37th Air Division

37th Air Division
F-102 of the division's 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron[1]
Active	1951–1952; 1955–1959; 1966–1970
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command of strategic strike forces, then of air defense forces
Insignia
37th Air Division emblem (Approved 6 September 1953)[2]

The 37th Air Division (37th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command at Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, Canada It was inactivated on 30 June 1970.

History

Strategic Air Command

Established under Strategic Air Command in 1952^[2] as an intermediate-level command and control organization at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. Was responsible for strategic reconnaissance operations at Lockbourne and at Lake Charles Air Force Base, Louisiana. Assigned wings operated Boeing RB-29 Superfortress very long range reconnaissance aircraft. Both wings deployed operational aircraft to Far East Air Forces in early 1952 for use in Korean War. Wings re-equipped with new Boeing RB-47 Stratojets. Inactivated in May 1952.^[2]

Air Defense Command

37th AD Air Defense Command AOR 1955–1959

37th AD Air Defense Command AOR 1966–1970

Reactivated on 8 September 1955 by Air Defense Command (ADC) at Truax Field, Wisconsin under Eastern Air Defense Force.^[2] Was responsible for the construction and development of several Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Data Centers. SAGE centers developed were at Truax Field, Wisconsin (DC-07) and Combat Center (CC-02); Direction Center (DC-10) at Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota; and Direction Center (DC-14) at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan. Its defense area included parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa and southern parts of Ontario, Canada as part of the Pinetree Line.

On 8 March 1957, the Chicago Air Defense Sector, along with DC-07 and was assigned to the Division. On 8 October, the Duluth Air Defense Sector, along with DC-10 was assigned.^[2] On 8 November, the Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector was also activated along with DC-14. Inactivated on 1 April 1959^[2] as part of an ADC reorganization, most assets reassigned to the senior ADC 30th Air Division (SAGE).

Reactivated by ADC a second time in April 1966,^[2] assuming the assets of inactivating Goose Air Defense Sector at Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, Canada, including the Manual Control Center (MCC) at Goose. Assumed designation of 37th NORAD Region for stations and allied Canadian Forces assigned to NORAD air defense duties in Canada.

Was responsible for atmospheric defenses (interceptor and radar) for northeastern North America, including Greenland and Air Forces Iceland which was transferred from Military Air Transport Service.

Inactivated June 1970^[2] by ADCOM as part of draw-down of USAF air defense forces in Canada and budget reductions, remaining assets in Canada transferred to Canadian Forces.

Lineage

• Established as the 37 Air Division and organized on 10 October 1951

Discontinued on 28 May 1952

• Redesignated 37 Air Division (Defense) on 3 May 1955

Activated on 8 September 1955

Inactivated on 1 April 1959

• Redesignated 37th Air Division and activated on 20 January 1966 (not organized)

Organized on 1 April 1966

Inactivated on 30 June 1970^[2]

Assignments

• Second Air Force, 10 October 1951 – 28 May 1952
• Eastern Air Defense Force, 8 September 1955 – 1 April 1959
• Air Defense Command, 20 January 1966 (not organized)
• First Air Force, 1 April 1966
• Aerospace Defense Command, 1 December 1969 – 30 June 1970^[2]

Stations

• Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, 10 October 1951 – 28 May 1952
• Truax Field, Wisconsin, 8 September 1955 – 1 April 1959
• Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 30 June 1970^[2]

Components

Strategic Air Command

• 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing: 10 October 1951 – 28 May 1952

Detached for service in Japan (Korean War): 10 October 1951-c. 15 May 1952

Lake Charles Air Force Base, Louisiana

• 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing: 10 October 1951 – 28 May 1952

Detached for service in Japan (Korean War): 10 October 1951 – 17 March 1952^[2]

Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio

Air Defense Command

Air Force

• Air Forces Iceland^[2]

Keflavik Airport, Iceland, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969

Sectors

• Chicago Air Defense Sector

Truax Field, Wisconsin, 8 March 1957 – 1 April 1959

• Duluth Air Defense Sector

Duluth Airport, Minnesota, 1 October-20 December 1957; 1 January-1 April 1959

• Sault Ste Marie Air Defense Sector

K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, 8 November 1958 – 1 April 1959^[2]

Wings

• 4706th Air Defense Wing

O'Hare International Airport, Illinois, 1 March-1 July 1956

• 4710th Air Defense Wing

O'Hare International Airport, Illinois, 1 March-8 July 1956^[2]

Groups

56th Fighter Group (Air Defense) O'Hare International Airport, Illinois, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 327th Fighter Group (Air Defense) Truax Field, Wisconsin, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 343d Fighter Group (Air Defense) Duluth Airport, Minnesota, 1 January-1 April 1959 473d Fighter Group (Air Defense) K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959

507th Fighter Group (Air Defense) Kinross Air Force Base, Michigan, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 4683d Air Base Group Thule Air Base, Greenland, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969 4684th Air Base Group[2] Sondrestrom Air Base, Greenland, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969

Interceptor squadron

• 59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^[2]

Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 2 January 1967

Radar squadrons

639th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Truax Field, Wisconsin, 1 December 1956 Lowther Air Station, Ontario, Canada, 1 July 1957 – 15 November 1958 640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Stephenville Air Station, Newfoundland, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 31 March 1970 641st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Melville Air Station, Labrador, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 31 March 1970 665th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Calumet Air Force Station, Michigan, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 674th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Osceola Air Force Station, Wisconsin, 1 January-1 April 1959 676th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Antigo Air Force Station, Wisconsin, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 692d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Baudette Air Force Station, Minnesota, 1 January-1 April 1959 700th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Two Creeks Air Force Station, Wisconsin, 8 July 1956 – 30 November 1957 707th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Grand Rapids Air Force Station, Minnesota, 1 January-1 April 1959 752d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Empire Air Force Station, Michigan, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 753d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Sault Sainte Marie Air Force Station, Michigan, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 755th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Williams Bay Air Force Station, Wisconsin, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 756th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Finland Air Force Station, Minnesota, 1 January-1 April 1959

782d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Rockville Air Force Station, Indiana, 1 September 1958 – 1 April 1959 788th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Waverly Air Force Station, Iowa, 15 October 1958 – 1 April 1959 790th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Kirksville Air Force Station, Missouri, 15 October 1958 – 1 April 1959 791st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Custer Air Force Station, Missouri, 15 October 1958 – 1 April 1959 906th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Grand Marais Air Force Station, Michigan, 8 July 1956 – 30 November 1957 913th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Pagwa Air Station, Ontario, Canada, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 914th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Armstrong Air Station, Ontario, Canada, 8 July 1956 – 1 April 1959 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Sioux Lookout Air Station, Ontario, Canada, 1 January-15 November 1959 921st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Saint Anthony Air Station, Newfoundland, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 18 June 1968 922d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Cartwright Air Station, Labrador, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 18 June 1968 923d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Hopedale Air Station, Labrador, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 18 June 1968 924th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Saglek Air Station, Labrador, Canada, 1 April 1966 – 31 March 1970

See also

• List of United States Air Force air divisions
• List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons
• United States general surveillance radar stations

References

Notes

1. Aircraft is F-102A Serial 56-1418 in 1969
2. "Factsheet 37 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2014.

Bibliography

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

• Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
• Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies: The legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 97020912.^{[dead link‍]}
• "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". The Interceptor. 21 (1). Aerospace Defense Command: 5–11, 26–31, 40–45, 54–59. January 1979.