31st Air Division (United States)
Encyclopedia
The 31st Air Division (31st AD) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, assigned to Tenth Air Force
, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport
, Iowa
. It was inactivated on 31 December 1969.
, South Dakota
, Nebraska
, Minnesota
, and other parts of the Midwest. The division participated in numerous live and simulated exercises such as Creek Chief, Pawnee Knife, and Mandan Hunt
Later, beginning in 1966, the 31st assumed responsibility for the former Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector
and covered an area including Texas
, Oklahoma
, Arkansas
, and Louisiana
. Assumed additional designation of 31st 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.
Inactivated in December 1969 as ADC phased down its interceptor mission as the chances of a Soviet bomber attack on the United States seemed remote, its mission being consolidated into North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD).
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, assigned to Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport
Sioux Gateway Airport
-History:The construction of Sioux City Army Air Base began in March 1942, about three months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Opened on 5 July 1942, it became a major training center during World War II for crew members of B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. It was inactivated on 31 December 1969.
History
Assigned to Air Defense Command (ADC) for most of its existence, the division equipped, administered, trained, and provided combat ready forces within an area covering North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and other parts of the Midwest. The division participated in numerous live and simulated exercises such as Creek Chief, Pawnee Knife, and Mandan Hunt
Later, beginning in 1966, the 31st assumed responsibility for the former Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector
Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector
The Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Oklahoma City Air Force Station , Oklahoma...
and covered an area including Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Assumed additional designation of 31st NORAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain is a mountain located just outside the southwest side of Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S., and is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and its Cheyenne Mountain Directorate, formerly known as the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center .Throughout the Cold War and...
, Colorado and reporting was transferred to NORAD from ADC at Ent AFB in April 1966.
Inactivated in December 1969 as ADC phased down its interceptor mission as the chances of a Soviet bomber attack on the United States seemed remote, its mission being consolidated into North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(NORAD).
Lineage
- Established as 31 Air Division (Defense) on 7 September 1950
- Activated on 8 October 1950
- Inactivated on 1 February 1952
- Organized on 1 February 1952
- Inactivated on 1 January 1960
- Redesignated 31st NORAD Region/Air Division, and activated, on 20 January 1966
- Organized on 1 April 1966, replacing Oklahoma City Air Defense SectorOklahoma City Air Defense SectorThe Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Oklahoma City Air Force Station , Oklahoma...
- Inactivated on 31 December 1969.
Assignments
- Air Defense Command
- Eastern Air Defense ForceEastern Air Defense ForceThe Eastern Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 8 October 1950- Attached 30 Air Division [Defense] , 27 November 1950 – 1 February 1951
- Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense ForceThe Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 20 May 1951 – 1 January 1960- Air Defense Command, 20 January 1966
- Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 1 April 1966 – 1 July 1968 (ConACContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
) - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 1 July 1968 – 31 December 1969.
Stations
- Selfridge AFB, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 8 October 1950 – 1 February 1952 - Fort Snelling (later, Snelling AFS)Minneapolis-Saint Paul International AirportMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, 1 February 1952 – 1 January 1960 - Oklahoma City AFSWest Woodward AirportWest Woodward Airport is a general aviation airport, located west of the City of Woodward, Oklahoma downtown business district....
, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969.
Sectors
- Duluth Air Defense SectorDuluth Air Defense SectorThe Duluth Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being stationed at Duluth Airport, Minnesota...
: 20 December 1957 – 1 January 1959
- Duluth Airport, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
- Grand Forks Air Defense SectorGrand Forks Air Defense SectorThe Grand Forks Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base , North Dakota...
: 8 December 1957 – 1 January 1959
- Grand Forks Air Defense Sector
- Grand Forks AFB, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
Groups
- 521st Air Defense Group521st Air Defense GroupThe 521st Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa...
: 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955.
- Redesignated: 53d Fighter Group: 18 August 1955 – 1 March 1956
- Sioux City MAPSioux City Air National Guard BaseSioux City Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Sioux Gateway Airport It is located south-southeast of Sioux City, Iowa...
, IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
- 515th Air Defense Group515th Air Defense GroupThe 515th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division, being stationed at Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota...
: 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- 515th Air Defense Group
- Redesignated: 343d Fighter Group343d Composite WingThe 343d Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Alaskan Air Command, stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. It was inactivated on 20 August 1993-History:...
: 18 August 1955 – 1 January 1959 - Duluth MAPDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
- 514th Air Defense Group514th Air Defense GroupThe 514th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division, being stationed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota...
: 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- Re-designated: 475th Fighter Group: 18 August 1955 – 2 January 1958
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul MAPMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Joint Air Reserve StationMinneapolis-Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. It is located south-southeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was formerly the location of Naval Air Station Twin Cities.-Overview:Minneapolis St...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
- 478th Fighter Group: 8 February 1957 – 1 January 1959
- Grand Forks AFB, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
Interceptor squadrons
- 11th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron11th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 11th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 343d Fighter Group, stationed at Duluth Airport, Minnesota...
: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953
- Duluth MAPDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
- 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul MAPMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Joint Air Reserve StationMinneapolis-Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. It is located south-southeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was formerly the location of Naval Air Station Twin Cities.-Overview:Minneapolis St...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
- 54th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953
- Ellsworth AFB, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
- 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 November 1952 – 16 February 1953
- Sioux City AptSioux City Air National Guard BaseSioux City Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Sioux Gateway Airport It is located south-southeast of Sioux City, Iowa...
, IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
- 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron331st Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Webb Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on March 1, 1967-History:...
: 1 April 1966 – 1 March 1967
- Webb AFB, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron432d Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 475th Fighter Group stationed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota. It was inactivated on January 2, 1958.-History:Combat in Southwest...
: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953
- 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Truax FieldTruax Air National Guard BaseTruax Field Air National Guard Base , is a United States Air Force base, located at Dane County Regional Airport, Wisconsin. It is located northeast of Madison, Wisconsin.-Units:...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
- 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 November 1952 – 16 February 1953
- Truax FieldTruax Air National Guard BaseTruax Field Air National Guard Base , is a United States Air Force base, located at Dane County Regional Airport, Wisconsin. It is located northeast of Madison, Wisconsin.-Units:...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Radar squadrons
- 650th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Dallas Center AFS, Iowa, 1 July 1955-1 March 1956
- 676th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Antigo AFS, Wisconsin, 6 February 1952-16 February 1953
- 683d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron683d Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 683d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Sweetwater Air Force Station, Texas...
- 683d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Sweetwater AFS, Texas, 1 April 1966-30 September 1969
- 687th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- West Mesa AFS, New Mexico, 1 April 1966-8 September 1968
- 688th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron688th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 688th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas...
- 688th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Amarillo AFB, Texas, 1 April 1966-8 September 1968
- 692d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Baudette AFS, Minnesota, 1 October 1958-1 January 1959
- 703d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Texarkana AFS, Arkansas, 1 April 1966-8 September 1968
- 707th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Grand Rapids AFS, Minnesota, 1 July 1956-1 January 1959
- 739th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Wadena AFS, Minnesota, 1 February 1953-1 January 1959
- 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron740th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Minot Air Defense Sector, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota...
- 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Rapid City AFB, South Dakota, 1-16 February 1953
- 741st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron741st Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 741st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas...
- 741st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Lackland AFB, Texas, 1 April 1966-31 December 1969
- 745th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron745th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 745th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Air Division, Air Defense Command, stationed at Perrin Air Force Station, Texas...
- 745th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Perrin AFS, Texas, 1 April 1966-30 September 1969
- 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron746th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Oklahoma City Air Force Station, Oklahoma...
- Oklahoma City AFS, Oklahoma, 1 April 1966-8 September 1968
- 756th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Finland AFS, Minnesota, 6 February 1952-1 July 1959
- 785th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Finley AFS, North Dakota, 6 February 1952-16 February 1953
- 786th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Minot AFS, North Dakota, 6 February 1952-16 February 1953
- 787th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Chandler AFS, Minnesota, 6 February 1952-1 January 1959
- 788th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Waverly AFS, Iowa, 6 February 1952-1 March 1956
- 789th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Omaha AFS, Nebraska, 6 February 1952-1 March 1956
- 791st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Hanna City AFS, Illinois, 6 February 1952-1 March 1956
- 808th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Rochester AFS, Minnesota, 1 September 1955-9 September 1957
- 903d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Gettysburg AFS, South Dakota, 1 March 1956-1 January 1959
- 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron915th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Duluth Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Sioux Lookout Air Station, Ontario, Canada...
- 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Sioux Lookout AS, Ontario, 16 December 1952-1 January 1959
- 916th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron916th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 916th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Beausejour Air Station, Manitoba, Canada...
- 916th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Beausejour AS, Manitoba, 1 December 1952-1 January 1959
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsAerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsThe second iteration of Aerospace Defense Command was established on 21 March 1946 as a component of the United States Army Air Forces, with the mission of planning for and executing the air defense of the United States...
- List of United States Air Force air divisions