85th Air Division (United States)

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85th Air Division

Official crest of the 85th Air Division (Defense)
Active 10 November 1943–30 June 1948;
8 September 1955–1 September 1958.
Country United States
Branch Air Force
Part of see "Assignments" section below
Garrison/HQ see "Stations" section below
Equipment see "Aerospace vehicles" section below
Decorations

see "Lineage and honors" section below


Contents

[edit] History

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[edit] Mission

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[edit] Operations

During World War II, the 85th participated in aerial combat in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands from February 1944 through August 1945. Subordinate units flew cover missions for convoys, patrols, escorted bombers, attacked enemy airfields, and supported ground forces. After the war's end, the organization provided fighter protection for the Philippine Islands and conducted an intensive training program in aerial combat, gunnery, and instrument flying, until June 1948. It was assigned to the Eastern Air Defense Force in September 1955. Until its deactivation in September 1958, the division intercepted unidentified aircraft and participated in numerous training exercises. It also took part in gunnery and air launched training and readiness tests.

[edit] Lineage and honors

Established as 85 Fighter Wing on 4 November 1943. Activated on 10 November 1943. Inactivated on 30 June 1948.

Redesignated 85 Air Division (Defense) on 3 May 1955. Activated on 8 September 1955. Inactivated on 1 September 1958.

[edit] Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

none

[edit] Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

  • World War II Asiatic-Pacific Theater: Leyte; Luzon; New Guinea.

[edit] Armed forces expeditionary streamers

This unit earned the following organizational expeditionary streamers:

none

[edit] Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

[edit] Awards

[edit] Emblem

A shield, per bend azure and of the sky proper, a sinister quarter pointed or; overall in chief, a silhouetted futuramic jet aircraft bendwise, volant, sable, with speed lines gules; in base a lightning bolt, bendwise of the third, over a checky grid throughout proper (red). (Approved 26 December 1956).


[edit] Assignments

Fourth Air Force, 10 November 1943; IV Fighter Command, 28 November 1943–10 January 1944; Army Service Forces, 10 January 1944–17 February 1944; Fifth Air Force, 18 February 1944; Far East Air Forces, 11 May 1945; Thirteenth Air Force, 1 September 1945; Fifth Air Force, 1 June 1947–30 June 1948.

Eastern Air Defense Force, 8 September 1955–1 September 1958.

[edit] Components

Wings:

Groups:

Squadrons:

[edit] Stations

Hamilton Field, California, 10 November 1943; San Francisco Municipal Airport, California, 10 November 1943–10 January 1944; Gusap, New Guinea, 25 February 1944; Hollandia, New Guinea, 24 July 1944; Leyte, Philippine Islands, 24 October 1944; Fort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippine Islands, c.15 June 1945; Floridablanca, Luzon, Philippine Islands, c.15 July 1946; Nagoya, Japan, 1 June 1947–30 June 1948.

Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 8 September 1955–1 September 1958.

[edit] Aerospace vehicles

P-38 Lightning, 1944–1946; P-40 Warhawk, 1944; P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944–1945, 1947; P (later, F)-51, 1945–1947; B-25 Mitchell, 1946; F-5 Lightning, 1946; F-6 Mustang, 1946; P-61 Black Widow, 1946; P (later, F)-80, 1946–1947.

F-86 Sabre, 1956–1958; F-94 Starfire, 1956–1957; F-102 Delta Dagger, 1957–1958.

[edit] Commanders

Colonel John M. Bartella, 10 November 1943; Colonel Harlan T. McCormick, 6 December 1943; Colonel Philip H. Greasley, 11 November 1944; Colonel George A. Walker, 23 April 1945; Brigadier General George P. Tourtellot, 20 May 1945; Lieutenant Colonel Vernon L. Head, 2 October 1945; Colonel Raymond J. Reeves, 1 February 1946; Brigadier General William M. Morgan, 26 February 1946; Unknown, 2 May 1947–30 June 1948.

Brigadier General Emmett F. Yost, 8 September 1955; Brigadier General Ernest H. Beverly, 1 August 1958–1 September 1958.

[edit] See also

United States Air Force Portal

[edit] References


This article incorporates text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website which, as a United States government publication, is in the public domain.

[edit] External links