833d Air Division - Misplaced Pages

833d Air Division
F-15 Eagle of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing
Active	1964–1969; 1980-1991
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command of tactical fighter forces
Commanders
Notable commanders	Gen Chuck Horner Maj. Gen. Willard W. Millikan Gen Lloyd W. Newton
Insignia
833d Air Division emblem

Military unit

The 833d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command (TAC), assigned to Twelfth Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 15 November 1991.

The division was first activated in late 1964 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina and assumed command of tactical fighter wings and a tactical reconnaissance wing located in the Carolinas. Its subordinate units participated in the response to the Dominican Republic crisis of 1965–1966.

During the Vietnam War, its subordinate wings trained aircrews in fighter and reconnaissance aircraft. Its 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing maintained detachments in Southeast Asia and trained squadrons that transferred to fly combat operations, while its 354th Fighter Wing transferred its last combat squadron to the Pacific in 1968 and became non-operational.

During the Pueblo crisis in 1968, its 4th Tactical Fighter Wing deployed to the Pacific, while three Air National Guard groups were mobilized and assigned to the 833d. The division was inactivated in 1969 and its wings transferred to Ninth Air Force.

The 833d was activated again in 1981, when it replaced Tactical Training, Holloman as the headquarters for TAC units stationed at Holloman. It trained pilots in the McDonnell F-15 Eagle and conducted fighter lead in training in the Northrop T-38 Talon. During Operation Desert Storm, most of its strength deployed to the Middle East, while activated reservists took their places at Holloman. In 1991 the division was inactivated when the USAF conducted the Objective Wing reorganization, which placed all units on a single base into a single wing.

History

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base

The 833d Air Division was organized by Tactical Air Command (TAC) on 1 October 1964 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, although it did not receive its first manning until a week later. The division was originally assigned the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson, the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina and the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base. South Carolina. The 4th Wing flew the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, while the 354th Wing was equipped with North American F-100 Super Sabres. The 363d had a variety of reconnaissance aircraft and in addition to its reconnaissance mission, performed a number of test projects for the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center, which was also located at Shaw.

Between 1964 and 1969, the division supported USAF operations in Southeast Asia. Its 4th Wing conducted replacement training for F-105 pilots. The 354th Wing deployed all but one of its squadrons overseas by April 1966. The 363d Wing deployed detachments to Southeast Asia and trained reconnaissance squadrons that moved to the Pacific after becoming combat ready. Later the 363d focused on replacement training of tactical reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircrews.

During the Dominican Republic crisis of 1965–1966, the division's 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing flew the greatest part of reconnaissance missions. and division personnel and aircraft deployed to Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, and San Isidro Air Base, Dominican Republic.

Air National Guard F-100 at Myrtle Beach AFB

The seizure of the USS Pueblo on the high seas by the North Koreans in January 1968 saw elements of the division's assigned wings deployed to the Far East. With the departure of the 4th Wing from Seymour Johnson for Korea, the division assumed command of the 4th Combat Support Group and responsibility for managing support activities on the base for six months. In April, a number of Air National Guard organizations were called to extended service and incorporated into the 833d's training program. Four groups were assigned to the division, and an additional seven augmented the division's wings. Brigadier General Willard W. Millikan of the District of Columbia Air National Guard assumed command of the 833d. As the Guard units were mobilized, the 354th Wing transferred its last operational squadron to Viet Nam, becoming non-operational as it turned its remaining resources over to the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, which became the host for Myrtle Beach. In July, the 354th moved on paper to Korea, where it took over the deployed resources of the 4th Wing and Guard units and was reassigned.

In late May 1969 in preparation for the return to state control of the Air National Guard units that had been federalized for the Pueblo Crisis, TAC activated the 4554th Combat Crew Training Wing at Myrtle Beach. The 4554th focused on fighter lead in training using Lockheed T-33 T-Bird armed trainers, including for foreign students who were trained in the T-Bird under the Military Assistance Program. The 4554th also began actions for becoming the first Air Force wing to operate the LTV A-7 Corsair II, although it did not receive its first A-7s until after the division inactivated. On 18 June, all mobilized Guard units had been relieved from the wing and returned to state control. A little more than six months later, on 24 December 1969, the 833d was inactivated and its assigned units transferred to Ninth Air Force.

Holloman Air Force Base

The 833d was reactivated in December 1980 and assigned to Twelfth Air Force, replacing Tactical Training, Holloman as the headquarters for TAC units at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The division supervised two assigned wings at Holloman. The division's subordinate units maintained proficiency in the McDonnell F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter and trained aircrews from allied countries. Its subordinate units screened recent pilot training graduates for fighter aptitude and provided academic and flight training in the tactics, techniques and operation of fighter aircraft. The wings also conducted training courses for jet currency, instructor pilot upgrade, and forward air controller orientation. The division also participated in numerous tactical exercises in the Middle East.

Personnel of the 49th Wing's 4449th Mobility Support Squadron, which controlled all of Tactical Air Command's bare base assets, deployed in Operation Urgent Fury, the replacement of the revolutionary government of Grenada with the constitutionally elected government.

In May 1988, the division's 479th Tactical Training Wing maintenance was transferred from squadrons of the wing to a civilian contractor, DynCorp. Downsizing of the 479th continued and in July 1991 the wing was inactivated and replaced by the smaller 479th Fighter Group.

In addition to the deployment of combat units, during Operation Desert Storm subordinate units of the division deployed forces, many of whom were replaced by reservists called to active duty. The 833d Combat Support Group deployed security police personnel, while the medical group sent an air transportable hospital forward. The 4449th Mobility Support Squadron conducted the largest single unit deployment for the first Gulf War.

In July 1991, when the 479th Tactical Training Wing was inactivated, the division had only a single wing under its command. Activities at Holloman were consolidated under the 49th Fighter Wing, which was reorganizing under the Objective Wing model, which called for a single wing on each Air Force Base and the division was inactivated.

Lineage

Established as the 833d Air Division and activated on 14 September 1964 (not organized)

Organized on 1 October 1964

Inactivated on 24 December 1969

Activated on 1 December 1980

Inactivated on 15 November 1991

Assignments

Tactical Air Command, 14 September 1964 (not organized)
Ninth Air Force, 1 October 1964 – 24 December 1969
Twelfth Air Force, 1 December 1980 - 15 November 1991

Stations

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, 1 October 1964 – 24 December 1969
Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1 December 1980 – 15 November 1991