39th Air Division

39th Air Division
39th Air Division emblem
Active	1 March 1952–15 January 1968
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

History

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the 39th Air Division controlled all of the units responsible for the air defense of north Japan, which included northern Honshu and Hokkaido islands and the contiguous territorial waters. In this role the 39th trained the assigned units and controlled aerial interception missions when Japanese air space was violated. The division also controlled air refueling and ECM missions, and trained personnel of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force in flying operations, radar operations and maintenance, and proper radio procedures. After the Soviet Union shot down an RB-29 Superfortress reconnaissance aircraft on 7 November 1954, the 39th provided fighter escort for all friendly reconnaissance aircraft flying near Soviet territory and the Northern Air Defense Sector. The division also supported combat operations during the Vietnam War.

Lineage and honors

Designated 39 Air Division (Defense), and organized, on 1 March 1952. Redesignated 39 Air Division on 18 March 1955. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 January 1968.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

• Korean Service

Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

none

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations:

none

Emblem

On a shield azure edged and a bend or, over all a roundel, per fess argent and of the first, charged with two electronic discharges chevronways, points to chief gules, all encircled with an annulet of the firmament proper, charged with thirteen stars argent. (Approved 25 June 1954)

Assignments

Japan Air Defense Force (later, Japan Air Self-Defense Force), 1 March 1952; Fifth Air Force, 1 September 1954–15 January 1968.

Components

Wings:

• 4 Fighter Bomber (later, 4 Fighter Day): attached 1 March 1955–7 March 1955, assigned 8 March 1955–8 December 1957.
• 12 Strategic Fighter: attached 18 May 1953–10 August 1953 and 10 May 1954–7 August 1954.
• 21 Tactical Fighter: 10 November 1958–18 June 1960.
• 27 Fighter Escort (later, 27th Strategic Fighter): attached 13 October 1952–c.13 February 1953.
• 31 Fighter Escort (later, 31 Strategic Fighter): attached 10 July 1952–11 October 1952 and 10 November 1953–12 February 1954.
• 49 Fighter Bomber: attached 7 November 1953–1 March 1955, assigned 1 March 1955–15 April 1957.
• 407 Strategic Fighter: attached 8 August 1954–10 November 1954.
• 506 Strategic Fighter: attached 13 August 1953–7 November 1953.
• 508 Strategic Fighter: attached 18 February 1953–18 May 1953.

Squadrons:

• 4 Fighter Interceptor: attached 10 August 1954–1 March 1955, assigned 1 March 1955–20 June 1965.
• 45 Tactical Reconnaissance: 25 April 1960–15 January 1968.
• 67 Tactical Fighter: 15 December 1967–15 January 1968.
• 339 Fighter Interceptor: 1 March 1955–15 January 1958.
• 356 Tactical Fighter: 29 November 1965–15 January 1968.
• 416 Tactical Fighter: 18 June 1960–16 June 1964.
• 418 Fighter Day: 10 December 1957–25 March 1958.
• 531 Tactical Fighter: 18 June 1960–16 June 1964.
• 612 Tactical Fighter: 3 November 1965–15 January 1968.

Stations

Misawa Air Base, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, 1 March 1952–15 January 1968.

Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

F-84 Thunderjet, 1952–1954, 1958–1959; KB-29 Superfortress, 1953–1954; F-86 Sabre, 1954–1960; F-100 Super Sabre, 1957–1964; F-102 Delta Dagger, 1960–1965; RF-101, 1960–1968; F-105 Thunderchief, 1967–1968.

Commanders

Colonel Boyd Hubbard Jr., 1 March 1952; Colonel Curtis R. Low, 30 May 1952; Colonel German P. Culver, 6 June 1953; Colonel William E. Elder, 15 September 1953; Brigadier General Edward N. Backus, 9 August 1955; Brigadier General James O. Guthrie, 25 July 1956; Colonel William W. Ingenhutt, 2 June 1959; Brigadier General Travis M. Hetherington, 24 July 1959; Colonel Dean Davenport, by 30 June 1961; Brigadier General Ernest H. Beverly, 5 August 1961; Colonel Roscoe C. Crawford Jr., 13 August 1963; Colonel Robert W. Shick, 29 May 1965; Colonel Frank E. Angier, 12 September 1966; Brigadier General John W. Harrell Jr., 27 October 1966; Colonel Oliver B. Bucher Jr., 1 July 1967–15 January 1968.

See also

• Fifth Air Force

References

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

External links

• Air Force Historical Research Agency: 39th Air Division