25th Air Division

The 25th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force intermediate echelon command and control organization. It was last assigned to First Air Force, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). It was inactivated on 30 September 1990 at McChord Air Force Base, Washington.

History
The command was activated on 25 October 1948, being the first Air Division for air defense. Its headquarters was at Silver Lake, near Everett, Washington under Continental Air Forces (ConAC). The 25th AD did not assume any command responsibilities until 1949 when it became an intermediate level command under the Air Defense Command, Western Air Defense Force. Its initial Area of Responsibility (AOR) was a large area of the northwest Continental United States, from the 103rd meridian west and north of the 42nd parallel north. This encompassed an area consisting of the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and the western parts of North and South Dakota as well as Nebraska.

During the 1950s the AOR of the 25th AD changed frequently, but its core area always included the area of Washington State west of the Cascade Mountains. On 1 January 1951, Air Defense Command regained major command status, and the 25th AD was one of four Air Divisions assigned to the new command. Later that year, on 15 September HQ 25th AD was moved from Silver Lake AFS to McChord AFB, near Tacoma, Washington.

Beginning on 1 January 1958, it the command organization for the Seattle Air Defense Sector Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Data Center (DC-12) at McChord AFB. A few months later, on 1 September, the Portland Air Defense Sector, with its SAGE Direction Center (DC-13) at Adair AFS, Oregon also came under the 25th AD; on 8 September the Spokane Air Defense Sector and DC-15 at Larson AFB toned the 25th AD. In 1959, the Reno Air Defense Sector and DC-16 at Stead AFB, Nevada was also incorporated.

During the Cold War era, the 25th AD equipped, administered, trained and provided air defense combat ready forces within the northwestern United States. It exercised command jurisdiction over assigned units, installations, and facilities and provided and maintained facilities for the Air Division control center. In addition, the division and its subordinate units also participated in numerous tactical air defense training exercises. In the late 1950s, the Division also controlled United States-built radar stations in Western Canada as part of the Pinetree Line. These stations were turned over to the Royal Canadian Air Force in the early 1960s.

In May 1960, SAGE Combat Center Number 3 (CC-03) became operational at McChord AFB, bringing these separate Direction Centers under a unified center under the 25th AD. In July, DC-16 at Stead AFB was reassigned to the 28th Air Division at Hamilton AFB, California and the inactivation of the Western Air Defense Force brought the 25th AD directly under the control of Air Defense Command. In 1966 it was assigned to Headquarters, Fourth Air Force at Hamilton AFB, although it remained stationed at McChord AFB. It also replaced the Seattle Air Defense Sector in 1966. Assumed additional designation of 25th NORAD Region after activation of the NORAD Combat Operations Center at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado and reporting was transferred to NORAD from ADC at Ent AFB in April 1966.

The division was a major part of Air Defense Command, and later Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM) in 1968. In 1979 it was incorporated into Tactical Air Command with the inactivation of ADCOM as a major command. Under Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). In 1985 most active-duty units of ADCOM were inactivated or reassigned to other missions, and the air defense mission came under Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units under First Air Force.

It continued its mission until 1990, when the 25 AD was inactivated, its mission and components becoming part of the First Air Force Northwest Air Defense Sector.

Lineage

 * Established as 25 Air Defense Division on 27 September 1948.
 * Activated on 25 October 1948
 * Re-designated 25 Air Division (Defense) on 20 June 1949.
 * Inactivated on 1 February 1952


 * Organized on 1 February 1952
 * Re-designated: 25th Air Division (SAGE) on 1 March 1959
 * Re-designated :25th Air Division on 1 April 1966
 * Organized 1 April 1966, replacing Seattle Air Defense Sector
 * Assumed additional designations 25th NORAD/CONRAD Region, 1 April 1966
 * Assumed additional designation 25th ADCOM Region, 8 December 1978
 * Inactivated on 30 September 1990, assets transferred to Northwest Air Defense Sector.

Assignments

 * Fourth Air Force, 25 October 1948
 * Air Defense Command, 1 April 1949
 * Fourth Air Force, 8 July 1949
 * Attached to Western Air Defense Force, 10 November 1949 – 1 August 1950


 * Western Air Defense Force, 1 August 1950
 * Air Defense Command, 1 July 1960
 * Fourth Air Force, 1 April 1966
 * Tenth Air Force, 15 September 1969
 * Aerospace Defense Command (ADTAC), 1 December 1969
 * Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979
 * First Air Force, 6 December 1985 – 30 September 1990

Stations

 * Silver Lake AWS, Washington, 25 October 1948
 * McChord AFB, Washington, 14 September 1951 – 30 September 1990

Sectors

 * Southwest Air Defense Sector: 1 July 1987 – 30 September 1990
 * March AFB, California


 * Northwest Air Defense Sector: 1 July 1987 – 30 September 1990
 * McChord AFB, Washington


 * Portland Air Defense Sector: 8 June 1958 – 1 April 1966
 * Adair AFS, Oregon


 * Reno Air Defense Sector: 15 February 1959 – 1 July 1960
 * Stead AFB, Nevada


 * Seattle Air Defense Sector: 8 January 1958 – 1 April 1966
 * McChord AFB, Washington


 * Spokane Air Defense Sector: 8 September 1958 – 1 September 1963.
 * Larson AFB, Washington

Wings

 * 325th Fighter Wing: 18 October 1956 – 10 February 1960; 1 April 1966 – 1 July 1968
 * McChord AFB, Washington


 * 4700th Air Defense Wing: 1 September 1958 – 15 May 1960
 * Geiger Field, Washington


 * 4702d Defense Wing: 7 November 1952 – 8 October 1954
 * Hamilton AFB, California
 * Geiger Field, Washington


 * 4704th Defense Wing: 10 December 1952 – 8 October 1954.
 * McChord AFB, Washington

Groups

 * 57th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
 * Paine Field, Washington, 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1968


 * 84th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
 * Geiger Field, Washington, 15 August-1 September 1958


 * 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
 * McChord AFB, Washington, 18 August-18 October 1956


 * 326th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
 * Paine Field, Washington, 18 August 1955 – 10 February 1960


 * 327th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
 * Portland Airport, Washington, 18 August 1955 – 15 April 1960


 * 408th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
 * Kingsley Field, Oregon, 1 March 1959 – 15 April 1960; 15 September 1969 – 1 October 1970


 * 162d Aircraft Control and Warning Group (Federalzed ANG)
 * Larson AFB, Washington, 25 June 1951 – 6 February 1952


 * 503d Air Defense Group
 * Portland Airport, Washington, 8 October 1954
 * Re-designated 337th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 18 August 1955 – 15 April 1960


 * 505th Aircraft Control and Warning Group
 * Silver Lake AWS, Washington, 21 May 1947
 * McChord AFB, Washington, 15 August 1951 – 6 February 1952


 * 529th Air Defense Group
 * Paine Field, Washington, 8 October 1954
 * Re-designated 326th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 18 August 1955 – 10 February 1960


 * 567th Air Defense Group
 * McChord AFB, Washington, 8 October 1954
 * Re-designated 78th Fighter Group
 * Reassigned to Hamilton AFB (Air Defense), California, 18 August 1955 – 1 July 1960


 * 4721st Air Defense Group
 * Larson AFB, Washington, 15 August-1 September 1968

Interceptor

 * 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
 * Minot AFB, North Dakota, 1 June 1983 – 1 December 1987


 * 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
 * Larson AFB, Washington, 26 November 1952 – 18 August 1955


 * 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
 * Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 April 1971 – 30 July 1974

Radar

 * 634th Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Burns AFS, Oregon, 20 June 1953 – 1 October 1954; 15 August 1958 – 1 September 1958; 15 September 1969 – 30 September 1970


 * 635th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Fort Lawton AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953; 1 January 1953 – 1 January 1953


 * 636th Aircraft Control and Warning (later Radar) Squadron
 * Condon AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953;  15 August-1 September 1958; 15 September 1969 – 30 September 1970


 * 637th Aircraft Control and Warning (later Radar) Squadron
 * Othello AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953; 15 August-1 September 1958;  1 April 1966 – 31 March 1975


 * 638th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Curlew AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953; 15 August- 1 September 1958


 * 680th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Yaak AFS, Montana, 15 August-1 September 1958; 15 May-1 July 1960


 * 689th Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Mount Hebo AFS, Oregon, 8 October 1954 – 1 March 1960; 1 April 1966 – 30 June 1979


 * 716th Radar Squadron
 * Kalispell AFS, Montana, 19 November 1969 – 1 April 1978


 * 757th Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Blaine AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953;  8 October 1954 – 1 March 1960; 1 April 1966 – 1 January 1979


 * 758th Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Makah AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953; 8 October 1954 – 1 March 1960; 1 April 1966 – 30 June 1982


 * 759th Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Naselle AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953; 8 October 1954 – 1 March 1960; 1 April-25 June 1966


 * 760th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Colville AFS, Washington, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953; 15 August-1 September 1958


 * 761st Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * North Bend AFS, Oregon, 6 February 1952 – 1 January 1953;  8 October 1954 – 1 March 1960; 15 September 1969 – 11 February 1980


 * 777th Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Klamath AFS, California, 1 March 1959 – 1 March 1960; 15 September 1969 – 30 September 1981


 * 821st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Geiger Field, Washington, 15 August-1 September 1958
 * Baker AFS, Oregon, 15 May-1 July 1960


 * 822d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Cottonwood AFS, Idaho, 15 August-1 September 1958


 * 823d Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Mica Peak AFS, Washington, 15 August-1 September 1958; 1 April 1966 – 1 June 1975


 * 825th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Kamloops AS, British Columbia, 1 September 1957 – 15 March 1960


 * 827th Aircraft Control and Waring (later Radar) Squadron
 * Keno AFS, Oregon, 1 March 1959 – 1 March 1960; 1 March 1970 – 1 October 1979


 * 859th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Red Bluff AFS, California, 1 March 1959 – 1 March 1960


 * 917th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Puntzi Mountain AS, British Columbia, 1 January 1953 – 1 March 1960


 * 918th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Baldy Hughes AS, British Columbia, 16 February 1953 – 1 March 1960


 * 919th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Saskatoon Mountain AS, Alberta, 16 February 1953 – 15 March 1960