28th Air Division (United States)

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28th Air Division
Official crest of the 28th Air Division
Active	8 November 1949–19 November 1969 1 April 1985–29 May 1992
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

In December 1949, the 28th Division assumed responsibility for conducting the air defense of an area that embraced California, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona. It became part of the Western Air Defense Force in 1950. With no fighter interceptor squadrons directly assigned, the division used interceptors of the 78th Fighter Wing, based at Hamilton Air Force Base, California, as well as Air National Guard interceptors based within its geographical area. By November 1954 its geographical boundaries included northern California, southern Oregon, and parts of Nevada and Utah. The division participated frequently in air defense exercises with U.S. Army artillery, U.S. Navy interceptors, and Strategic Air Command bombers. On 15 February 1959, it added the San Francisco Air Defense Sector to its components, and the geographical area expanded to include California and Arizona, and parts of Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and New Mexico. The division gained the Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Reno Air Defense Sectors and also the 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, whose RC-121 aircraft augmented naval picket ships in providing radar coverage seaward from the west coast of the United States. During 1961, it transitioned to a SAGE system in all four of its sectors. Reorganization in 1963 altered the 28th's boundaries to include the states of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and parts of California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. On 1 April 1966, the 28th moved, in name only, to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, and replaced the Great Falls Air Defense Sector. The division's area included Montana and part of North Dakota, and later, parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Beginning in April 1985, the 28th provided theater and Air Force commands with airborne forces for surveillance, warning, command and control, communications, and electronic combat operations. It was the Tactical Air Command single manager for the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), EC-130H Compass Call, EC-130E Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC), and EC-135K Tactical Deployment Control Squadron (TDCS) in support of unified and specified commands. The division in the 1960s and 1970s deployed aircraft and personnel from subordinate units in support of the war in Southwest Asia.

[edit] Background of name

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Mission

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Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Operations

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[edit] Lineage and honors

Established as 28 Air Division (Defense) on 8 November 1949. Activated on 8 December 1949. Inactivated on 1 February 1952.

Organized on 1 February 1952. Redesignated: 28 Air Division (SAGE) on 1 July 1960; 28 Air Division on 1 April 1966. Inactivated on 19 November 1969.

Activated on 1 April 1985. Inactivated on 29 May 1992.

[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 May 1985–30 April 1987; 1 May 1987–30 April 1989; 1 December 1989–1 December 1991.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Emblem

On a shield azure within a diminutive border or, a griffin passant argent on the embattlement of a wall gules, masoned sable in fess, an arched gateway in the center of the wall or, all issuing out of six waves of water in base, alternating argent and azure. (Approved 14 March 1966)

[edit] Assignments

Fourth Air Force, 8 December 1949; Western Air Defense Force, 1 August 1950–1 February 1952.

Western Air Defense Force, 1 February 1952; Air Defense Command, 1 July 1960; Tenth Air Force, 1 April 1966–19 November 1969.

Tactical Air Command, 1 April 1985–29 May 1992.

[edit] Components

Sectors:

Los Angeles Air Defense: 1 July 1960–1 April 1966.
Phoenix Air Defense: 1 July 1960–1 April 1966.
Reno Air Defense: 1 July 1960–1 April 1966.
San Francisco Air Defense: 15 February 1959–1 August 1963 (not operational, 15 May 1963–1 August 1963).

Wings:

78 Fighter: 18 October 1956–1 July 1960; 1 August 1963–1 April 1966.
552 Airborne Early Warning and Control (later, 552 Airborne Warning and Control; 552 Air Control): 1 July 1960–1 April 1966; 1 April 1985–29 May 1992.