24th Air Division
Lineage
Established as 24 Air Division on 18 Nov 1969. Activated on 19 Nov 1969. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1990..
Assignments
Tenth Air Force, 19 Nov 1969; Aerospace Defense
Command, 1 Dec 1969; Tactical Air Command, 1 Oct 1979; First Air Force,
6 Dec 1985-30 Sep 1990.
Components
Sectors.
Northeast Air Defense: 1 Jul 1987-30 Sep 1990.
Southeast Air Defense: 1 Jul 1987-30 Sep 1990
Groups.
778 Air Defense: 1 Mar 1970-17 Jan 1974.
779 Air Defense: 1 Mar 1970-17 Jan 1974.
Squadrons.
5 Fighter Interceptor: 19 Nov 1969-1 Jun 1983.
17 Defense Systems Evaluation: 1 Jul 1974-13 Jul 1979 (detached 1 Jul 1974-13 Jul 1979).
18 Fighter Interceptor: 19 Nov 1969-15 Apr 1971.
49 Fighter-Interceptor: 23 Sep 1983-7 Jul 1987.
71 Fighter-Interceptor: 19 Nov 1969-1 Jul 1971.
87 Fighter-Interceptor: 23 Sep 1983-1 Oct 1985.
319 Fighter Interceptor: 1 Jul 1971-30 Apr 1972.
460 Fighter Interceptor: 16 Apr 1971-30 Jun 1974.
4677 Defense Systems Evaluation: 2 Oct 1972-1 Jul 1974 (detached 2 Oct 1972-1 Jul 1974).
Stations
Malmstrom AFB, MT, 19 Nov 1969; Griffiss AFB, NY, 1 Dec 1983-30 Sep 1990.
Commanders
Maj Gen Richard S. Abbey, 19 Nov 1969; Col Franklin
C. Crain, 1 Apr 1971 (temporary); Maj Gen Richard S. Abbey, 26 Apr
1971; Maj Gen William S. Harrell, 29 Jul 1971; Maj Gen Lawrence J.
Fleming, 28 Feb 1973; Col Thomas W. Liner, 28 Jun 1974; Maj Gen Louis
G. Leiser, 30 Jul 1974; Col David B. Ballou, 29 Mar 1977 (interim); Maj
Gen Don D. Pittman, 29 Apr 1977; Maj Gen Walter H. Baxter III, 29 Sep
1978; Col Donald R. Williams, 22 Jan 1979; Brig Gen John H. Bennett, 11
Feb 1980; Col Donald R. Williams, 17 Nov 1980; Brig Gen Milford E.
Davis, 27 Feb 1981; Col George A. Kersey Jr., 12 Aug 1982; Brig Gen
Kenneth W. North, 23 Sep 1983; Brig Gen David M. Goodrich, 1 Oct 1985;
Brig Gen Lester P. Brown, 18 Jul 1988-c. 30 Sep 1990.
Aircraft
F-101, 1969-1971; F-106, 1969-1987; EB-57, 1974-1979.
Operations
In 1969, the division assumed responsibility for the
air defense of Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, and parts of
Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. By 1973, this area included parts of
Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Tactical units
assigned to the 24th participated in numerous training exercises such
as Feudal Indian, Vigilant Overview, and Feudal Keynote. Between 1969
and 1979, the division also controlled several radar squadrons. On 1
Oct 1979, the 24th Air Division became a component of Tactical Air
Command, but remained stationed in Montana, and its mission continued
to be one of equipping, administering, training, and providing combat
ready air defense forces for the operational control of NORAD.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Sep 1970-30 Jun 1972; 1 Jul 1974-30 Jun 1976; 1 Jul 1977-30 Jun 1978.
Emblem
Per quarter fimbriated or, first quarter chequy
alternating sable and argent, second and third quarter azure, on the
second quarter a head in armor couped at the neck with visor open gray
and of the second, on the third quarter thirteen mullets of five points
argent, fourth quarter gray bearing two flight symbols bend
sinisterwise sable, overall in pale a sword, point to chief blade gray
and sable, base gray, hilt and guard or, all within a diminished
bordure of the last. (Approved 27 Jan 1972.)
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through
30 Sep 1990.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through
30 Sep 1990.