40th Air Division | |
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 B-52H Stratofortress of the division's410th Bombardment Wing | |
| Active | 1943–1946; 1951–1957; 1959–1988; 1989–1991 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Command of strategic strike forces |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation |
| Insignia | |
| 40th Air Division emblem(Approved 14 April 1952)[1] |  |
The40th Air Division is an inactiveUnited States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force atMalmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. It was inactivated on 14 June 1991.
As the40th Bombardment Wing, the unit was one of the primaryB-17 Flying Fortress heavy strategic bombardment wings ofVIII Bomber Command and later,Eighth Air Force inWorld War II.
The 40th Bomb Wing was established on 15 January 1943 and officially activated on 21 January 1943. In May of that year, the Wing deployed toBrampton Grange, England. During the war, the wing went through a succession of name changes starting on 3 May 1943 when they were redesignated the 40 Bombardment Wing (Heavy). This was quickly followed by another change on 30 August 1943 when they were redesignated the 40 Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy). In September 1943, the wing received three bombardment groups and began combat operations againstNazi Germany, striking such targets asNantes,Emden,Wilhelmshaven, andBremen. Its units participated in a mission toSchweinfurt on 14 October 1943 that resulted in the loss of over half of the aircraft dispatched. The final name change came on 13 August 1943 when they became 40 Combat Bombardment Wing, Heavy. For the remainder of World War II, the wing flew numerous missions against military targets throughout occupied Europe and Germany. Following the end of the war the Wing was inactivated on 25 December 1946.[1]
"Redesignated the 40th Air Division in March 1951, it assumed a supervisory role over assigned units of theStrategic Air Command, ensuring that they were manned, trained, and equipped to conduct long range bombardment missions using either nuclear or conventional weapons. It also developed and maintained the capability for effectiveair refueling andMinuteman II (intercontinental ballistic missile) operations. In these roles the division conducted staff assistance visits and participated in numerous exercises such as Buy None, Buckskin Rider and Busy Player."[1]
"After July 1989, the 40th Air Division established policies to ensure support for wartime execution of a strategic ICBM wing and a strategic air refueling wing in accordance with theSingle Integrated Operational Plan andJoint Chiefs of Staff directed conventional war-fighting commitments."[1]
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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