20th Air Division
Lineage: Established as 20 Air Division (Defense) on 8 Jun
1955. Activated on 8 Oct 1955. Inactivated on 1 Jan 1960. Redesignated
20 Air Division, and activated, on 20 Jan 1966. Organized on 1 Apr
1966. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 31 Dec 1967. Activated on 19
Nov 1969. Inactivated on 1 Mar 1983..
Assignments: Central Air Defense Force, 8 Oct 1955-1 Jan 1960. Air
Defense Command, 20 Jan 1966; Tenth Air Force, 1 Apr 1966-31 Dec 1967.
Aerospace Defense Command, 19 Nov 1969; Tactical Air Command, 1 Oct
1979-1 Mar 1983.
Components: Sector. Sioux City Air Defense: 1 Oct 1959-1 Jan 1960.
Groups: 53 Fighter: 1 Mar 1956-1 Jan 1960.
327 Fighter: 1 Apr-25 Jun 1966.
328 Fighter: 1 Mar 1956-1 Jan 1960.
678 Air Defense: 1 Mar 1970-1 Mar 1983.
701 Air Defense: 1 Mar 1970-17 Jan 1974.
Squadrons: 22 Air Defense Missile: 19 Nov 1969-31 Oct 1972. 48 Fighter Interceptor: 19 Nov 1969-1 Mar 1983.
85 Fighter Interceptor: 1 Mar 1956-1 Jul 1959.
95 Fighter Interceptor: 19 Nov 1969-31 Jan 1973.
Stations: Grandview (later, Richards Gebaur) AFB, MO, 8 Oct
1955-1 Jan 1960. Truax Field, WI, 1 Apr 1966-31 Dec 1967. Fort Lee AFS,
VA, 19 Nov 1969; Tyndall AFB, FL, 1 Mar 1983-1 Mar 1983.
Commanders: Brig Gen Clifford H. Rees, 8 Oct 1955; Brig Gen
Gordon H. Austin, 10 Mar 1958; Brig Gen Theron Coulter, 14 Sep 1958;
Col John H. Bell, 8 Jul 1959-1 Jan 1960. Brig Gen William S. Harrell, 1
Apr 1966; Col Wallace P. Mace, 1 Jul 1966; Maj Gen Jack K. Gamble, 19
Nov 1969; Brig Gen James M. Fogle, 20 Mar 1972; Maj Gen James S.
Murphy, 26 Aug 1974; Col Thomas G. McConnell, 20 Aug 1975; Brig Gen
Francis A. Humphreys Jr., 15 Oct 1975; Brig Gen Edward L. Tixier, 10
Jul 1978; Col Edward Levell Jr., 22 Jan 1979; Brig Gen Edward L.
Tixier, 1 Feb 1980; Brig Gen Paul D. Wagoner, 19 Jun 1980-1 Mar 1983.
Aircraft and Missiles: F-86, 1956-1959; F-89, 1956-1957; F-102, 1957-1960; F-101, 1959-1960. F-106, 1969-1981; BOMARC, 1969-1972; F-15, 1981-1983.
Operations: On 8 June 1955, the 20th Air Division (Defense)
assumed responsibility for the air defense of an area that covered
parts of Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and virtually
all of Kansas and Missouri. In 1966, it provided air defense for parts
of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Indiana, and all of Illinois. It supervised Air National Guard units
that flew interception sorties using, among others, F 101 and F 106
aircraft, while at the same time controlling numerous radar squadrons.
Beginning in Nov 1969, the 20th provided air defense for virtually all
of the southeastern United States, except for most of Louisiana. After
1981, it controlled units equipped with F 15 aircraft, while its
subordinate units continued to participate in intensive academic
training, numerous multi-region simulated (non-flying) exercises, and
flying exercises.
Service Streamers: None.
Campaign Streamers: None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers: None.
Decorations: None.
Emblem: On a shield azure, an American Bald Eagle, wings surgeant tergiant, tips to dexter, perched on the beam of the Liberty
Bell all proper; flanked on the dexter with an aerial burst gules, two
aircraft with jet vapor streams in flight, fesswise, argent, markings
sable, and a radome proper, resting on a land mass argent, all in pale.
(Approved 20 Aug 1956.)
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through
1 Mar 1983.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through
1 Mar 1983.
20th Air Division