823d Air Division

823d Air Division
Emblem of the 823d Air Division
Active	1956-1971
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command and Control
Part of	Strategic Air Command
Garrison/HQ	McCoy AFB, Florida

The 823d Air Division (823d AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Second Air Force, being stationed at McCoy Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 30 June 1971.

Activated in 1956 as an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command, providing command and control of B-47 Stratojet subordinate units in long range offensive bombardment and air to air refueling operations. After the B-47's phaseout in 1965, controlled B-52D and B-52G Stratofortress Wings in the Southeastern United States converted to conventional bombing configuration for use in the Vietnam War. Between 1965 and 1975, the division's subordinate units deployed aircraft and crews to Strategic Air Command organizations in Southeast Asia in support of Arc Light combat operations. The 823d also conducted staff assistance visits and participated in exercises such as Buckskin Rider.

Inactivated in 1971 as part of SAC's withdrawal from Southeast Asia and also as a result of budgetary reductions.

History

Lineage

• Established as 823 Air Division on 19 June 1956.

Activated on 1 June 1956.

Inactivated on 30 June 1971.

Assignments

• Second Air Force, 1 June 1956
• Eighth Air Force, 1 January 1959
• Second Air Force, 31 March 1970 – 30 June 1971.

Stations

• Homestead AFB, Florida, 1 June 1956
• McCoy AFB, Florida, 2 July 1968 – 30 June 1971.

Components

Wings

• 2nd Bombardment (Hunter AFB, Georgia)

1 April 1961-1 April 1963

• 19th Bombardment (Homestead AFB, Florida)

1 June 1956-25 July 1968

Detached 8 May-7 June 1957; 2 July 1969-30 June 1971

• 68th Bombardment (Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina)

2 July 1969-30 June 1971

• 72nd Bombardment (Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico)

1 October 1962-30 June 1971

• 306th Bombardment (McCoy AFB, Florida)

6 February 1961-30 June 1971

• 321st Bombardment (McCoy AFB, Florida)

6 February-25 October 1961

• 379th Bombardment (Homestead AFB, Florida)

1 June 1956-9 January 1961

Detached 6 March-12 May 1957

• 484th Bombardment (Turner AFB, Georgia)

2 September 1966-25 March 1967

• 4047th Strategic (McCoy AFB, Florida)

1 July 1961-1 April 1963.

Aircraft

• B-47 Stratojet, 1956–1963
• KC-97 Stratotanker, 1956–1963
• B-52 Stratofortress, 1962–1968; 1969–1971
• KC-135 Stratotanker, 1962–1968; 1969–1971.

See also

• List of United States Air Force air divisions

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

External links

• 823d Air Division Factsheet