85th Air Division

85th Air Division
85th Air Division (Defense) emblem
Active	10 November 1943 – 30 June 1948; 8 September 1955 – 1 September 1958.
Country	United States
Branch	Air Force
Part of	see "Assignments" section below
Garrison/HQ	see "Stations" section below
Equipment	see "Aerospace vehicles" section below
Decorations	see "Lineage and honors" section below

95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Convair F-102A-65-CO Delta Dagger 56-1154 85th Air Division, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, March 1958

95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86D-55-NA Sabre 53-600, Andrews AFB, MD, 1955

The 85th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command Eastern Air Defense Force, being stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It was inactivated on 1 September 1958.

History

During World War II, the 85th Fighter Wing was a command and control organization of Fifth Air Force, operating primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater. Its assigned units participated in aerial combat in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands (February 1944 – August 1945) flyingt cover missions for convoys, patrols, escorted bombers, attacked enemy airfields, and supported ground forces.

After the war's end, the organization provided fighter protection for the Philippine Islands and conducted an intensive training program in aerial combat, gunnery, and instrument flying, until the units inactivation in June 1948.

During the Cold War the unit was reactivated as an Air Division by Air Defense Command. It was assigned to the Eastern Air Defense Force in September 1955 with a mission to intercept unidentified aircraft over the Washington, D.C. area. It participated in numerous training exercises. It also took part in gunnery and air launched training and readiness tests. Inactivated in September 1958.

Lineage

• Established as 85 Fighter Wing on 4 November 1943

Activated on 10 November 1943

Inactivated on 30 June 1948

• Redesignated 85 Air Division (Defense) on 3 May 1955

Activated on 8 September 1955

Inactivated on 1 September 1958.

Assignments

• Fourth Air Force, 10 November 1943
• IV Fighter Command, 28 November 1943 – 10 January 1944
• Army Service Forces, 10 January – 17 February 1944
• Fifth Air Force, 18 February 1944
• Far East Air Forces, 11 May 1945
• Thirteenth Air Force, 1 September 1945
• Fifth Air Force, 1 June 1947 – 30 June 1948
• Eastern Air Defense Force, 8 September 1955 – 1 September 1958.

Stations

Components

Wing

• 4625 Air Defense (SAGE) (later, Washington Air Defense Sector): 1 December 1956 – 1 September 1958.

Groups

• 18th Fighter Group: 15 March 1946 – 1 May 1947
• 49th Fighter Group: 19 April – 5 June 1944
• 348th Fighter Group: 7 November 1944 – 8 February 1945
• 414th Fighter Group: c. 15 December 1945-c. 30 September 1946
• 475th Fighter Group: 16 June 1944 – 18 May 1945.

Squadrons

• 17th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 February – 22 March 1946
• 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 March 1956 – 1 September 1958
• 95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 March 1956 – 1 September 1958
• 419th Night Fighter Squadron: 10 January 1946 – 20 February 1947
• 482d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 8 April 1956 – 1 September 1958
• 550th Night Fighter Squadron: 7 April-c. 30 June 1945.

See also

• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
• Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
• List of United States Air Force air divisions

References

	United States Air Force portal
	Military of the United States portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
• A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
• Air Force Historical Research Agency: 85th Air Division (Defense)

External links

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