Lineage
Established as 28 Air Division (Defense) on 8 Nov
1949. Activated on 8 Dec 1949. Inactivated on 1 Feb 1952. Organized on
1 Feb 1952. Redesignated: 28 Air Division (SAGE) on 1 Jul 1960; 28 Air
Division on 1 Apr 1966. Inactivated on 19 Nov 1969. Activated on 1 Apr
1985. Inactivated on 29 May 1992..
Assignments
Fourth Air Force, 8 Dec 1949; Western Air Defense
Force, 1 Aug 1950-1 Feb 1952. Western Air Defense Force, 1 Feb 1952;
Air Defense Command, 1 Jul 1960: Tenth Air Force, 1 Apr 1966-19 Nov
1969. Tactical Air Command, 1 Apr 1985-29 May 1992.
Components
Sectors.
Los Angeles Air Defense: 1 Jul 1960-1 Apr 1966.
Phoenix Air Defense: 1 Jul 1960-1 Apr 1966.
Reno Air Defense: 1 Jul 1960-1 Apr 1966.
San Francisco Air Defense: 15 Feb 1959-1 Aug 1963 (not operational, 15 May-1 Aug 1963).
Wings.
78 Fighter: 18 Oct 1956-1 Jul 1960; 1 Aug 1963-1 Apr 1966.
552 Airborne Early Warning and Control (later, 552
Airborne Warning and Control; 552 Air Control): 1 Jul 1960-1 Apr 1966;
1 Apr 1985-29 May 1992.
Groups.
78 Fighter: 18 Aug 1955-18 Oct 1956.
408 Fighter: 8 Apr 1956-1 Mar 1959.
Squadrons.
5 Fighter Interceptor: 1 Apr 1966-19 Nov 1969.
7 Airborne Command and Control: 1 Apr 1985-29 May 1992.
13 Fighter Interceptor: 1 Apr 1966-30 Jun 1968.
18 Fighter Interceptor: 15 Sep-19 Nov 1969.
29 Fighter Interceptor: 1 Apr 1966-18 Jul 1968.
41 Electronic Combat: 1 Apr 1985-29 May 1992.
71 Fighter Interceptor: 18 Jul 1968-19 Nov 1969 (detached 17 Dec 1968 c. 17 Jun 1969).
82 Fighter Interceptor: 18 Aug 1955-1 Jul 1960.
84 Fighter Interceptor: 7 Nov 1952-16 Feb 1953.
325 Fighter Interceptor: 20 Apr 1953-1 Feb 1954.
413 Fighter Interceptor: 8 Jul 1954-18 Aug 1955.
456 Fighter Interceptor: 18 Oct 1955-1 Jul 1960.
Stations
Hamilton AFB, CA, 8 Dec 1949-1 Feb 1952. Hamilton
AFB, CA, 1 Feb 1952; Malmstrom AFB, MT, 1 Apr 1966-19 Nov 1969. Tinker
AFB, OK, 1 Apr 1985-29 May 1992.
Commanders
Unkn, 8 Dec 1949-3 Jan 1950; Col William A. Matheny,
4 Jan 1950; Col Hobart R. Yeager, 24 Feb 1951-1 Feb 1952. Col Hobart R.
Yeager, 1 Feb 1952; Col Harry M. Pike, 27 Apr 1952; Brig Gen James W.
Andrew, 3 Jun 1952; Col Philip H. Greasley, Mar 1954; Brig Gen Monro
MacCloskey, 26 Apr 1954; Col James D. Mayden, 8 Jun 1957 (temporary), 1
Jul 1957 (permanent); Brig Gen Curtis R. Low, 16 Aug 1957; Col Howard
A. Cheney, 1 Aug 1959; Brig Gen Charles R. Bond Jr., 24 Aug 1959; Maj
Gen John D. Stevenson, 1 Jul 1960; Brig Gen Thomas K. McGehee, 5 Jul
1961; Maj Gen Conrad F. Necrason, 21 Jul 1961; Maj Gen Carroll W.
McColpin, 1 Apr 1965; Col Leon G. Lewis, 1 Apr 1966; Col William P.
Comstock, 31 Jul 1967; Col Edward R. Weed, 25 Sep 1968; Col James M.
Fogle, Jun Nov 1969. Brig Gen William K. James, 1 Apr 1985; Brig Gen
John D. Logeman, 16 Sep 1986; Brig Gen William J. Ball, 17 Apr 1989-29
May 1992.
Aircraft
F-51, 1949-1952; F-84, 1949-1952; F-89, 1949-1952.
F-51, 1952-1955; F-84, 1956-1957; F-89, 1953; 1955-1959; 1966; F-86,
1952-1965; F-94, 1952-1955; F-80, 1953-1956; F-100, 1956-1966; F-101,
1958-1969; F-102, 1958-1966; F-104, 1958-1966; F-106, 1959-1969;
RC-121, 1960-1966; F-4, 1960-1963; B/RB-57, 1961-1966; F-105,
1963-1966. E-3, 1985-1992; C-135, 1985-1992; EC-130, 1985-1992; EC-135,
1985-1992.
Operations
In Dec 1949, the 28th Division assumed responsibility
for conducting the air defense of an area that embraced California,
Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona. It became part of the Western Air
Defense Force in 1950. With no fighter interceptor squadrons directly
assigned, the division used interceptors of the 78th Fighter Wing,
based at Hamilton AFB, California, as well as ANG interceptors based
within its geographical area. By Nov 1954 its geographical boundaries
included northern California, southern Oregon, and parts of Nevada and
Utah. The division participated frequently in air defense exercises
with U.S. Army artillery, U.S. Navy interceptors, and Strategic Air
Command bombers. On 15 Feb 1959, it added the San Francisco Air Defense
Sector to its components, and the geographical area expanded to include
California and Arizona, and parts of Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and New
Mexico. The division gained the Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Reno Air
Defense Sectors and also the 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control
Wing, whose RC-121 aircraft augmented naval picket ships in providing
radar coverage seaward from the west coast of the United States. During
1961, it transitioned to a SAGE system in all four of its sectors.
Reorganization in 1963 altered the 28th's boundaries to include the
states of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and parts of California, Oregon,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. On 1 Apr 1966, the
28th moved, in name only, to Malmstrom AFB, Montana, and replaced the
Great Falls Air Defense Sector. The division's area included Montana
and part of North Dakota, and later, parts of South Dakota, Nebraska,
and Wyoming. Beginning in Apr 1985, the 28th provided theater and Air
Force commands with airborne forces for surveillance, warning, command
and control, communications, and electronic combat operations. It was
the Tactical Air Command single manager for the E-3 Airborne Warning
and Control System (AWACS), EC-130H Electronic Combat Compass Call,
EC-130E Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC), and
EC-135K Tactical Deployment Control Squadron (TDCS) in support of
unified and specified commands. The division in the 1960s and 1970s
deployed aircraft and personnel from subordinate units in support of
the war in Southwest Asia.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 May 1985-30 Apr 1987; 1 May 1987-30 Apr 1989; 1 Dec 1989-1 Dec 1991.
Emblem
On a shield azure within a diminutive border or, a
griffin passant argent on the embattlement of a wall gules, masoned
sable in fess, an arched gateway in the center of the wall or, all
issuing out of six waves of water in base, alternating argent and
azure. (Approved 14 Mar 1966).
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through
29 May 1992.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through
29 May 1992.