The division was activated as the 819th Air Division in 1956 to command two Boeing B-47 Stratojet wings that SAC was organizing at Dyess. "The division emphasized flying operations, flying training, and aircraft maintenance. In fulfilling its duties, the 819th participated in numerous tactical training exercises throughout its existence."[1] Until April 1961, the division also provided supporting services at Dyess through its 819th Air Base Group.
After 1961, the wing became an operational headquarters for wings located at bases in the southwestern United States. It added SM-65 Atlas ICBMs, Boeing B-52 Stratofortresss and Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers in 1962, and its B-47s were phased out by the middle of the following year. The missile mission brought with it a new name, 819th Strategic Aerospace Division.
The division was inactivated in 1966 and its component wings were assigned to other SAC divisions.
History
B-47 era
B-47 refueling from a KC-97
The 819th Air Division was activated By Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas in January 1956 as the command headquarters for Dyess in anticipation of the movement of a second Boeing B-47 Stratojet wing to Dyess. In June, its 819th Air Base Group became the host organization for Dyess, taking over from the 341st Air Base Group, which had acted in that capacity since the fall of 1956.[2][3]
In June 1960 the division was assigned a unit stationed elsewhere, when the 310th Bombardment Wing at Schilling Air Force Base, Kansas, another Stratojet wing, was assigned to the 819th.[11] This transfer occurred because the 310th's parent 802d Air Division was inactivated as Shilling became a single wing base.[12][13]
SM-65F Atlas of the division's 577th Strategic Missile Squadron
Beginning in April 1961, the 341st wing began to phase down in anticipation of its inactivation, which occurred on 25 June 1961.[4] At the same time, the division added the SM-65 Atlas missile to its strategic forces, when the 550th Strategic Missile Squadron stood up under the 310th wing in April, while the 578th Strategic Missile Squadron was activated under the 96th wing in July.[5] The first intercontinental ballistic missiles at Dyess did not go on alert until April 1962, however.[5][11] In June, the division was transformed into an operational headquarters only, when its 819th Combat Support Group was inactivated and its mission transferred to the 96th Combat Support Group, which was part of the 96th Wing. The 819th Medical Group was reassigned to the 96th Wing at the same time.[14]
B-52 era
Boeing KC-135 takeoff
In April 1962 SAC renamed its units that were responsible for both bomber and missile operations to include the word "aerospace". The division became the 819th Strategic Aerospace Division and its 96th and 310th wings were renamed the 96th and 310th Strategic Aerospace Wings.[1][5][11] In July, SAC shuffled the responsibilities of its air divisions and the 310th was transferred to the 22d Strategic Aerospace Division and the 95th Bombardment Wing at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas was transferred from the 810th Air Division to take its place.[5][11] Unlike the wings previously assigned to the 819th, the 95th wing flew the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.[5] The B-52 brought with it a new mission, the periodic maintenance of aircraft on airborne alert, in Operation Chrome Dome.[15] In addition, half of SAC B-52 wing aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert at their home stations, fully fueled, armed and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike.[16]
In March 1963, the 578th became the 96th Wing's sole strategic strike unit, as the wing's three B-47 squadrons were inactivated. This was, however, only a hiatus as the 337th Bombardment Squadron was activated again in September with Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses as part of SAC's program to disperse its B-52 fleet over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.[5][17]
Abilene Air Force Base, (later, Dyess Air Force Base), Texas, 1 February 1956 – 2 July 1966
Components
Wings
11th Strategic Aerospace Wing: 1 July 1965 – 2 July 1966
Carswell Air Force Base, Texas
95th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1962 – 1 July 1964
Biggs Air Force Base, Texas
96th Bombardment Wing (later 96th Strategic Aerospace Wing): 3 September 1957 – 2 July 1966 (attached to 3d Air Division 10 January 1957 – 7 April 1957)[5]
310th Bombardment Wing (later 310th Strategic Aerospace Wing): 20 June 1960 – 1 July 1962
Schilling Air Force Base, Kansas
341st Bombardment Wing: 1 February 1956 – 25 June 1961 (attached to 3d Air Division 9 January 1958 – c. 4 April 1958)[4]
461st Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1964 – 1 July 1965
Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas
494th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1965 – 1 October 1965
^Approved 21 January 1959. Description: Per bendazure and light blue, in fess a cloud argent pierced by a lightning flash in bend gulesfimbriated to base or between four mullets of the last [color mentioned] three in sinisterchief and one in sinister base all within a diminished border of the third [color mentioned].
Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-59-5.