23rd Air Division (United States)

23rd Air Division
23rd Air Division emblem
Active	18 November 1969–1 July 1987
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

23rd Air Division ADC/TAC/NORAD Region AOR 1969-1979

23rd Air Division/Southeast Air Defense Sector AOR, 1979-1987

The 23rd Air Division is an inactive First Air Force, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). It was inactivated on 1 July 1987 at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

History

The Division was activated at NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado.

The 23rd AD was responsible for the air defense of a large area of the upper Midwest south of the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Data Center (DC-10) at Duluth AFS.

The division and its subordinate interceptor, missile and radar units participated in numerous exercises such as Amalgam Fairplay, Feathered Indian, and Feathered Brave. In addition, its subordinate units exercised with surface to air missiles. The scope of responsibility for the 23rd AD was expanded in 1973 with further ADCOM unit inactivations and consolidations to include the area south along the 88th meridian west to the 33rd parallel north, west to the 97th meridian west. This added all of Missouri and Arkansas, as well as western Tennessee and northern Mississippi to the Division's Area of Responsibly.

In 1979 it was incorporated into Tactical Air Command with the inactivation of ADCOM as a major command. Under Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC) it continued its mission until 15 April 1982 when it was reassigned to Tyndall AFB, Florida and assumed responsibility for most of the region previously commanded by the inactivated 20th Air Division.

In 1985 most active-duty units were inactivated or reassigned to other missions, and the air defense mission came under Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units under First Air Force. The Division stood down on 1 July 1987, its command, mission, components, and assets were transferred to the ADTAC Southeast Air Defense Sector.

Lineage

• Established as 23rd Air Division on 18 November 1969

Activated on 19 November 1969

Assumed additional designations 23rd NORAD/CONRAD Region, 1 April 1966

Assumed additional designation 23rd ADCOM Region, 8 December 1978

Inactivated on 1 July 1987, assets transferred to Southeast Air Defense Sector

Assignments

• Aerospace Defense Command, 19 November 1969
• Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979
• First Air Force, 6 December 1985-1 July 1987

Components

Interceptor units

• 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense)

Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1–31 December 1969

• 343rd Fighter Group (Air Defense)

Duluth Airport, Minnesota, 19 November 1969-28 August 1970

Missile units

• 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)

Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 19 November 1969-31 July 1972

• 74th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)

Duluth AFS, Minnesota, 19 November 1969-30 April 1972

Radar units

Stations

• Duluth Airport, Minnesota, 19 November 1969
• Tyndall AFB, Florida, 15 April 1982-1 July 1987.

See also

• List of United States Air Force air divisions
• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
• Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
• Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
• Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).

External links

• Air Force Historical Research Agency: 23rd Air Division

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