6th Air Division

Heraldry

On a shield per chevron argent and gules, in chief, a stylized silhouetted jet aircraft, issuing from chief, nose toward base azure; in base a sphere with land areas of the first and water areas of the third, grid lines black, over a branch of olive or, between two lightning bolts argent; superimposed overall and flanking the dexter and sinister, two stylized arrows or. (Approved 5 October 1955)

History

Established as a pursuit wing in 1940, under Northeast Air District (later First Air Force). Deployed to the European Theater of Operations in the summer of 1942, the 6th Fighter Wing was a training organization for VIII Fighter Command in England during 1942/43 where it trained replacement pilots for fighter organizations. After the war, it served in the Canal Zone as part of the defense forces of the Panama Canal

Being redesignated as an Air Division in 1951, the 6th Air Division was an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command, performing, organizing, and training assigned units for sustained long–range offensive bombardment and air-to-air refueling operations around the world.

Inactivated by SAC with the closure of Dow Air Force Base in 1966, the unit was reactivated under Thirteenth Air Force in the Philippines as a theater transport command and control organization, supporting US forces in the Vietnam War. Units under the division's control participated in Arc Light missions and controlled aircraft that flew weather reconnaissance missions in Southeast Asia.

Inactivated in 1969 due to budget restraints.

Lineage

Established as the 6th Pursuit Wing on 19 October 1940

Activated on 18 December 1940 Inactivated on 7 December 1941

Redesignated 6th Fighter Wing on 30 May 1942

Activated on 7 June 1942 Disestablished on 13 September 1943

Reestablished on 5 August 1946

Activated on 25 August 1946 Inactivated on 28 July 1948

Redesignated 6th Air Division on 1 February 1951

Organized on 10 February 1951 Discontinued on 16 June 1952

Activated on 16 June 1952

Discontinued and inactivated on 2 July 1966

Activated on 5 July 1968

Organized on 1 August 1968 Inactivated on 15 December 1969

Assignments

GHQ Air Force, 18 December 1940 – 7 December 1941

Apparently further assigned to: Northeast Air District, later 1st Air Force, 16 January 1941 Apparently further assigned to: I Interceptor Command, 5 June – 7 December 1941

VIII Fighter Command, 7 June 1942 – 13 September 1943 (attached to I Fighter Command until c. 5 August 1942)

Caribbean Air Command, 25 August 1946 – 28 July 1948

Second Air Force, 10 February 1951 – 16 June 1952

Second Air Force, 16 June 1952

Eighth Air Force, 1 January 1959 – 2 July 1966

Pacific Air Forces, 5 July 1968 (not organized)

Thirteenth Air Force, 1 August 1968 – 15 December 1969

Stations

Selfridge Field, Michigan, 18 December 1940 – 7 December 1941

Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania, 7 June-c. 4 August 1942

RAF Bushey Hall (AAF-341), England, c. 16 August 1942

RAF Atcham (AAF-342), England, c. 24 August 1942 – 13 September 1943

Howard Field, Panama Canal Zone, 25 August 1946 – 28 July 1948

MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 10 February 1951

Dow Air Force Base, Maine, 1 April 1961 – 2 July 1966

Clark Air Base, Philippines, 1 August 1968 – 15 December 1969