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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. Re-designated: 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 Oc 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.