24th Air Division
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| 24th Air Division | |
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 Official crest of the 24th Air Division |
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| Active | 18 November 1969–30 September 1990 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | see "Stations" section below |
| Equipment | see "Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles" section below |
| Decorations | see "Lineage and honors" section below |
Contents |
[edit] History
In 1969, the division assumed responsibility for the air defense of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and parts of Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. By 1973, this area included parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Tactical units assigned to the 24th participated in numerous training exercises such as Feudal Indian, Vigilant Overview, and Feudal Keynote. Between 1969 and 1979, the division also controlled several radar squadrons. On 1 October 1979, the 24th Air Division became a component of Tactical Air Command, but remained stationed in Montana, and its mission continued to be one of equipping, administering, training, and providing combat ready air defense forces for the operational control of NORAD.
[edit] Background of name
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[edit] Mission
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[edit] Operations
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[edit] Lineage and honors
Established as 24 Air Division on 18 November 1969. Activated on 19 November 1969. Inactivated on 30 September 1990.
[edit] Service streamers
This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:
none
[edit] Campaign streamers
This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:
none
[edit] Armed forces expeditionary streamers
none
[edit] Decorations
This unit earned the following unit decorations:
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (3): 1 September 1970–30 June 1972; 1 July 1974–30 June 1976; 1 July 1977–30 June 1978.
[edit] Awards
[edit] Emblem
[edit] Description
- "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."
[edit] 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 fo 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."
[edit] Approval Date
Approved 27 January 1972
[edit] Assignments
Tenth Air Force, 19 November 1969; Aerospace Defense Command, 1 December 1969; Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979; First Air Force, 6 December 1985–30 September 1990.
[edit] Components
Sectors:
- Northeast Air Defense: 1 July 1987–30 September 1990.
- Southeast Air Defense: 1 July 1987–30 September 1990
Groups:
- 778 Air Defense: 1 March 1970–17 January 1974.
- 779 Air Defense: 1 March 1970–17 January 1974.
Squadrons:
- 5 Fighter Interceptor: 19 November 1969–1 June 1983.
- 17 Defense Systems Evaluation: 1 July 1974–13 July 1979 (detached 1 July 1974–13 July 1979).
- 18 Fighter Interceptor: 19 November 1969–15 April 1971.
- 49 Fighter-Interceptor: 23 September 1983–7 July 1987.
- 71 Fighter-Interceptor: 19 November 1969–1 July 1971.
- 87 Fighter-Interceptor: 23 September 1983–1 October 1985.
- 319 Fighter Interceptor: 1 July 1971–30 April 1972.
- 460 Fighter Interceptor: 16 April 1971–30 June 1974.
- 4677 Defense Systems Evaluation: 2 October 1972–1 July 1974 (detached 2 October 1972–1 July 1974).
[edit] Stations
Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, 19 November 1969; Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, 1 December 1983–30 September 1990.
[edit] Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles
F-101 Voodoo, 1969–1971; F-106 Delta Dart, 1969–1987; EB-57 Canberra, 1974–1979.
[edit] Commanders
Major General Richard S. Abbey, 19 November 1969; Colonel Franklin C. Crain, 1 April 1971 (temporary); Major General Richard S. Abbey, 26 April 1971; Major General William S. Harrell, 29 July 1971; Major General Lawrence J. Fleming, 28 February 1973; Colonel Thomas W. Liner, 28 June 1974; Major General Louis G. Leiser, 30 July 1974; Colonel David B. Ballou, 29 March 1977(interim); Major General Don D. Pittman, 29 April 1977; Major General Walter H. Baxter III, 29 September 1978; Colonel Donald R. Williams, 22 January 1979; Brigadier General John H. Bennett, 11 February 1980; Colonel Donald R. Williams, 17 November 1980; Brigadier General Milford E. Davis, 27 February 1981; Colonel George A. Kersey Jr., 12 August 1982; Brigadier General Kenneth W. North, 23 September 1983; Brigadier General David M. Goodrich, 1 October 1985; Brigadier General Lester P. Brown, 18 July 1988-c.30 September 1990.
