The division was initially responsible to train its two wings for long range offensive bombardment and worldwide air refueling operations. The division participated in numerous tactical training exercises.[1] The 98th Bombardment Wing deployed as a unit to RAF Lakenheath in late 1955.[3] The 307th wing, which did not receive its first B-47s and KC-97s until 1955, also deployed as a unit to England in 1956.[2]
In April 1960 the division conducted Exercise Open Road, testing Minimum Interval Takeoff of its KC-97s, with the planes departing every fifteen seconds.[5] However, stationing slow moving KC-97s in Nebraska, near the center of North America, required them to be deployed to forward locations[b] and the tankers of the division began to be withdrawn. Although some consideration had been given to upgrading the division's refueling units to Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers in 1960,[6] instead, the 307th Air Refueling Squadron moved to Selfridge Air Force Base in 1960 and the 98th Air Refueling Squadron was inactivated in 1963.[7]
Atlas Missile of the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron
In the spring of 1961, the division was assigned the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron, an SM-65 Atlasintercontinental ballistic missile unit, although the squadron did not assume full responsibility for operation of the Atlas missile sites until the fall of 1962.[1][8] In the spring of 1962 SAC units with responsibility for both bomber and missile forces were renamed to include the term "aerospace" in their designations. The 818th became the 818th Strategic Aerospace Division. In 1964 the 551st was reassigned to the 98th wing, which then became the 98th Strategic Aerospace Wing.[3]
In July 1962, the 4362d Support Squadron, which operated EB-47s of the Post Attack Command and Control System (PACCS), was activated and assigned to the division. This squadron did not become operational until 31 July 1962. Although assigned to the division, it was attached to the 307th wing.[2]
In January 1963, The 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing assumed the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4321st wing. The 4321st was a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing, which could not carry a permanent history or lineage,[12] and SAC wanted to replace it with a permanent unit.[13] The 385th wing was active for less than two years, however, and began to prepare for inactivation on 1 December 1964, when its Atlas missile squadron became non-operational and its missiles were transferred to the San Bernardino Air Materiel Area.[13][14] The 34th Air Refueling Squadron was attached directly to the division. Two weeks later the 385th inactivated and the division's wings were once again all located at Lincoln.[13]
The division was inactivated three months later as the phaseout of B-47s reduced Lincoln to a single wing. The 98th Bombardment Wing became the host at Lincoln and its 98th Combat Support Group took over the personnel, mission and equipment of the 818th Combat Support Group. The 98th wing and the 34th Air Refueling Squadron were transferred to the 810th Strategic Aerospace Division.[15]
Lineage
Constituted as the 818th Air Division on 27 August 1954
Activated on 11 October 1954
Redesignated 818th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 March 1962
98th Bombardment Wing (later 98th Strategic Aerospace Wing): 11 October 1954 – 25 March 1965 (attached to 7th Air Division 11 November 1955 – 29 January 1956)[3]
307th Bombardment Wing: 11 October 1954 – 25 March 1965 (attached to Twentieth Air Force until 19 November 1954 and to 7th Air Division 7 July 1956 – 5 October 1956)[2]
385th Strategic Aerospace Wing: 1 January 1963 – 15 December 1964
^Approved 12 January 1956. Description: First and fourth quarters bendy of eight, azure and argent; the second quarter argent, over a lightning bolt in bend sinister, a sphere all proper, two aircraft volantsable with a trailing stream of power gules encircling the sphere; third quarter sable an eagle rising, wings elevated and displayed or.
^The division operated one of these locations in northern Manitoba, Canada.
^The H-19s and U-6s were assigned to the 818th Combat Support Group to support the Atlas missile sites of the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron. The exact dates of assignment are unclear, although the H-19s began to be phased out in July 1963.
