42nd Air Division


The 42nd Air Division was a unit of the United States Air Force. It was established as the 42 Bombardment Wing on 8 February 1943. The wing first saw combat in September 1943. It was inactivated in 1991.

History

Activated in 1943 as the 42nd Bombardment Wing and controlled Martin B-26 Marauder groups as part of Twelfth Air Force. "The wing first saw combat in the invasion of Italy, where its units flew close support missions to stop the German counterattack on the beachhead at Salerno during September 1943. As the Allied forces progressed, the 42nd took a leading part in interdicting Axis road and rail transport, and later in 1944, in the attacks against the monastery at Cassino. In August 1944, it supported the Allied landings in southern France. As the war drew to a close the 42nd attacked German positions along the Siegfried Line and, in support of the Allied forces in their sweep across southern Germany, bombed enemy strong points, and communications and supply facilities."
The French Bretagne Bombardment Group was attached in 1943.
Reactivated an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command in March 1951, the 42nd Air Division "equipped and trained its assigned units to conduct strategic air warfare using nuclear or conventional weapons anywhere in the world. It also trained and maintained air refueling assets. Tankers from units assigned to the 42nd supported the Eielson Tanker Task Force and, over the years, occasionally deployed to Spain for Spanish Area Support. The division conducted numerous staff assistance visits and simulated no notice inspections, and participated in exercises such as Buy None and Global Shield."
Aircraft and personnel from units assigned to the division, at various times in the late 1960s and early 1970s, deployed to Southeast Asia and took part in Operation Arc Light and Operation Young Tiger missions. Subordinate units of the 42nd deployed aircraft and personnel in support of the Vietnam War.
The division was inactivated in 1991 as part of the post-Cold War reduction of USAF forces.

Lineage

Wings
  • 2nd Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1965 – 2 July 1969; 1 December 1982 – 16 June 1988
  • 12th Fighter-Escort Wing : 9 April 1951 – 16 June 1952. 16 June 1952 – 8 January 1958
  • 17th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1973 – 30 September 1975
  • 19th Bombardment Wing : 30 June 1971 – 16 June 1988
  • 27th Fighter-Escort Wing : 6 August 1951 – 16 June 1952. 16 June 1952 – 8 January 1958
  • 43rd Bombardment Wing: 1–31 January 1970
  • 68th Bombardment Wing: 30 June 1971 – 30 September 1982
  • 97th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1963 – 2 July 1969. 1 January 1970 – 30 June 1971; 1 July 1973 – 16 June 1988
  • 131st Fighter-Bomber Wing: c. 10 March – c. 31 July 1951
  • 301st Air Refueling Wing: 31 March 1970 – 1 July 1973; 1 July 1975 – 30 September 1979
  • 305th Air Refueling Wing: 1 January 1970 – 1 July 1973; 1 December 1982 – 16 July 1988
  • 306th Bombardment Wing: 30 June 1971 – 1 July 1974
  • 308th Strategic Missile Wing: 1 January – 31 March 1970; 1 April 1973 – 1 December 1982
  • 319th Bombardment Wing: 16 June 1988 – 9 July 1991
  • 321st Strategic Missile Wing: 16 June 1988 – 9 July 1991
  • 381st Strategic Missile Wing: 1 March 1962 – 1 July 1963
  • 454th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1963 – 2 July 1969
  • 4347th Combat Crew Training Wing: 15 July 1959 – 15 June 1963
  • 4397th Air Refueling Wing: 15 July 1959 – 15 June 1962
Groups
  • 1st Fighter Group: 24 August – 15 December 1953
  • 17th Bombardment Group: 24 August 1943 – 29 May 1945
  • 31 Bombardment : attached 6 January – c. 1 May 1945
  • 34 Bombardment : attached 6 January – c. 1 May 1945
  • 68th Air Refueling Group: 30 September 1982 – 16 June 1988
  • 319th Bombardment Group: 24 August 1943 – 10 November 1944
  • 320th Bombardment Group: 24 August 1943 – 29 May 1945
  • 325th Fighter Group: 24 August – 22 October 1943
Squadrons
, 1940
Martin B-26 Marauder, 1943–1945
Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 1943
Convair B-36 Peacemaker, 1951–1957
Republic F-84 Thunderjet, 1951–1958
Boeing KB-29 Superfortress, 1953–1957
McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, 1957–1958
Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, 1957–1958
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1963–1969
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1963–1969
LGM-25C Titan II, 1963–1969
Boeing EC-135, 1966–1969
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1970, 1973–1988
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1972–1988
LGM-25C Titan II, 1970, 1973–1982
Boeing EC-135, 1970–1973, 1982–1988
McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender, 1982–1988
Rockwell B-1 Lancer, 1988–1991
Minuteman-III, 1988–1991

Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations: