831st Air Division
Encyclopedia
The 831st Air Division (831 AD) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command
, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at George Air Force Base
, California
. It was inactivated on 31 March 1991.
Activated in 1957 as an intermediate command echelon of Tactical Air Command, providing command and control of tactical units primarily in Western United States assigned to the division and higher echelons. Early in 1965, the division assumed an advisory role with two Air Force Reserve units, the 349th Troop Carrier Wing
and the 452d Troop Carrier Wing
. Besides combat readiness, the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing
trained pilots for duty in Southeast Asia
until 1971 when the division was inactivated as part of drawdown of forces being deployed Southeast Asia.
Reactivated in 1980 at George AFB, the division regained its world wide deployment responsibility and trained initially F-105 Wild Weasel
aircrews and aircraft used to destroy enemy controlled surface-to-air missile sites, switching to F-105G units in the mid 1980s. In August 1990, the 831st deployed subordinate unit personnel and aircraft to Southwest Asia
in support of Desert Shield and later, Desert Storm
.
The unit was inactivated with the closure of George AFB in March 1991. When the unit was inactivated in March of 1991 CMSGT Roy W. Leo was the last senior enlisted personnel to serve with the unit. He retired on the same day when the 831st cased it colors.
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 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...
, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located within city limits, 8 miles northwest of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. The facility was closed by the Base Realignment and Closure 1992 commission at the end of the Cold...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was inactivated on 31 March 1991.
Activated in 1957 as an intermediate command echelon of Tactical Air Command, providing command and control of tactical units primarily in Western United States assigned to the division and higher echelons. Early in 1965, the division assumed an advisory role with two Air Force Reserve units, the 349th Troop Carrier Wing
349th Air Mobility Wing
The 349th Air Mobility Wing is the largest associate reserve wing in the United States Air Force. In partnership with its active duty host wing, the 60th Air Mobility Wing the 349 AMW flies, maintains and supports the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender, C-17 Globemaster III...
and the 452d Troop Carrier Wing
452d Air Mobility Wing
The 452d Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force air mobility unit located at March ARB, California. It is assigned to Air Force Reserve Command , and is operationally gained by Air Mobility Command .-Mission:...
. Besides combat readiness, the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing
479th Flying Training Group
The 479th Flying Training Group is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola . A component of Air Education and Training Command , the 479 FTG was activated on 2 October 2009.-Overview:...
trained pilots for duty in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
until 1971 when the division was inactivated as part of drawdown of forces being deployed Southeast Asia.
Reactivated in 1980 at George AFB, the division regained its world wide deployment responsibility and trained initially F-105 Wild Weasel
Wild Weasel
A Wild Weasel is an aircraft specially equipped with radar seeking missiles, and tasked with destroying the radars and SAM installations of enemy air defence systems....
aircrews and aircraft used to destroy enemy controlled surface-to-air missile sites, switching to F-105G units in the mid 1980s. In August 1990, the 831st deployed subordinate unit personnel and aircraft to Southwest Asia
Southwest Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East, which describes a geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than its location within Asia...
in support of Desert Shield and later, Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
The unit was inactivated with the closure of George AFB in March 1991. When the unit was inactivated in March of 1991 CMSGT Roy W. Leo was the last senior enlisted personnel to serve with the unit. He retired on the same day when the 831st cased it colors.
Lineage
- Established as 831 Air Division on 26 September 1957
- Activated on 8 October 1957
- Inactivated on 20 April 1971
- Activated on 1 December 1980
- Inactivated on 31 March 1991.
Assignments
- Eighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It was activated on 1 October 2003 and headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois...
, 8 October 1957 - Twelfth Air Force,
-
- 1 January 1958-20 April 1971
- 1 December 1980-31 March 1991
Stations
- George AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- 8 October 1957-20 April 1971
- 1 December 1980-31 March 1991
Components
Wings- 8 Tactical Fighter8th Fighter WingThe United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and is assigned to Seventh Air Force...
(George AFB)
- 10 July 1964-8 December 1965
- 31 Tactical Fighter31st 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....
(George AFB)
- 31 Tactical Fighter
- 15 March 1959-1 June 1962
- 32 Tactical Fighter32d 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...
(George AFB)
- 32 Tactical Fighter
- 1 April-25 July 1964
- 35 Tactical Fighter (later, 35 Tactical Training; 35 Tactical Fighter)35th Fighter WingThe 35th Fighter Wing is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The 35 FW is part of Pacific Air Forces Fifth Air Force.-Mission:...
(George AFB)
- 35 Tactical Fighter (later, 35 Tactical Training; 35 Tactical Fighter)
- 1 December 1980-31 March 1991
- 37 Tactical Fighter37th Training WingThe 37th Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.The 37th TRW provides basic military, professional and technical skills, and English language training for the Air Force, other military services, government agencies, and...
(George AFB)
- 37 Tactical Fighter
- 30 March 1981-5 October 1989
- 67 Tactical Reconnaissance67th Network Warfare WingThe 67th Network Warfare Wing , Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was reactivated October 1, 1993 as the 67th Intelligence Wing. The wing was re-designated the 67th Information Operations Wing on February 1, 2001...
(Mountain Home AFB)
- 67 Tactical Reconnaissance
- 15 April 1966-20 April 1971
- 123 Tactical Reconnaissance123d Airlift WingThe 123d Airlift Wing is a Kentucky Air National Guard unit, part of the United States Air Force. It is located at Louisville International Airport, Kentucky.-History:...
Kentucky ANG (Louiville IAP)
- 26 January 1968-9 June 1969
- 355 Tactical Fighter355th Fighter WingThe 355th Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command's Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, where in operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II...
(George AFB)
- 355 Tactical Fighter
- 8 July 1962-21 July 1964
- 413 Fighter-Day (later, 413 Tactical Fighter) (George AFB)
- 8 October 1957-20 April 1971
- 450 Tactical Fighter (Foster AFB)
- attached 28 August-4 September 1958
- 479 Fighter-Day (later, 479 Tactical Fighter)479th Flying Training GroupThe 479th Flying Training Group is a United States Air Force unit, stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola . A component of Air Education and Training Command , the 479 FTG was activated on 2 October 2009.-Overview:...
(George AFB)
- 479 Fighter-Day (later, 479 Tactical Fighter)
- 8 October 1957-20 April 1971.
Aircraft
- F-100 Super SabreF-100 Super SabreThe North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
, 1957–1962 - F-104 StarfighterF-104 StarfighterThe Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
, 1958–1967 - F-105 ThunderchiefF-105 ThunderchiefThe Republic F-105 Thunderchief, was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it has the dubious distinction of being the only US aircraft to have been...
, 1962–1964 - F-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, 1964–1971, 1980–1991 - RF-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, 1966–1971 - RF-101 VoodooF-101 VoodooThe McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
, 1968–1969