The 31st Air Division (31st AD) is an inactive

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...

organization. Its last assignment was with

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly inac ...

, assigned to

Tenth Air Force The Tenth Air Force (10 AF) is a unit of the U.S. Air Force, specifically a numbered air force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). 10 AF is headquartered at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base/Carswell Field (formerly Carswel ...

, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa. It was inactivated on 31 December 1969.

History

Assigned to

(ADC) for most of its existence, the division equipped, administered, trained, and provided combat ready forces within an area covering North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and other parts of the Midwest. The division participated in numerous live and simulated exercises such as Creek Chief, Pawnee Knife, and Mandan Hunt. 31stAD - Map - 1966-1969

Later, beginning in 1966, the 31st assumed responsibility for the former

Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector The Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector (OCADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command's 29th Air Division at Oklahoma City Air Force Station, Oklahoma. History Oklahoma City A ...

and covered an area including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Assumed additional designation of 31st NORAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at the

Cheyenne Mountain Complex The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is a Space Force installation and defensive bunker located in unincorporated El Paso County, Colorado, next to the city of Colorado Springs, at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, which hosts the activities o ...

, Colorado and reporting was transferred to

NORAD North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD ), known until March 1981 as the North American Air Defense Command, is a combined organization of the United States and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and protection ...

from ADC at

Ent Air Force Base Ent Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located in the Knob Hill neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado. A tent city, established in 1943 during construction of the base, was initially commanded by Major General Uzal Girar ...

in April 1966. Inactivated in December 1969 as ADC phased down its interceptor mission as the chances of a Soviet bomber attack on the United States seemed remote, its mission being consolidated into

North American Aerospace Defense Command North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD ), known until March 1981 as the North American Air Defense Command, is a combined organization of the United States and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and protection ...

(NORAD).

Lineage

* Established as the 31st Air Division (Defense) on 7 September 1950 : Activated on 8 October 1950 : Inactivated on 1 February 1952 * Organized on 1 February 1952The simultaneous inactivation and activation on 1 February 1952 reflects a change between a Table of Organization unit and a Table of Distribution unit. : Inactivated on 1 January 1960 * Redesignated 31st Air Division and activated on 20 January 1966 (not organized) : Organized on 1 April 1966 : Inactivated on 31 December 1969

Assignments

* Air Defense Command :

Eastern Air Defense Force The Eastern Air Defense Force (EADF) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960. History EADF was ...

, 8 October 1950 (attached

30th Air Division The 30th Air Division (30th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, assigned to Tenth Air Force, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa. It was inactivated on ...

, 27 November 1950 – 1 February 1951 :

Central Air Defense Force The Central Air Defense Force (CADF) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960. History ...

, 20 May 1951 – 1 January 1960 * Air Defense Command, 20 January 1966 (not organized) :

Fourteenth Air Force The Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF; Air Forces Strategic) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). It was headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The command was responsible for the organiza ...

, 1 April 1966 – 1 July 1968 ( ConAC) :

, 1 July 1968 – 31 December 1969

Stations

Selfridge Air Force Base Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens. Selfridge Field was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the Unit ...

, Michigan, 8 October 1950 – 1 February 1952 *

Fort Snelling Fort Snelling is a former military fortification and National Historic Landmark in the U.S. state of Minnesota on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The military site was initially named Fort Saint Anth ...

(later Snelling Air Force Station), Minnesota, 1 February 1952 – 1 January 1960 *

Oklahoma City Air Force Station Oklahoma City Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-52, NORAD-ID: Z-52) is a closed Cold War United States Air Force air defense and communications-electronics headquarters and radar station. It was located east-southeast of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, j ...

, Oklahoma, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969

Components

Sectors

* Duluth Air Defense Sector: 20 December 1957 – 1 January 1959 : Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota *

Grand Forks Air Defense Sector The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector (GFADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. It was inactiv ...

: 8 December 1957 – 1 January 1959 :

Grand Forks Air Force Base Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in northeastern North Dakota, located north of Emerado and west of Grand Forks. The host unit is the 319th Reconnaissance Wing (319 RW) assigned to the Air Combat Co ...

, North Dakota

Groups

: 53d Fighter Group: 18 August 1955 – 1 March 1956 : Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa : 343d Fighter Group: 18 August 1955 – 1 January 1959 : Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota : 475th Fighter Group: 18 August 1955 – 2 January 1958 : Minneapolis-Saint Paul Municipal Airport, Minnesota * 478th Fighter Group: 8 February 1957 – 1 January 1959 : Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota *

514th Air Defense Group The 514th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force (USAF) organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955. The grou ...

: 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 : Minneapolis-Saint Paul Municipal Airport, Minnesota *

515th Air Defense Group The 515th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force (USAF) organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division, stationed at Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota, where it was inactivated in 1955. The group was origina ...

: 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 : Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota * 521st Air Defense Group: 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955. : Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa

Interceptor squadrons

11th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron The 11th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 343d Fighter Group at Duluth Airport, Minnesota, where it was inactivated on 30 June 1968. History World War II The squadr ...

: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953 : Duluth Municipal Airport, Minnesota * 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953 : Minneapolis-Saint Paul Municipal Airport, Minnesota *

54th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron The 54th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 3d Operations Group, being stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It was inactivated on 28 April 2000. History World War II Activated ...

: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953 :

Ellsworth Air Force Base Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located about northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, just north of the town of Box Elder. The host unit at Ellsworth is the 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW). Assigned to the Global Str ...

, South Dakota * 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 November 1952 – 16 February 1953 : Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa *

331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron The 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, where it was inactivated on 1 March 1967. During World War II the squadron was a ...

: 1 April 1966 – 1 March 1967 :

Webb Air Force Base Webb Air Force Base , previously named Big Spring Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force facility of the Air Training Command that operated from 1951 to 1977 in West Texas within the current city limits of Big Spring. Webb AFB was a maj ...

, Texas * 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 December 1952 – 16 February 1953 : Truax Field, Wisconsin *

433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron The 433rd Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The unit was first activated in May 1943 and flew the P-38 Lightning in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The 433rd distin ...

: 1 November 1952 – 16 February 1953 : Truax Field, Wisconsin

Radar squadrons

* 650th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Dallas Center Air Force Station, Iowa, 1 July 1955 – 1 March 1956 * 676th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Antigo Air Force Station, Wisconsin, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 683d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Sweetwater Air Force Station, Texas, 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1969 * 687th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : West Mesa Air Force Station, New Mexico, 1 April 1966 – 8 September 1968 * 688th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron :

Amarillo Air Force Base Amarillo ( ; Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Potter County. It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the largest city in the Texas Panhandle. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. ...

, Texas, 1 April 1966 – 8 September 1968 * 692d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Baudette Air Force Station, Minnesota, 1 October 1958 – 1 January 1959 * 703d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Texarkana Air Force Station, Arkansas, 1 April 1966 – 8 September 1968 * 707th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Grand Rapids Air Force Station, Minnesota, 1 July 1956 – 1 January 1959 * 739th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Wadena Air Force Station, Minnesota, 1 February 1953 – 1 January 1959 *

740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron The 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron AKA 740th AC&W Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the, Air Defense Command, 29th Air Division, Great Falls Montana, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S ...

: Rapid City Air Force Base, South Dakota, 1–16 February 1953 * 741st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron :

Lackland Air Force Base Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Bexar County, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and an enclave of the city of S ...

, Texas, 1 April 1966 – 31 December 1969 * 745th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Perrin Air Force Station, Texas, 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1969 * 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Oklahoma City Air Force Station, Oklahoma, 1 April 1966 – 8 September 1968 * 756th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Finland Air Force Station, Minnesota, 6 February 1952 – 1 July 1959 * 785th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Finley Air Force Station, North Dakota, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 786th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Minot Air Force Station, North Dakota, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 787th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron :

Chandler Air Force Station Chandler Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is south of Chandler, Minnesota, on the Buffalo Ridge in section 13 of Moulton Township, Murray County. It was closed in 1969. History I ...

, Minnesota, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1959 * 788th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Waverly Air Force Station, Iowa, 6 February 1952 – 1 March 1956 * 789th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Omaha Air Force Station, Nebraska, 6 February 1952 – 1 March 1956 * 791st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Hanna City Air Force Station, Illinois, 6 February 1952 – 1 March 1956 * 808th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Rochester Air Force Station, Minnesota, 1 September 1955 – 9 September 1957 * 903d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron] : Gettysburg Air Force Station, South Dakota, 1 March 1956 – 1 January 1959 * 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Sioux Lookout Air Station, Ontario, 16 December 1952 – 1 January 1959 * 916th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Beausejour Air Station, Manitoba, 1 December 1952 – 1 January 1959

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * * "ADCOM's Fighter Interceptor Squadrons". ''The Interceptor'' (January 1979) Aerospace Defense Command, (Volume 21, Number 1) {{Aerospace Defense Command, state=collapsed Aerospace Defense Command units 031 1950 establishments in Michigan 1969 disestablishments in Oklahoma