26th Air Division

26th Air Division
Emblem of the 26th Air Division
Active	1948–1990
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command and Control
Part of	Tactical Air Command (ADTAC)

26th Air Division ADC AOR 1966-1969

The 26th Air Division (26th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, (ADTAC) assigned to First Air Force, being stationed at March Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 30 September 1990.

History

Was established in October 1948 by Air Defense Command (ADC) as intermediate level of command. Initially responsible for atmospheric air defense of middle Atlantic region from North Carolina to greater New York City area east of the Appalachian mountains. Commanded Manual Direction Center (MDC) at Roslyn AFS, New York (P-3) 1948-1958 directing interceptor units to aircraft identified by Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons at radar stations in AOR. It employed off shore naval picket ships, fixed "Texas Tower" radar sites, airborne early warning units, and a civilian Ground Observer Corps program. The latter phased down when the SAGE program was implemented.

Improved radar and communications equipment and fighter interceptors, and better techniques and methods, eventually led to the 26th Air Division becoming the first operational Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE Direction Center (DC-1) within Air Defense Command at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. Moved to Syracuse AFS New York and commanded SAGE DC-3 Direction Center and first SAGE Command Center (CC-01) beginning in 1958 and assumed operational control of the MDC at Topsham AFS, Maine in August 1958 and the SAGE DC-4 at Fort Lee AFS, Virginia in September 1958. .

In 1961 the division assumed air defense training responsibility for Air National Guard (ANG) units within the area. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the division deployed fighter aircraft and part of its airborne early warning and control force to Florida.

The 26th's area of control expanded until by 1963 its boundaries extended from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico and well toward the center of the United States. Expanded responsibilities in 1963 assuming command of SAGE DC-9 at Gunter AFB, Alabama in July and DC-6 at Custer AFS, Michigan in September and GCI stations in Newfoundland and Labrador formerly under the 64th Air Division.

In April 1966, the division was replaced by the First Air Force, and moved without personnel or equipment to Adair AFS, Oregon, where it assumed responsibility for the defense of Oregon, part of California and Nevada by the inactivation of the Portland and Reno Air Defense Sectors. Assumed additional designation of 26th NORAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado and reporting was transferred to NORAD from ADC at Ent AFB in April 1966.

The division was gradually phasing down until it replaced the 27th Air Division at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in November 1969, when in an ADCOM reorganization of atmospheric defense forces, the command became responsible for the air defense of a large area of the southwest. In October 1979, it transferred to Tactical Air Command (ADTAC) and continued to supervise atmospheric defense forces of its assigned AOR.

Began phase-down of operations with activation of new Southwest Air Defense Sector (SWADS) in July 1987. Engaged chiefly in transfer of mission to SWADS 1987-1990. Inactivated on 1 October 1990.

Lineage

• Established as 26 Air Defense Division on 21 October 1948

Activated on 16 November 1948

Redesignated 26 Air Division (Defense) on 20 June 1949

Inactivated on 1 February 1952

• Organized on 1 February 1952

Redesignated: 26 Air Division (SAGE) on 8 August 1958

Redesignated: 26th NORAD Region/Air Division on 1 April 1966, replacing Portland Air Defense Sector and Reno Air Defense Sector

Inactivated on 30 September 1969, assets transferred to 25th and 26th NORAD Regions/Air Divisions

• Activated on 19 November 1969, absorbing assets of 27th Air Division

Redesignated 26th NORAD Region/Air Division (ADTAC), 1 October 1979

Inactivated on 30 September 1990, assets transferred to Southwest Air Defense Sector.

Assignments

• First Air Force, 16 November 1948
• Air Defense Command, 1 April 1949

Attached to Eastern Air Defense Force, 17 November 1949

• First Air Force, 16 November 1949

Remained attached to Eastern Air Defense Force to 31 August 1950

• Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 September 1950-1 February 1952

• Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 February 1952
• Air Defense Command, 1 August 1959
• Fourth Air Force, 1 April 1966-30 September 1969
• 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.

Stations

• Mitchel AFB, New York, 16 November 1948
• Mitchel AFB Sub Base #3, Roslyn, New York, 18 April 1949 – 1 February 1952
• Mitchel AFB Sub Base #3, Roslyn (later, Roslyn AFS), New York, 1 February 1952
• Syracuse AFS, New York, 15 August 1958

Redesignated Hancock Field, New York, 14 February 1959

• Stewart AFB, New York, 15 June 1964
• Adair AFS, Oregon, 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1969
• Luke AFB, Arizona 19 November 1969
• March AFB, California, 31 August 1983 – 1 July 1987.

Components

Air Force

• Air Forces Iceland

Keflavik Airport, Iceland, 1 July-4 September 1963

Sectors

• Bangor Air Defense Sector (BaADS)

Topsham AFS, Maine, 15 August 1958-1 April 1966

• Boston Air Defense Sector (BADS)

Hancock Field, New York, 1 April 1966

• Detroit Air Defense Sector (DADS)

Custer AFS, Michigan, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966

• Goose Air Defense Sector (GADS)

Goose AB, Labrador, 1 July 1963-1 April 1966

• Montgomery Air Defense Sector (MADS)

Gunter AFB, Alabama, 1 July 1963-1 April 1966

• New York Air Defense Sector (NYADS)

McGuire AFB, New Jersey, 8 January 1957-1 April 1966

• Syracuse Air Defense Sector (SYADS)

Syracuse AFS, New York, 15 August 1958-4 September 1963

• Washington Air Defense Sector (WADS)

Fort Lee AFS, Virginia, 1 September 1958-1 April 1966

Wings

• 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense)

Hamilton AFB, California, 31 December 1969-10 October 1970

• 78th Fighter Wing (Air Defense)

Hamilton AFB, California, 1 April 1966-15 September 1969; 19 November-31 December 1969

• 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing

Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1 July 1959-1 April 1966

• 4601st Support Wing

Paramus AFS, New Jersey, 1 July-1 October 1963

• 4621st Air Defense Wing (SAGE)

McGuire AFB, New Jersey, 18 October 1956-8 January 1957

• 4622d Air Defense Wing (SAGE)

Stewart AFB, New York, 18 October 1956-8 January 1957

• 4707th Air Defense Wing

Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1 March-18 October 1956

• 4709th Air Defense Wing

McGuire AFB, New York, 16 February 1953-1 September 1954

• 4710th Air Defense Wing

New Castle AFB, Delaware, 16 February 1953-1 September 1954

Groups

• 408th Fighter Group (Air Defense)

Kingsley Field, Oregon, 1 April 1966-15 September 1969

• 408th Fighter Group

Oxnard AFB, California, 19 November-31 December 1969

• 503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group

Roslyn AFS, New York, 1 January 1951-6 February 1952

• 751st Air Defense Group

Mount Laguna AFS, California, 1 March 1970-1 January 1974

• 858th Air Defense Group

Fallon AFS, Nevada, 1 March 1970-1 January 1974

See also

• List of United States Air Force air divisions

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1)
• Air Force Historical Research Agency: 26th Air Division