The 39th Air Division (39th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force at Misawa Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 15 January 1968.
"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 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."
Designated as the 39th Air Division (Defense) and organized on 1 March 1952
Redesignated as:
39th Air Division on 18 March 1955
Discontinued and inactivated on 15 January 1968
Japan Air Defense Force, 1 March 1952
Fifth Air Force, 1 September 1954 – 15 January 1968
Misawa Air Base, Japan, 1 March 1952 – 15 January 1968
4th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 4th Fighter-Day Wing): attached 1 – 7 March 1955, assigned 8 March 1955 – 8 December 1957
12th Strategic Fighter Wing: attached 18 May – 10 August 1953 and 10 May – 7 August 1954
21st Tactical Fighter Wing: 10 November 1958 – 18 June 1960
27th Fighter-Escort Wing (later 27th Strategic Fighter Wing): attached 13 October 1952 – c. 13 February 1953
31st Fighter-Escort Wing (later 31 Strategic Fighter Wing): attached 10 July – 11 October 1952 and 10 November 1953 – 12 February 1954
49th Fighter-Bomber Wing: attached 7 November 1953 – 1 March 1955, assigned 1 March 1955 – 15 April 1957
407th Strategic Fighter Wing: attached 8 August – 10 November 1954
506th Strategic Fighter Wing: attached 13 August – 7 November 1953
508th Strategic Fighter Wing: attached 18 February – 18 May 1953
4th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: attached 10 August 1954 – 1 March 1955, assigned 1 March 1955 – 20 June 1965
45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 25 April 1960 – 15 January 1968
67th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 December 1967 – 15 January 1968
339th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 March 1955 – 15 January 1958
356th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 29 November 1965 – 15 January 1968
416th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 18 June 1960 – 16 June 1964
418th Fighter-Day Squadron: 10 December 1957 – 25 March 1958
531st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 18 June 1960 – 16 June 1964
612th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 3 November 1965 – 15 January 1968
