14th Air Division (United States)

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14th Air Division
Official crest of the 14th Air Division
Active	19 October 1940–23 January 1942 23 August 1942–7 November 1945 1 February 1951–1 September 1991
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

1 History
- 1.1 Background of name
2 Mission
3 Operations
4 Lineage and honors
5 Emblem
6 Assignments
7 Components
8 Stations
9 Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles
10 Commanders
11 References
12 External links

[edit] History

Activated in Hawaii to contribute to the defense of the Hawaiian Islands, the 14th Pursuit Wing suffered heavy losses during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (7 December 1941), but airmen managed to shoot down several enemy aircraft. As a bombardment wing, it moved to England in May 1943 and received groups in September 1943. The groups flew bombing missions against German airfields, oil installations, and marshalling yards. Wing components supported the Battle of Normandy in June 1944 by attacking strong points in the beachhead area and transportation targets behind the front lines. Later, in December 1944–January 1945, the wing helped to check the German offensive during the Battle of the Bulge. In March 1945, subordinate units supported Operation Lumberjack. From 1951–1991, they provided operational reconnaissance, maintained round the clock radar surveillance to detect sea launched ballistic missiles from the Pacific Ocean area, and provided for crisis management during periods of increased operational readiness. For a brief period, 1962–1965, the division maintained a Titan Intercontinental ballistic missile complex, in addition to its assigned aircraft. The division also supervised all of Strategic Air Command's initial combat crew training for the KC-135, B-52G/H, U-2, and SR-71 aircraft.

[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 14 Pursuit Wing on 19 October 1940. Activated on 1 November 1940. Inactivated on 23 January 1942.

Redesignated 14 Bombardment Wing on 23 August 1942. Activated on 1 October 1942. Redesignated: 14 Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 1 February 1943; 14 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 7 August 1944; 14 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 15 June 1945. Inactivated on 7 November 1945.

Redesignated 14 Air Division on 1 February 1951. Organized on 10 February 1951. Discontinued on 16 June 1952.

Activated on 16 June 1952. Redesignated: 14 Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 March 1962; 14 Air Division on 31 March 1972. Inactivated on 1 September 1991.

[edit] Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

World War II: European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater

[edit] Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

World War II: Central Pacific

[edit] Armed forces expeditionary streamers

none

[edit] Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations:

none

[edit] Awards

none

[edit] Emblem

Per quarter, the first and fourth argent, second and third azure, on the first quarter a sword point to base proper, hilt or pommel sable surmounted by an olive branch vert in saltire, on the second quarter a stylized missile of the first emitting a vapor trail gules, on the third quarter a stylized aircraft bendwise of the first and on the fourth quarter an atomic symbol of the sixth, all within a diminished bordure of the fourth. (Approved 26 November 1962)

[edit] Assignments

Hawaiian Air Force (later, Seventh Air Force), 1 November 1940–23 January 1942.

Eighth Air Force, 1 October 1942 (attached Third Air Force, 1 October 1942–c.11 May 1943); VIII Bomber Command, 4 June 1943; 2 Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy), August 1943; 2 Bombardment Division (later, 2d Air Division), 13 September 1943 (attached 96 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy, 5 June 1945–15 June 1945); 3 Air Division, 16 June 1945–26 August 1945; Army Service Forces, 27 August 1945; Fourth Air Force, 6 September 1945–7 November 1945.

Fifteenth Air Force, 10 February 1951–16 June 1952.

Fifteenth Air Force, 16 June 1952–1 September 1991.

[edit] Components

Wings:

5 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 5 Bombardment): 10 February 1951–25 July 1968 (detached 14 January 1955–12 April 1955).
6 Strategic (later, 6 Strategic Reconnaissance): 30 June 1971–1 October 1976; 1 October 1985–9 August 1990.
9 Bombardment (later, 9 Strategic Reconnaissance): 10 February 1951–1 May 1953; 25 June 1966–1 September 1991.
17 Bombardment: 30 September 1975–30 September 1976.
22 Bombardment (later, 22 Air Refueling): 31 March 1970–30 June 1971; 23 January 1987–1 July 1988.
55 Strategic Reconnaissance: 30 June 1971–1 October 1976; 1 October 1985–1 September 1991.
92 Strategic Aerospace: attached 15 June 1968–1 July 1968, assigned 2 July 1968–31 March 1970.
93 Bombardment: 1 October 1976–1 October 1985.
100 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 100 Air Refueling): 30 June 1971–1 August 1972; 30 September 1976–15 March 1983.
320 Bombardment: 1 February 1963–1 July 1965; 31 March 1970–30 June 1971; 1 October 1972–1 October 1982.
456 Strategic Aerospace (later, 456 Bombardment): 1 February 1963–30 June 1971; 1 October 1972–30 September 1975.
4126 Strategic: 8 February 1959–1 February 1963.
4134 Strategic: 1 May 1958–1 February 1963.
4200 Strategic Reconnaissance: 1 January 1965–25 June 1966.

Groups:

15 Pursuit: 1 December 1940–23 January 1942.
18 Pursuit: 1 November 1940–23 January 1942.
44 Bombardment: 13 September 1943–14 June 1945 (detached 19 September 1943–c.18 October 1943).
94 Bombardment: 16 June 1945–8 August 1945.
307 Air Refueling: 1 July 1977–1 October 1983.
385 Bombardment: 16 June 1945–8 August 1945.
392 Bombardment: 13 September 1943–14 June 1945.
447 Bombardment: 16 June 1945–c.1 August 1945.
486 Bombardment: 16 June 1945–August 1945.
487 Bombardment: 16 June 1945–c.26 August 1945.
490 Bombardment: c. July 1945–August 1945.
491 Bombardment: 15 August 1944–c.28 June 1945.
492 Bombardment: 12 March 1944–5 August 1944.

Squadrons:

23 Pursuit: attached 5 October 1941–23 January 1942.
91 Air Refueling: 1 April 1972–1 August 1972.
916 Air Refueling: 25 July 1968–31 March 1970; 1 April 1972–1 July 1977.

[edit] Stations

Wheeler Army Airfield, Territory of Hawaii, 1 November 1940;
Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii, 17 December 1941–23 January 1942;
MacDill Field (later MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 1 October 1942–May 1943;
Camp Lynn, High Wycombe, England, 1 June 1943;
RAF Hethel, England, 4 June 1943;
Camp Thomas, Old Patton, England, c.1 July 1943;
RAF Shipdham, England, 13 September 1943;
RAF Bury St. Edmunds, England, 13 June 1945–26 August 1945;
McChord Field (later, McChord Air Force Base), Washington, 6 September 1945–7 November 1945.
Travis Air Force Base, California, 10 February 1951–16 June 1952.
Travis AFB, California, 16 June 1952;
Beale Air Force Base, California, 25 January 1960–1 September 1991.

[edit] Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

A-12 Shrike, 1940-1941; B-12, 1940-1941; BT-9, 1940; OA-3 Dolphin, 1940; OA-8, 1940-1942; OA-9 Goose, 1940-1941; P-26 Peashooter, 1940-1941; P-36 Hawk, 1940-1941; P-39 Airacobra, 1940-1942.

AT-6 Texan, 1941-1942; B-18 Bolo, 1941-1942; 0-47, 1941-1942; P-40 Warhawk, 1941-1942.

B-24 Liberator, 1943-1945; B-17 Flying Fortress, 1945.

B-29 Superfortress, 1951-1952.

B-29 Superfortress, 1952-1953; RB-29 Superfortress, 1951; RB-36 Peacemaker, 1951-1952.

RB-36 Peacemaker, 1952-1955, 1955-1958; B-36 Peacemaker, 1955-1958; B-52 Stratofortress, 1958-1971, 1972-1991; KC-135 Stratotanker, 1959-1991; Titan I (SM-68/LGM-25), 1962-1965; T-38 Talon, 1965-1966; SR-71 Blackbird, 1966-1991; AQM-34 Lightning Bug, 1971-1972; CH-3 Sea King, 1971-1972; DC-130 Hercules, 1971-1972; EC-135 ARIA, 1971-1976, 1986-1991; RC-135 Rivet Joint, 1971-1976, 1986-1991; U-2 Dragon Lady, 1971-1972, 1976-1991; E-4 AACP "Nightwatch", 1975-1976, 1986-1991; TR-1 (tactical reconnaissance), 1982-1991; TC-135, 1986-1991.