820th Strategic Aerospace Division

The 820th Strategic Aerospace Division was a United States Air Force organization under Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s Eighth Air Force. It was established as the 820th Air Division in 1956 at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, primarily to provide command and host-base oversight as SAC planned to station two Boeing B-47 Stratojet bombardment wings there. The division's initial operational structure was shaped by the development of Plattsburgh as a strategic bomber installation during the early Cold War. The 380th Bombardment Wing was the first major combat wing assigned to the division. It began B-47 operations at Plattsburgh in 1956 after completing initial training at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida. During the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Revolution later that year, the wing entered a heightened readiness posture. The anticipated second B-47 wing did not arrive as planned, leaving the 380th as the division's only operational bombardment wing for several years. A refueling element, the 26th Air Refueling Squadron, joined the organization in 1957 and supported the bomber force. The division expanded substantially in 1959 as SAC dispersed its bomber and tanker forces among more bases. It received the 4038th Strategic Wing at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, the 4039th Strategic Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, and the 4060th Air Refueling Wing at Dow. These units were associated with Boeing B-52 Stratofortress operations and air-refueling support. The expansion gave the division responsibility for a large collection of strategic aircraft, reportedly exceeding 200 combat aircraft during its largest period. The 308th Bombardment Wing also transferred to Plattsburgh in 1959, but it arrived without personnel or equipment and remained a non-operational, or paper, unit until its inactivation in 1961. The organization was restructured repeatedly as SAC adjusted its force-management model. In 1960, the division became primarily an operational headquarters, while local support responsibilities at Plattsburgh shifted to the 380th Bombardment Wing. In 1961, the two B-52 strategic wings were reassigned to the 6th Air Division, while the 820th regained responsibility for support functions at Plattsburgh. The division also acquired responsibility for the 4108th Air Refueling Wing and, in October 1961, the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron, which operated SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missiles. In May 1962, the organization was redesignated the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division to reflect its control of both bomber and missile forces. That year it also received the 4365th Post Attack Command Control Squadron, which operated EB-47 Stratojets as part of the Post Attack Command and Control System. In 1963, the 4108th Air Refueling Wing was replaced by the permanent-lineage 497th Air Refueling Wing as SAC converted certain temporary MAJCON formations into Air Force-controlled units. The division's responsibilities contracted during its final years. The 497th Air Refueling Wing was inactivated in 1964, the Atlas missile squadron was removed from the division, and the airborne post-attack command-and-control squadron ceased operations before being inactivated. The remaining refueling responsibility was represented by the 11th Air Refueling Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. When that squadron moved on paper to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in June 1965, the division was left with no subordinate units other than the 380th Wing at Plattsburgh. The 820th Strategic Aerospace Division was consequently discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1965.

The 820th Air Division was established by Strategic Air Command on 24 January 1956 and activated at Plattsburgh Air Force Base on 1 February of that year. Its creation reflected SAC's plan to make Plattsburgh a major strategic bomber base. The 380th Bombardment Wing, equipped with Boeing B-47 Stratojets, was already associated with the installation and became the division's principal combat component. While the wing completed its initial training at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida, the 820th's 820th Air Base Group assumed host-base duties at Plattsburgh from the 380th Air Base Group in June 1956. Full B-47 operations began at Plattsburgh in July. The wing moved to a higher readiness status during the Suez Crisis and Hungarian Revolution in late 1956. The second B-47 wing planned for Plattsburgh was delayed. The 26th Air Refueling Squadron nevertheless joined the division in August 1957 after moving from Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. It was initially attached to the 380th Wing for operations and became directly assigned to that wing in 1959. The division's force structure changed markedly in January 1959, when SAC assigned it the 4038th Strategic Wing at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, the 4039th Strategic Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, and the 4060th Air Refueling Wing at Dow. The strategic wings formed part of SAC's effort to distribute B-52 Stratofortress bombers across more bases rather than concentrate them at a few highly vulnerable installations. The 308th Bombardment Wing finally moved to Plattsburgh in July 1959 from Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia, but it transferred without aircraft, personnel, or equipment. It therefore remained a nominal or paper organization. From 1959 through 1961, the division controlled a large force of bombers and tankers, at one point exceeding 200 combat aircraft. The 4060th Air Refueling Wing was discontinued in February 1960, with its units transferred to the 4038th Strategic Wing. In the same year, the 380th Combat Support Group resumed responsibility for Plattsburgh's support functions, making the division an operational headquarters rather than the base's host organization. In 1961, SAC reassigned the two B-52 strategic wings to the 6th Air Division. The 308th Bombardment Wing was inactivated in June, and the 820th again assumed support responsibilities at Plattsburgh through its combat support and medical groups. The refueling squadrons at Plattsburgh were organized into the 4108th Air Refueling Wing, which joined the division in January. In October, the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron was activated and assigned to the division, adding SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missiles to its portfolio. SAC redesignated the organization the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 May 1962. The new title reflected the combination of strategic bomber and missile responsibilities. In July, the 4365th Post Attack Command Control Squadron was activated and assigned to the division while attached operationally to the 380th Wing. Its EB-47 Stratojets served the Post Attack Command and Control System as communications-relay aircraft. The division and its forces adopted a heightened alert posture during the Cuban Missile Crisis beginning on 23 October 1962, and some bombers temporarily dispersed to other airfields before returning to Plattsburgh. SAC also sought to replace temporary Major Command Controlled wings with permanent Air Force-controlled organizations that could preserve formal lineage and historical continuity. Under this program, the 4108th Air Refueling Wing was replaced on 1 January 1963 by the 497th Air Refueling Wing, which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment. The division's structure subsequently contracted. The 4365th squadron ended operations in September 1964 and was inactivated in December. The 556th Strategic Missile Squadron and the division's support groups also left the organization in 1964. The 497th Air Refueling Wing was inactivated on 15 September 1964, while the division's remaining refueling responsibility included the 11th Air Refueling Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. As the KC-97 Stratofrater force declined, the 11th Air Refueling Squadron moved on paper to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in June 1965, taking over the mission, personnel, and aircraft of the 96th Air Refueling Squadron. With only the 380th Wing remaining at Plattsburgh, the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division had no continuing multi-unit command role. It was discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1965 after more than nine years under the Eighth Air Force.

1. 1965Discontinued and inactivated

   The division was inactivated at Plattsburgh Air Force Base on 25 June after its remaining refueling squadron transferred to Altus Air Force Base.

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2. 1963497th Air Refueling Wing replaced 4108th Wing

   The permanent-lineage 497th Air Refueling Wing assumed the mission, personnel, and equipment of the 4108th Air Refueling Wing.

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3. 1962Redesignated as a strategic aerospace division

   On 1 May, the 820th Air Division became the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division after taking on both bomber and missile responsibilities.

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4. 1961Added Atlas missile responsibility

   The 556th Strategic Missile Squadron was activated and assigned to the division, adding SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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5. 1959Added dispersed strategic wings

   The division received the 4038th Strategic Wing, 4039th Strategic Wing, and 4060th Air Refueling Wing as SAC expanded its dispersed B-52 and tanker network.

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6. 1956Established and activated at Plattsburgh

   The 820th Air Division was established on 24 January and activated on 1 February as a Strategic Air Command headquarters at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York.

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7. 1956Assumed host-base duties

   The 820th Air Base Group became the host organization for Plattsburgh in June, while the 380th Bombardment Wing began full B-47 operations the following month.

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A Cold War strategic command headquarters coordinating United States Air Force bomber, air-refueling, intercontinental ballistic missile, and post-attack command-and-control capabilities.

• Boeing B-47 StratojetStrategic bomber

  The B-47 was the division's original strategic bomber system. The 380th Bombardment Wing operated the aircraft from Plattsburgh after completing initial training at Pinecastle Air Force Base. A planned second B-47 wing was delayed, and the 308th Bombardment Wing later remained non-operational at the base.

• Boeing B-52 StratofortressStrategic bomber

  B-52 forces entered the division's structure in 1959 through the 4038th and 4039th Strategic Wings. Their assignment formed part of SAC's dispersal strategy, which distributed bombers among additional bases to reduce the risk of losing concentrated forces in a surprise attack.

• SM-65 AtlasIntercontinental ballistic missile

  The SM-65 Atlas became part of the division's responsibilities when the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron was activated in October 1961. Its addition prompted the later Strategic Aerospace Division designation, distinguishing the organization from commands focused only on aircraft.

• EB-47 StratojetPost-attack command-and-control aircraft

  EB-47 aircraft operated by the 4365th Post Attack Command Control Squadron provided airborne communications relay capability for the Post Attack Command and Control System. The squadron was assigned to the division and attached to the 380th Wing for operations.

• Boeing KC-97 StratofreighterAir-refueling aircraft

  KC-97 refueling operations supported the division's strategic bomber forces through several air-refueling organizations, including the 4108th and 497th Air Refueling Wings and the 11th Air Refueling Squadron. The force was being reduced by the division's final years.

• 1963Conversion of the 4108th Air Refueling WingStrategy

  Strategic Air Command wanted to replace temporary Major Command Controlled formations with Air Force-controlled units capable of retaining permanent lineage and historical records.

  What changed. The 4108th Air Refueling Wing was replaced by the newly constituted 497th Air Refueling Wing, which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment.

  Aftermath. The refueling mission continued under a permanent-lineage wing until the 497th was inactivated in 1964.

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• 1962Redesignation to reflect missile and bomber responsibilitiesStrategy

  The division had acquired responsibility for the SM-65 Atlas missile force in addition to strategic aircraft.

  What changed. Strategic Air Command redesignated the 820th Air Division as the 820th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 May.

  Aftermath. The new name formally represented the organization's combined aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missile mission.

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• 1959Adoption of dispersed strategic-wing structureStrategy

  Strategic Air Command sought to make its bomber force less vulnerable by distributing B-52 aircraft across more bases instead of concentrating them at a small number of installations.

  What changed. The 820th received strategic wings at Dow Air Force Base and Griffiss Air Force Base, along with an associated refueling wing.

  Aftermath. The division temporarily became responsible for a broad regional force of bombers and tankers, with more than 200 combat aircraft assigned during its largest period.

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• 1965820th Strategic Aerospace Division inactivated

  The division was discontinued and inactivated at Plattsburgh Air Force Base after its remaining refueling responsibility transferred to Oklahoma and its subordinate structure had contracted to the 380th Wing.

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• 1962820th Air Division redesignated as 820th Strategic Aerospace Division

  The organization adopted the Strategic Aerospace Division designation after adding responsibility for SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missiles alongside its bomber and tanker forces.

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• 1959Division expands to dispersed B-52 and tanker forces

  The division gained the 4038th and 4039th Strategic Wings and the 4060th Air Refueling Wing as SAC dispersed strategic aircraft across additional bases to reduce vulnerability to a surprise attack.

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• 1956820th Air Division activated at Plattsburgh Air Force Base

  Strategic Air Command activated the 820th Air Division as the command headquarters for strategic operations at Plattsburgh, where a second B-47 bombardment wing was expected to join the 380th Bombardment Wing.

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1. 820th Strategic Aerospace Division