43d Air Division

43d Air Division
68th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-94B at Itazuke AB[1]
Active	1952–1957
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Insignia
43d Air Division emblem (Approved 19 December 1956)[2][3]

The 43d Air Division is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. It was last active on 1 October 1957, when it was stationed at Itazuke Air Base, Japan

History

Originally designated as the 43d Air Division (Defense) when organized on 1 March 1952, the division was redesignated 43d Air Division on 18 March 1955. The unit was discontinued and inactivated, on 1 October 1957. The 43d Air Division assumed responsibility for the air defense of Southwestern Japan (Kyūshū, in March 1952. The 43d also included the western part of Honshū, and most of Shikoku), using radar, fighter aircraft, and ground weapons to prevent or disrupt enemy air attacks. "It supported numerous exercises, some involving U.S. and British naval vessels, and training for the Japan Air Self Defense Force. The division also supervised electronic countermeasures, and weather reconnaissance missions. In the summer of 1957, when the Nagasaki area suffered severe flooding, the 43d assisted Japanese authorities and people by flying numerous airlift missions with helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft."^[2]

Lineage

• Established as the 43d Air Division (Defense) and organized on 1 March 1952
• Redesignated 43d Air Division on 18 March 1955
• Discontinued and inactivated on 1 October 1957^[2]

Assignments

• Japan Air Defense Force, 1 March 1952;
• Fifth Air Force, 1 September 1954 – 1 October 1957^[2]

Components

Wings

• 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing: 1 March 1955 – 1 October 1957^[2]

Squadrons

• 68th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 March 1955 – 1 October 1957^[2]

Aircraft

• Lockheed F-94 Starfire (1952–1953)
• North American F-86 Sabre (1953–1957)
• North American F-100 Super Sabre (1957)^[2]

Commanders

• Col. Charles W. Stark, 1 March 1952
• Col. Edward N. Backus, c.1954
• Col. Samuel J. Gormly Jr., by 31 December 1954
• Col. James M. Smelley, 9 July 1956
• Col. Ladson G. Eskridge Jr., 13 August 1956 – 1 October 1957^[2]

See also

• Fifth Air Force
• List of United States Air Force air divisions

References

Notes

1. Aircraft is Lockheed F-94B-5-LO Serial 53-5355
2. "Factsheet 43 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
3. A shield argent on a bend azure three futuramic aircraft, in bend, or, between two lightning bolts in saltire gules and a magnetic field of the last with cardinal compass points and pylon of the last

Bibliography

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

• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.