| 26th Air Division | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1948–1952; 1952–1969; 1969–1990 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Command ofair defense forces |
| Part of | Tactical Air Command |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 26th Air Division emblem(Approved 17 November 1960)[1] |  |
The26th Air Division (26th AD) is an inactiveUnited States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was withAir Defense Tactical Air Command, assigned toFirst Air Force, being stationed atMarch Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 30 September 1990.
Was established in October 1948 byAir Defense Command (ADC) as intermediate level of command.[1] Initially responsible for atmospheric air defense of middle Atlantic region from North Carolina to greater New York City area east of the Appalachian mountains. Commanded Manual Direction Center (MDC) atRoslyn Air Force Station, New York (P-3) 1948–1958 directing interceptor units to aircraft identified by Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons at radar stations in AOR. It employed off shore navalpicket ships, fixed "Texas Tower" radar sites, airborne early warning units, and a civilianGround Observer Corps program. The latter phased down when theSAGE program was implemented.
Improved radar and communications equipment and fighter interceptors, and better techniques and methods, eventually led to the 26th Air Division becoming the first operationalSemi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE Direction Center (DC-1) within Air Defense Command[1] atMcGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.[2] Moved toSyracuse Air Force Station New York[1] and commanded SAGE DC-3 Direction Center and first SAGE Command Center (CC-01) beginning in 1958 and assumed operational control of the MDC atTopsham Air Force Station, Maine in August 1958 and the SAGE DC-4 atFort Lee Air Force Station, Virginia in September 1958.
In 1961 the division assumed air defense training responsibility forAir National Guard (ANG) units within the area. During theCuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the division deployed fighter aircraft and part of its airborne early warning and control force to Florida.[1]
The 26th's area of control expanded until by 1963 its boundaries extended from theArctic to theGulf of Mexico and well toward the center of the United States. Expanded responsibilities in 1963 assuming command of SAGE DC-9 atGunter Air Force Base, Alabama in July and DC-6 atCuster Air Force Station, Michigan in September and GCI stations inNewfoundland and Labrador formerly under the 64th Air Division.
In April 1966, the division was replaced by theFirst Air Force, and moved without personnel or equipment toAdair Air Force Station, Oregon, where it assumed responsibility for the defense of Oregon, part of California and Nevada[1] by the inactivation of thePortland andReno Air Defense Sectors. Assumed additional designation of26th NORAD Region and26th CONAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at theCheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado and reporting was transferred toNORAD from ADC atEnt Air Force Base in April 1966.
The division was gradually phasing down until it replaced the27th Air Division atLuke Air Force Base, Arizona in November 1969,[1] when in an ADCOM reorganization of atmospheric defense forces, the command became responsible for the air defense of a large area of the southwest. In October 1979, it transferred toTactical Air Command (ADTAC) and continued to supervise atmospheric defense forces of its assigned AOR. Assumed additional designation26th ADCOM Region on 8 December 1978.
Began phase-down of operations with activation of newSouthwest Air Defense Sector (SWADS) in July 1987. Engaged chiefly in transfer of mission to SWADS 1987–1990. Inactivated on 1 October 1990.[1]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
 Tactical Air Command (TAC) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Forces | | ||||||
| Air Divisions | |||||||
| Named units | |||||||
| Wings |
| ||||||
| Former bases |
| ||||||
| Aircraft | |||||||
