36th Air Division
36th Air Division
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| Active | 1951–1960; 1966–1969 |
| Country |
 United States
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| Branch |
 United States Air Force
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| Garrison/HQ | see |
| Equipment | below |
| Decorations | see |
| Insignia | |
| 36th Air Division emblem (Approved 12 February 1952) |  |
The 36th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with First Air Force at Topsham Air Force Station, Maine. It was inactivated on 30 September 1969.
"The 36th Air Division was activated to solve the organizational and jurisdictional problems caused by placing two combat wings at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in 1951. The division first flew Boeing B-29 Superfortresses and Boeing B-50 Superfortresses for bombardment operations, but by late 1954 it was completely equipped with Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium bombers. Conversion from KB-29s to KC-97s for refueling began in the summer of 1952 and ended in 1954."
"The division constantly flew training missions, engaged in simulated combat operations, and participated in joint exercises with the Air Defense Command. Until 1960, it continued its task of manning, training, and equipping the assigned bombardment wings with B-47s so that they would be ready for aerial warfare on a global scale." Inactivated with the turnover of Davis Monthan to Tactical Air Command in 1960.
Reactivated as part of First Air Force (Air Defense Command), April 1966. "The division administered, trained, and placed all available combat capable forces, including surveillance and control elements, in a maximum state of readiness for air defense missions, and participated in numerous exercises." Assumed additional designation of 36th NORAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Colorado and reporting was transferred to NORAD from ADC at Ent Air Force Base in April 1966.
Inactivated in 1969 due to budget reductions and the diminished air defense threat to the United States.
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Wikipedia