History 47th Air Division

tail markings of 47th bomb wing, 15th air force



450th bg b-24 in natural aluminum finish, in 1945



47th bomb wing b-24 on alps 1944

the organization traces origins 7th pursuit wing activated on 19 october 1940 part of general headquarters air force. assigned northeast air district , mission air defense of northeastern united states, based @ mitchel field on long island, new york. after short period of inactivation, unit reactivated united states army air forces in may 1942 7th fighter wing part of first air force, based @ harrisburg, pennsylvania command , control organization, preparing fighter groups deployed european theater.

after activation, 7th pursuit wing concentrated on training 3 pursuit groups , in participating in field maneuvers. completed training in united states fighter wing , moved north africa in nov 1942. although earmarked eighth air force, served instead twelfth, , later, fifteenth air forces, first fighter wing, medium bomb wing, , heavy bomb wing.

shortly after allied landings, wing established headquarters in casablanca, french morocco on 11 november 1942, , commenced combat operations, being attached moroccan composite wing (provisional). 7th fighter wing moved headquarters , units algeria in january 1943 allies moved eastward across north africa, units flying curtiss p-40 warhawks, , long-range lockheed p-38 lightnings, attacking german , italian targets in advance of ground forces. in 1942 1943 period, many of assigned components did not operate under wing control, while other components temporarily attached.

in january 1943, wing reassigned xii bomber command , redesignated 47th bombardment wing (medium). (the reason designation change seventh air force in hawaii reorganizing air defense forces islands, , wanted designate wing there seventh .) wing assigned martin b-26 marauder medium , douglas a-20 havoc light bomber groups, employing them in tactical roles across algeria , tunisia. throughout 1943, wing began have heavy (consolidated b-24 liberator) units attached, becoming heavy bomber organization. components supported bombing of pantelleria island , allied invasion of sicily , allied invasion of italy, moving manduria italy in october 1943.

the wing transferred new fifteenth air force on 1 november 1943 along 4 b-24 bomb groups (98th, 376th, 449th , 450th). 47th bomb wing named pyramidiers , groups aircraft carried pyramid symbol on vertical stabilizers.

its groups flew missions balkans, austria, france, , germany, rumanian oil fields primary targets april through august 1944. wing s groups flew missions on southern france in august 1944 in support of operation dragoon, invasion of southern france. final combat mission on 25 april 1945 struck marshalling yards @ linz, austria.

with war in europe ended, 47th bomb wing returned united states in may 1945 prepare bombardment operations in pacific heavy bombardment wing. assigned continental air forces, second air force , redesignated heavy wing. 47th bomb wing , assigned first sioux falls army air field, south dakota, sioux city army air base in iowa organize boeing b-29 superfortress groups command under eighth air force in pacific theater.

the atomic bombings , end of world war ii in august 1945. personnel transferred out of wing on 17 september , wing inactivated on 15 october 1945.

strategic air command

redesignated air division, 47th served intermediate echelon between strategic air command s eighth air force , operational units in field, consisting of bombardment wings, strategic wings, strategic missile wings , strategic aerospace wings. april 1955 march 1970, division filled same role fifteenth air force , march 1970 july 1971, second air force. in july 1971 47th returned fifteenth air force control continued supervise subordinate unit training , other activities.

in january 1975, colonel (later brigadier general) eugene d. scott selected command 47th air division. made selection, , subsequent assumption of command in february 1975, particularly noteworthy in lieu of being command pilot, colonel scott master navigator, making him first navigator in usaf history assume command of air force combat flying organization.

the may 1980 eruption of mount st. helens in state of washington affected both 47th air division , 92d bombardment wing operations @ fairchild afb, resulting in dispersal of fairchild s b-52 , kc-135 aircraft various bases while around-the-clock shifts removed volcanic ash facilities within base perimeter.

air divisions gradually phased out of air force command structure after end of vietnam war, numbered air forces assuming direct command of subordinate wings. 47th air division 1 of last few remaining air divisions inactivated, doing in february 1987 due combination of organizational restructuring , budget restraints. following 47th s inactivation, sac s remaining air divisions existed 1990s until usage ended 1992 major reorganization of usaf major commands , inactivation of sac itself.