2d Air Division

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2d Air Division
Official emblem of the 2d Air Division
Active	30 August 1943-7 May 1951 20 April 1953-1 Apr 1962 10 September 1962-1 April 1966 1 March 1983-1 February 1987
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ	see "Stations" section below
Equipment	see "Aircraft / Missles / Space Vehicles" section below
Decorations	see "Lineage and Honors" section below

The 2d Air Division (2d AD) has many periods of inactivation, but still maintained a proud history in the time since the second world war.

1 History
2 Lineage and Honors
3 Assignments
4 Components
5 Stations
6 Commanders
7 Aircraft / Missles / Space Vehicles
8 References
9 External links

[edit] History

Conducted strategic bombardment of Axis targets in Europe, but between 29 August 1944 and 2 October 1944 division aircraft dropped food to the French population in liberated areas. It also airdropped food, equipment, and supplies to Allied forces engaged in the airborne attack on Holland (September 1944), as well as troops engaged in the assault across the Rhine River (March 1945). From January 1949 to May 1951, in West Germany it participated in numerous training exercises. Activated in April 1953, it remained unmanned and existed in name until moving in March 1954 to Dhahran Airfield, Saudi Arabia where it remained until the Saudi government terminated US rights to the field in 1962. Organized at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam in October 1962 to control USAF operations there. From December 1962, it controlled all activities and units in Southeast Asia, initially, USAF tactical forces FARM GATE C/H- 47, B/RB-26, T-28, and U-10 counterinsurgency forces, and MULE TRAIN C-123 assault airlift forces. Forces assigned and attached to the 2d Air Division trained Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) and Royal Thai Air Force personnel, flew reconnaissance, airlift, and defoliation missions, and operated a tactical control system. Escalation of fighting in South Vietnam in early 1965 brought new offensive assignments. On 8 February 1965 USAF and VNAF aircraft assaulted targets north of the demilitarized zone in the first of a series of continuing strikes. On 19 February 1965, USAF F-100 Super Sabres and B-57 Canberras attacked the Viet Cong inside South Vietnam the first use of jets for such offensive actions. In July 1965, a major reorganization of the division saw tactical fighter wings established at Bien Hoa Air Base and Danang Air Base, and five separate combat support groups at other South Vietnamese bases. The rapid expansion of the division's personnel and facilities continued well into 1966, with a matching expansion in both the volume and variety of air operations. On 1 April 1966, the division's resources were absorbed by the newly activated Seventh Air Force. From March 1983-February 1987, 2d Air Division forces, with worldwide responsibilities and assignments, engaged in deployment, exercise and training programs. Subordinate units flew drug interdiction missions under Operation BAT.

[edit] World War Two

The 2d Air Division came into being following the reorganisation of the 8th USAAF Bomber Command as the Eighth Air Force. Existing as a separate entity the 2d Bomb Wing started operations on 7 November 1942, becoming known as the Second Air Division of the Eighth Air Force in January 1945. The division continued operations until the end of the war, flying the last combat sortie on the 25 April 1945.

The group completed 493 operational missions in Europe during World War Two consisting of 95,948 individual aircraft sorties. The 2d Air Division operated the Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft from airfields in Norfolk, England.

Within the 2d Air Division, six groups received presidential citations for outstanding actions. Five airmen received the highest US award for bravery, the Medal of Honor, four of them posthumously. A total of 1,458 B-24 aircraft were lost in action and 6,700 men lost their lives.

[edit] Vietnam Conflict

The 2d Air Division was organized in Saigon in October 1962 under the authority of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Until the build-up of American forces in 1965, the 2d Air Division provided air support to the forces of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. Originally, the unit consisted of propeller-driven aircraft, but the build-up in US forces saw the arrival of jet aircraft and, by the end of 1965, the US had deployed nearly 500 US combat aircraft in South Vietnam.^[1] By the time the unit was transformed into the 7th Air Force on 1 April 1966, it consisted of nearly 1,000 aircraft and approximately 30,000 personnel.

[edit] Background of Name

[edit] In Popular Culture

[edit] Lineage and Honors

Established as 2d Bombardment Division on 30 August 1943; Activated on 13 September 1943; Redesignated 2d Air Division on 19 December 1944; Disestablished on 28 August 1945.

Reestablished on 14 January 1949; Organized on 1 June 1949; Discontinued on 7 May 1951.

Activated on 20 April 1953; Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 April 1962.

Activated on 10 September 1962; Organized on 8 October 1962; Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 April 1966.

Activated on 1 March 1983; Inactivated on 1 February 1987.

[edit] Service Streamers

World War II European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater

[edit] Campaign Streamers

Southeast Asia: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defense; Vietnam Air

[edit] Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

none

[edit] Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 April 1964-31 March 1966

[edit] Awards

[edit] Emblem

On a shield azure (dark blue) double bordered or and of the first (light blue) a stylized wing of the second, charged with two Doric Columns, architrave and base all outlined of the first. (Approved on 14 October 1954)

[edit] Assignments

VIII Bomber Command (later, Eighth Air Force), 13 September 1943 (attached to 96 Combat Bombardment Wing, 1 June 1945-c.24 June 1945); Army Service Forces, 25 June 1945-2 July 1945; Second Air Force, c.3 July 1945-28 August 1945.

United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 June 1949; Twelfth Air Force, 21 January 1951-7 May 1951.

Twelfth Air Force, 20 April 1953; Seventeenth Air Force, 1 March 1954; United States Air Forces in Europe, 15 April 1955-1 April 1962.

United States Pacific Air Forces, 10 September 1962; Thirteenth Air Force, 8 October 1962; United States Pacific Air Forces, 8 July 1965-1 April 1966.

Twenty-Third Air Force, 1 March 1983-1 February 1987.

[edit] Components

Wings:

1 Special Operations: 1 March 1983-1 February 1987.
2 Combat Bombardment: 13 September 1943-1 June 1945 (detached 16 September 1943-4 October 1943).
3 Tactical Fighter: 8 November 1965-1 April 1966.
8 Tactical Fighter: attached 8 December 1965-31 March 1966.
12 Tactical Fighter: 8 November 1966-1 April 1966.
14 Air Commando: 8 March 1966-1 April 1966.
14 Combat Bombardment: 13 September 1943-1 June 1945.
20 Combat Bombardment: 23 September 1943-1 June 1945.
36 Fighter (later, 36 Fighter Bomber): attached 6 September 1949-17 September 1949 and 28 September 1949-1 October 1949; assigned 10 October 1949-7 May 1951.
65 Fighter: 15 September 1944-1 June 1945.
86 Fighter (later, 86 Fighter Bomber): attached 6 September 1949-17 September 1949 and 28 September 1949-1 October 1949; assigned 10 October 1949-7 May 1951.
93 Combat Bombardment: 1 November 1943-c.10 January 1944 (not operational entire period).
95 Combat Bombardment: 12 December 1943-1 June 1945 (not operational, 12 December 1943-31 March 1944 and 15 August 1944-1 June 1945).
96 Combat Bombardment: 11 January 1944-1 June 1945.
201 Provisional Combat: attached 13 September 1943-14 September 1943 (not operational).
202 Provisional Combat: attached 13 September 1943-14 September 1943 (not operational).
315 Air Commando: attached 8 March 1966-31 March 1966.
355 Tactical Fighter: attached 8 November 1965-31 March 1966.
366 Tactical Fighter: 20 March 1966-31 March 1966.
460 Tactical Reconnaissance: 18 February 1966-1 April 1966.
6234 Tactical Fighter: attached 8 July 1965-1 April 1966.
6251 Tactical Fighter: 8 July 1965-18 February 1966.
6252 Tactical Fighter: 8 July 1965-1 April 1966.
Tactical Fighter Provisional, 6234: attached 5 April 1965-8 July 1965.
Tactical Fighter Provisional, 6235: attached 8 April 1965-8 July 1965 (not operational).

Groups:

33 Tactical: 8 July 1963-8 July 1965.
34 Tactical: 8 July 1963-8 July 1965.
35 Tactical: 8 July 1963-8 July 1965.
315 Troop Carrier (later, 315 Air Commando): attached 8 December 1962-8 March *1966.
355 Fighter: 15 September 1944-c. January 1945.
492 Bombardment: attached c.21 September 1944-2 October 1944.
496 Fighter Training: attached c.1 December 1944-12 April 1945.
6010 Tactical: 8 December 1962-8 July 1963.
Combat Cargo (Troop Carrier) Provisional, 6492: attached 21 September 1962-8 December 1962.
Tactical Air Support Provisional, 6250: attached 1 August 1965-8 November 1965.

Squadrons:

1 Air Commando (later, 1 Special Operations): 18 February 1966-8 March 1966 (detached entire period); 1 March 1983-1 February 1987.
4 Air Commando: 8 August 1965-8 March 1966 (detached entire period).
5 Air Commando: 8 August 1965-8 March 1966 (detached entire period).
7 Special Operations: 1 March 1983-1 February 1987.
8 Bombardment: attached 28 June 1965-7 July 1965.
16 Tactical Reconnaissance: 27 October 1965-18 February 1966 (detached entire period).
20 Helicopter: 8 October 1965-8 March 1966 (detached entire period).
20 Tactical Air Support: 8 May 1965-8 November 1965 (detached 12 November 1965-18 February 1966).
20 Tactical Reconnaissance: 12 November 1965-18 February 1966 (detached entire period).
21 Tactical Air Support: 8 May 1965-8 November 1965 (detached entire period).
22 Tactical Air Support: 8 May 1965-8 November 1965 (detached entire period).
391 Tactical Fighter: 26 January 1966-1 April 1966 (detached entire period).
480 Tactical Fighter: 1 February 1966-1 April 1966 (detached entire period).
602 Fighter: 18 February 1966-8 March 1966 (detached entire period).
606 Air Commando: attached 8 March 1966-1 April 1966.
7498 Air Force Composite: attached 6 September 1949-16 September 1949 and 28 September 1949-1 October 1949; assigned 10 October 1949-24 January 1950 (not operational 20 December 1949-24 January 1950).
7499 Air Force Composite (later 7499 Composite): 10 October 1949-21 January 1951 (detached 10 October 1949-21 January 1951).

[edit] Stations

Horsham St Faith, England, 13 September 1943; Ketteringham Hall, England, 10 December 1943; London, England, 22 June 1945-24 June 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, South Dakota, 3 July 1945-28 August 1945.

Wiesbaden Army Airfield, West Germany, 1 June 1949; Landsberg Air Ammunition Depot (later, Landsberg AFB, Landsberg-Lech Air Base), West Germany, 10 June 1949-7 May 1951.

Ramstein (later, Ramstein Air Base), West Germany, 20 April 1953-1 March 1954; Dhahran Airfield (later, Dhahran AB; Dhahran Airfield), Saudi Arabia, 1 March 1954-1 April 1962.

Tan Son Nhut Airfield (later, Tan Son Nhut Air Base), South Vietnam, 8 October 1962-1 April 1966.

Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1 March 1983-1 February 1987.

[edit] Commanders

Brigadier General James P. Hodges, 13 September 1943; Brigadier General Edward J. Timberlake Jr., 16 September 1943; Major General James P. Hodges, 4 October 1943; Major General William E. Kepner, 1 August 1944; Brigadier General Walter R. Peck, 10 May 1945; Colonel Harry W. McGee, 1 June 1945-unkn.

Brigadier General Thomas C. Darcy, 1 June 1949-7 May 1951.

None (not manned), 20 April 1953-28 February 1954; Brigadier General Orrin L. Grover, 1 March 1954; Colonel George W. Humbrecht, 13 April 1955; Brigadier General George F. Schlatter, 27 June 1955; Colonel Richard L. Temple, 5 March 1956; Colonel Frederick J. Sutterlin, 26 September 1956; Brigadier General Dale O. Smith, 1 July 1957; Brigadier General Albert P. Clark, November 1957; Colonel Boyd Hubbard Jr., 21 July 1959; Brigadier General James C. McGehee, 4 August 1959; Lieutenant Colonel Robert B. Irwin, 23 July 1961; Colonel George W. Kinney, 10 August 1961; Colonel Willard W. Wilson, 9 September 1961-1 April 1962.

None (not manned), 10 September 1962-7 October 1962; Major General Rollen H. Anthis, 8 October 1962; Brigadier General Milton B. Adams, 20 December 1963; Lieutenant General Joseph H. Moore Jr., c. 21 January 1964-1 April 1966.