822d Air Division
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The 822d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, where it was inactivated on 2 September 1966.
822d Air Division | |
---|---|
Active | 1958–1966 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Command of strategic strike forces |
Part of | Strategic Air Command |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Jack J. Catton |
Insignia | |
822d Air Division emblem (approved 5 August 1959)[1] |
The division was formed to command four strategic wings that were formed in the Southeastern United States as part of SAC's program to disperse its B-52 force to minimize attrition from a possible Soviet first strike. Once the division's wings were organized and equipped, they maintained a portion of their aircraft on airborne and ground alert. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, all combat aircraft of the division were placed on increased alert status. In addition to its SAC mission, the division's wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida was involved in testing armament for the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
The division was inactivated in 1966 as SAC began to withdraw its older B-52s from operational service.