed a supervisory role over assigned units of the 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...
, ensuring that they were manned, trained, and equipped to conduct long range bombardment missions using either nuclear or conventional weapons. It also developed and maintained the capability for effective air refueling
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
and Minuteman II (intercontinental ballistic missile) operations. In these roles the division conducted staff assistance visits and participated in numerous exercises such as Buy None, Buckskin Rider and Busy Player.
After July 1989, the 40th Air Division established policies to ensure support for wartime execution of a strategic ICBM wing and a strategic air refueling wing in accordance with the Single Integrated Operational Plan
Single Integrated Operational Plan
The Single Integrated Operational Plan was the United States' general plan for nuclear war from 1961 to 2003. The SIOP gave the President of the United States a range of targeting options, and described launch procedures and target sets against which nuclear weapons would be launched...
(SIOP) and Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
(JCS) directed conventional war-fighting commitments.
Lineage
- Established as 40th Bombardment Wing on 15 January 1943
- Activated on 21 January 1943
- Redesignated: 40th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 3 May 1943
- Redesignated: 40th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 30 August 1943
- Redesignated: 40th Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 13 August 1944
- Redesignated: 40th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 9 June 1945
- Inactivated on 25 December 1946
- Redesignated 40th Air Division on 2 March 1951
- Organized on 14 March 1951
- Discontinued on 1 July 1952
- Activated on 1 July 1952
- Inactivated on 1 April 1957
- Activated on 1 July 1959
- Inactivated on 8 June 1988
- Activated on 7 July 1989
- Inactivated on 14 June 1991
Assignments
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 21 January 1943 - 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....
, 6 June 1943 - VIII Bomber CommandVIII Bomber CommandThe VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
, 8 June 1943 - 1 Bombardment (later, 1 Air) Division, 13 September 1943
- United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, c. 31 October 1945 - European Air Materiel Command (originally IX Air Force Service Command), 20–25 December 1946
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 14 March 1951 – 1 July 1952; 1 July 1952-1 April 1957; 1 July 1959 - 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 January 1975 – 8 June 1988 - 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....
, 7 July 1989 – 14 June 1991.
Components
Wings- 17th Bombardment Wing: 1 February – 1 July 1963; 1 July 1971 – 1 July 1973
- 31st Fighter Escort (later, 31st Strategic Fighter; 31st Fighter Bomber) Wing31st Fighter WingThe 31st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Third Air Force. It is stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy where it is also the host unit....
: 14 March 1951 – 1 July 1952; 1 July 1952-1 April 1957 (detached 10 July – 11 October 1952 and 10 November 1953 – 12 February 1954) - 108th Fighter Wing: 14 March – 16 November 1951
- 146th Fighter Wing: 17 April-c. 1 September 1951
- 301st Air Refueling Wing301st Air Refueling WingThe 301st Air Refueling Wing is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force being last assigned to the Strategic Air Command at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. It was inactivated on 1 June 1992....
: 2 July 1966 – 31 March 1970; 1 July 1973-1 July 1975; 7 July 1989 – 14 June 1991 - 305th Air Refueling Wing: 1 July 1973 – 1 December 1982
- 341st Strategic Missile Wing: 7 July 1989 – 14 June 1991
- 351st Strategic Missile Wing: 1 July 1973 – 1 December 1982
- 379th Bombardment Wing: 9 January 1961 – 8 June 1988
- 410th Bombardment Wing: 1 February 1963 – 1 September 1964; 31 March 1970-8 January 1988
- 416th Bombardment Wing416th Bombardment WingThe 416th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Air Combat Command, being stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on 30 September 1995....
: 30 June 1971 – 1 July 1973; 1 December 1982-8 June 1988 - 449th Bombardment Wing: 1 February 1963 – 30 September 1977
- 499th Air Refueling Wing499th Air Refueling WingThe United States Air Force's 499th Air Refueling Wing was an aerial refueling unit located at Westover AFB, Massachusetts. It was inactivated in 1966....
: 1 February 1963 – 30 September 1977 - 500th Air Refueling Wing500th Air Refueling WingThe 500th Air Refueling Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at Selfridge AFB, Michigan. It was inactivated on 15 December 1964....
: 1 July 1963 – 15 December 1964 - 508th Fighter Escort (later, 508 Strategic Fighter) Wing508th Aerospace Sustainment WingThe 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah.The 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing provides sustainment of existing systems as well as the acquisition of new and improved airpower capabilities. It serves all U.S. military...
: 1 July 1952 – 11 May 1956 (detached c. 8 February -c. 13 May 1953 and 12 February-c. 7 May 1954) - 4026th Strategic Wing: 1 July 1959 – 9 January 1961
- 4042d Strategic Wing: 1 July 1959 – 1 February 1963
- 4043d Strategic Wing: 1 July 1959 – 1 February 1963
- 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing: 1 May 1956 – 1 April 1957
- 4239th Strategic Wing: 1 July 1959 – 1 February 1963
Groups
- 2d Bombardment Group, 15 December 1945 – 28 February 1946
- 92d Bombardment Group, 13 September 1943 – 28 February 1946
- 305th Bombardment Group, 13 September 1943 – 16 May 1945; 31 December 1945-25 December 1946
- 306th Bombardment Group, 13 September 1943 – 16 May 1945; 16 December 1945-25 December 1946
- 384th Bombardment Group, 31 May 1945 – 28 February 1946
- 492d Bombardment Group492d Bombardment GroupThe 492d Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Second Air Force, stationed at Kirtland Field, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 17 October 1945....
, by 31 October 1944-c. May 1945.
Squadron
- 100th Air Refueling Squadron: 20 January – 23 May 1953; 24–25 November 1953
Stations
- MacDill Field, Florida, 21 January–May 1943
- Brampton Grange (AAF-103), England, 6 June 1943
- RAF ThurleighRAF ThurleighRAF Thurleigh was a Royal Air Force station located five miles north of Bedford, England. Thurleigh was transferred to the U.S. Eighth Air Force on 9 December 1942, designated Station 111, and used for heavy bomber operations against Nazi Germany.-Origins:...
(AAF-111), England, c. 16 September 1943 - Istres-Le Tubé Airfield (Y-17), France, 26 June 1945
- AAF Station Erlangen, Germany, 15 November 1945 – 25 December 1946
- Turner AFB, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 14 March 1951 – 1 July 1952; 1 July 1952-1 April 1957 - Wurtsmith AFB, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 1 July 1959 – 8 June 1988 - 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,...
, 7 July 1989 – 14 June 1991
Aircraft and Missiles
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943 – 1946;
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1944 – 1945; - 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...
, 1944 – 1945; - A-26 InvaderA-26 InvaderThe Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
, 1945; - P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
, 1945; - de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
, 1945. - F-84 ThunderjetF-84 ThunderjetThe Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
, 1951 – 1952. - F-84 Thunderjet, 1952 – 1957;
- KB-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1953 – 1956;
- B-57 CanberraB-57 CanberraThe Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
, 1956 – 1957. - B-52 StratofortressB-52 StratofortressThe Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
, 1961 – 1988; - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, 1961 – 1988. - KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
, 1963 – 1964; - Minuteman-II (LGM-30F), 1973 – 1988.
- KC-135 Stratotanker, 1989 – 1991;
- Minuteman-II (LGM-30F), 1989 – 1991;
- Minuteman-III (LGM-30G), 1989 – 1991.