DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORIES
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORIES
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORIES
Welcome to the website dedicated to the preservation of Department of the Air Force organizational histories.
Our mission is to collect, preserve and make available Department of the Air Force organizational histories.
Our Focus is on Department of the Air Force organizations. This focus encompasses the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force which includes its previous designations: U.S. Army Air Forces; U.S. Army Air Corps; U.S. Army Air Service; U.S. Army Division of Military Aeronautics; U.S. Army Aviation Section, Signal Corps; U.S. Army Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps. This website also includes units of the U.S. Army that directly supported U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, e.g., Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Companies, Engineer Fire Fighting Platoons, Military Police Companies, Chemical Companies, Quartermaster Companies, Finance Sections, Engineer Aviation Brigades, and Aviation Engineer Battalions.
Our vision is to provide accurate and relevant Department of the Air Force organizational histories to researchers.
Our mission is to collect, preserve and make available Department of the Air Force organizational histories.
Our Focus is on Department of the Air Force organizations. This focus encompasses the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force which includes its previous designations: U.S. Army Air Forces; U.S. Army Air Corps; U.S. Army Air Service; U.S. Army Division of Military Aeronautics; U.S. Army Aviation Section, Signal Corps; U.S. Army Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps. This website also includes units of the U.S. Army that directly supported U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, e.g., Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Companies, Engineer Fire Fighting Platoons, Military Police Companies, Chemical Companies, Quartermaster Companies, Finance Sections, Engineer Aviation Brigades, and Aviation Engineer Battalions.
Our vision is to provide accurate and relevant Department of the Air Force organizational histories to researchers.
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORIES SEARCH
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORIES
Entries contain information that is standardized in its presentation as far as possible. organizations are listed numerically, then alphabetically.
Mission
The mission statement defines what an organizations accomplishes on a daily basis. The mission statement also includes how the mission is accomplished. When available, the organizations’ structure and manning is presented.
Designation
All U.S. Air Force units must be readily identifiable. To accomplish this, each organizations has a unique designation. The designation includes a number or name; a functional term describing its primary mission and an organizational type denoting its position in the Air Force organizational hierarchy.
Organization: 1 Fighter Wing
Number: 1
Organization Kind: Fighter
Organization Type: Wing
Organization: 15 Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Number: 15
Organization Kind: Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance
Organization Type: Squadron
Organization: Ogden Air Logistics Center
Name: Ogden
Organization Kind: Air Logistics
Organization Type: Center
The organizational histories are presented with the organization’s official designation.
Certain aspects of designations are abbreviated. For example, United States Air Force is abbreviated USAF; Air Force is abbreviated AF; Army Air Forces is abbreviated AAF; and Headquarters is abbreviated HQ.
For the sake of clarity and ease of locating individual organizational histories, USAF, AF, AAF, and HQ are omitted in the designation of an organization in the cross reference and the link to the organizational histories.
Numbered Air Forces and organizations that use Roman Numerals, for example XX Bomber Command, are listed using Arabic numbers in links to the organizational histories and the cross reference.
When there is more than one organization with an identical designation in the links to the organizational histories and the cross reference, a clarifying note, identified by a date is used to differentiate the organizations.
Stations
The list of stations shows the locations and movements of the organization. Station moves are a result of a permanent change of station (PCS). Station locations of organizations are listed chronologically. If the organization moved frequently, as some organizations did in the Mediterranean and Pacific areas during World War II, countries, rather than specific places, are listed. Foreign nations are identified by their popular name, rather than their official name, for example the Republic of Korea appears as South Korea; the Republic of Vietnam as South Vietnam, and the Republic of China as either Formosa or Taiwan, depending upon the period. The type of installation is abbreviated. Air Force Base: AFB; Army Air Field: AAF; AFS: Air Force Station; ANGB: Air National Guard Base; ARB: Air Reserve Base; AAB: Army Air Base.
Deployed Stations
A deployed station is an organization’s temporary location, usually to conduct training, combat operations, or other operations away from their permanent station location. Generally, only portions of an organization’s complement of personnel “deploy” to a temporary station and do so under Temporary Duty (TDY) orders. The same criteria for permanent stations locations applies to deployed stations.
Assignments
Establishments a unit reports to for operational control. A single date indicates the date of assignment; where a double date appears, the second date indicates termination of assignment. If the organization was attached for operational control to another organization, the attachment appears in the attachment section. Each attachment contains double dates. Where the exact dates for assignment or attached service could not be determined with certainty, a circa (c.) date is used.
Attachments
An attached organization is one that is serving geographically away from the establishment to which it is assigned. An organization can be attached to an establishment for operational control, administration, and/or logistical support.
Components
Units with components; for example an Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron’s detachments, are listed alphabetically or numerically.
Weapon systems
The aircraft and/or missiles used by an organization appear in this section. Aircraft are listed by series and number (B-52 or KC-135). Missiles are listed by their official designation and popular names (SM-65 Atlas, LGM-25 Titan II, LGM-30 Minuteman III). Exact dates an organization officially receives or divests of a weapon system is often difficult to ascertain. As such, only the year the organization receives the weapon system is presented. the When available and pertinent, exact dates in which the organization received or disposed of its weapon systems are covered in the operations section. No attempt is made to list the weapon system’s manufacturer or the official or unofficial nickname, unless there is a possibility of confusion. For example the B-26 will be identified as either the B-26 Marauder or B-26 Invader.
Commanders
Commanders of an organization are listed chronologically, along with the highest rank attained during the command tenure. When an organization was active but not manned, the statement "none (not manned)" and double dates appear. If a commander was at first interim and then permanently appointed, the commander's name will be followed by a date and a parenthetical "interim," followed by a second date and parenthetical "permanent." In some cases the inclusive dates for a given commander are not known. In those cases, the entry “#” followed by a month and year indicate the earliest or latest date known for that commander to be in command of the unit indicated.
Name, date—date the officer took command
Name, @date—approximate date officer took command
Name, #date—officer was in position of command on that date; doesn’t indicate
assumption of command date
Honors
Service Streamers
Service Streamers indicate noncombat service in the various theaters of military operations.
Campaign Streamers
Campaign Streamers indicate combat operations in a theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer is awarded for participation in any military campaign for which no other service medal is authorized.
Decorations
Decorations include citations and awards recognizing distinguished or meritorious acts by the organization. In this section, the type of decoration is cited together with specific dates.
Emblems
The current or most recent official emblem of an organization is posted at the top of the organization’s history. Older official emblems and patches are posted chronologically.
This nonprofit site depicts original insignias and in doing so intends no infringement on the property rights of the owner of any copyright.
Motto
Official mottos are listed chronologically. Mottos in foreign languages are provided with an English translation and when applicable an explanation of the motto.
Operations
Photographs
Photos are courtesy of the Department of the Air Force or Department of the Army, unless otherwise specified.
Sources
All sources are cited as endnotes for each organizational history.
Primary sources include:
Documents and books from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Organization and base yearbooks
Organization and base heritage pamphlets
Organization and base official websites
Organization periodic/annual history
Documents and books from the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry
Secondary sources are used sparingly and generally only in the operations section of the histories.
Writing credit
When compiling an organization’s history, it became apparent early on that rewriting the organization’s history completely destroys the rich flavor of the original manuscript and the context is completely lost. It is impossible to convey the texture and prose of a young man writing about his buddies and his unit in the throes of war. Consequently, the webmaster functions almost entirely as an editor. When practical, the original text from the organization history is used in its entirety and when possible, writing credit is annotated.
Disputing information
An exorbitant amount of effort and time has been expended attempting to record the vast amount of information in these unit histories. However, mistakes and omissions will occur and I will make every effort to correct even the smallest detail. When information is disputed or just merely questioned, please contact the webmaster.
Entries contain information that is standardized in its presentation as far as possible. organizations are listed numerically, then alphabetically.
Mission
The mission statement defines what an organizations accomplishes on a daily basis. The mission statement also includes how the mission is accomplished. When available, the organizations’ structure and manning is presented.
Designation
All U.S. Air Force units must be readily identifiable. To accomplish this, each organizations has a unique designation. The designation includes a number or name; a functional term describing its primary mission and an organizational type denoting its position in the Air Force organizational hierarchy.
Organization: 1 Fighter Wing
Number: 1
Organization Kind: Fighter
Organization Type: Wing
Organization: 15 Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Number: 15
Organization Kind: Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance
Organization Type: Squadron
Organization: Ogden Air Logistics Center
Name: Ogden
Organization Kind: Air Logistics
Organization Type: Center
The organizational histories are presented with the organization’s official designation.
Certain aspects of designations are abbreviated. For example, United States Air Force is abbreviated USAF; Air Force is abbreviated AF; Army Air Forces is abbreviated AAF; and Headquarters is abbreviated HQ.
For the sake of clarity and ease of locating individual organizational histories, USAF, AF, AAF, and HQ are omitted in the designation of an organization in the cross reference and the link to the organizational histories.
Numbered Air Forces and organizations that use Roman Numerals, for example XX Bomber Command, are listed using Arabic numbers in links to the organizational histories and the cross reference.
When there is more than one organization with an identical designation in the links to the organizational histories and the cross reference, a clarifying note, identified by a date is used to differentiate the organizations.
Stations
The list of stations shows the locations and movements of the organization. Station moves are a result of a permanent change of station (PCS). Station locations of organizations are listed chronologically. If the organization moved frequently, as some organizations did in the Mediterranean and Pacific areas during World War II, countries, rather than specific places, are listed. Foreign nations are identified by their popular name, rather than their official name, for example the Republic of Korea appears as South Korea; the Republic of Vietnam as South Vietnam, and the Republic of China as either Formosa or Taiwan, depending upon the period. The type of installation is abbreviated. Air Force Base: AFB; Army Air Field: AAF; AFS: Air Force Station; ANGB: Air National Guard Base; ARB: Air Reserve Base; AAB: Army Air Base.
Deployed Stations
A deployed station is an organization’s temporary location, usually to conduct training, combat operations, or other operations away from their permanent station location. Generally, only portions of an organization’s complement of personnel “deploy” to a temporary station and do so under Temporary Duty (TDY) orders. The same criteria for permanent stations locations applies to deployed stations.
Assignments
Establishments a unit reports to for operational control. A single date indicates the date of assignment; where a double date appears, the second date indicates termination of assignment. If the organization was attached for operational control to another organization, the attachment appears in the attachment section. Each attachment contains double dates. Where the exact dates for assignment or attached service could not be determined with certainty, a circa (c.) date is used.
Attachments
An attached organization is one that is serving geographically away from the establishment to which it is assigned. An organization can be attached to an establishment for operational control, administration, and/or logistical support.
Components
Units with components; for example an Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron’s detachments, are listed alphabetically or numerically.
Weapon systems
The aircraft and/or missiles used by an organization appear in this section. Aircraft are listed by series and number (B-52 or KC-135). Missiles are listed by their official designation and popular names (SM-65 Atlas, LGM-25 Titan II, LGM-30 Minuteman III). Exact dates an organization officially receives or divests of a weapon system is often difficult to ascertain. As such, only the year the organization receives the weapon system is presented. the When available and pertinent, exact dates in which the organization received or disposed of its weapon systems are covered in the operations section. No attempt is made to list the weapon system’s manufacturer or the official or unofficial nickname, unless there is a possibility of confusion. For example the B-26 will be identified as either the B-26 Marauder or B-26 Invader.
Commanders
Commanders of an organization are listed chronologically, along with the highest rank attained during the command tenure. When an organization was active but not manned, the statement "none (not manned)" and double dates appear. If a commander was at first interim and then permanently appointed, the commander's name will be followed by a date and a parenthetical "interim," followed by a second date and parenthetical "permanent." In some cases the inclusive dates for a given commander are not known. In those cases, the entry “#” followed by a month and year indicate the earliest or latest date known for that commander to be in command of the unit indicated.
Name, date—date the officer took command
Name, @date—approximate date officer took command
Name, #date—officer was in position of command on that date; doesn’t indicate
assumption of command date
Honors
Service Streamers
Service Streamers indicate noncombat service in the various theaters of military operations.
Campaign Streamers
Campaign Streamers indicate combat operations in a theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer is awarded for participation in any military campaign for which no other service medal is authorized.
Decorations
Decorations include citations and awards recognizing distinguished or meritorious acts by the organization. In this section, the type of decoration is cited together with specific dates.
Emblems
The current or most recent official emblem of an organization is posted at the top of the organization’s history. Older official emblems and patches are posted chronologically.
This nonprofit site depicts original insignias and in doing so intends no infringement on the property rights of the owner of any copyright.
Motto
Official mottos are listed chronologically. Mottos in foreign languages are provided with an English translation and when applicable an explanation of the motto.
Operations
Photographs
Photos are courtesy of the Department of the Air Force or Department of the Army, unless otherwise specified.
Sources
All sources are cited as endnotes for each organizational history.
Primary sources include:
Documents and books from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Organization and base yearbooks
Organization and base heritage pamphlets
Organization and base official websites
Organization periodic/annual history
Documents and books from the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry
Secondary sources are used sparingly and generally only in the operations section of the histories.
Writing credit
When compiling an organization’s history, it became apparent early on that rewriting the organization’s history completely destroys the rich flavor of the original manuscript and the context is completely lost. It is impossible to convey the texture and prose of a young man writing about his buddies and his unit in the throes of war. Consequently, the webmaster functions almost entirely as an editor. When practical, the original text from the organization history is used in its entirety and when possible, writing credit is annotated.
Disputing information
An exorbitant amount of effort and time has been expended attempting to record the vast amount of information in these unit histories. However, mistakes and omissions will occur and I will make every effort to correct even the smallest detail. When information is disputed or just merely questioned, please contact the webmaster.
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