The division was first activated as the 3rd Air Defense Wing in December 1942. After a brief period of organization, it moved to North Africa in February 1943, where it served as an element of Twelfth Air Force, directing air defense and tactical units. The wing added fighter and fighter-bomber forces in the spring of 1943 and was redesignated the 64th Fighter Wing in July. During wing operations in North Africa, Italy and France, it pioneered methods to provide close air support to ground forces. In August 1944, it moved to France, continuing operations in France and Germany until V-E Day. It remained in Germany as part of the occupation forces until inactivating in June 1947.
In April 1952, it was activated in Newfoundland as the 64th Air Division, where it controlled air defense forces in the arctic. In July 1960, it moved to Stewart Air Force Base, where it controlled air defense forces in the northeastern United States.
The wing's initial mission was air defense of Algiers from Oran Es Sénia Airport under XII Fighter Command. However, this mission was already in the hands of the Royal Air Force (RAF), and within a few days, the wing moved to Thelepte Airfield, Tunisia, where it became part of XII Air Support Command. At Thelepte, the 561st Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion and three independent signal warning companies were assigned to the wing. These units, which had been operating independently, were organized into a provisional battalion for unified control. This arrangement became more regular in July 1943, when the aircraft warning unit was renamed the 2691st Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion (Provisional)(Mobile). These units provided radar coverage over the combat zone and warning of German attacks for installations to the rear.[5][6] The wing's 82nd Fighter Control Squadron directed strike aircraft and provided radio direction finding for aircraft returning to base.[5] Attached RAF units also provided information from visual observation points near the front lines and from intelligence units monitoring Luftwaffe communications.[c] The wing occasionally augmented the operations section of XII Air Support Command in the Tunisian campaign.[2]
Wing elements landed near Gela with advanced elements, and set up two radar sites on the island. On shore radar operations ceased on 10 July, when wing personnel were pressed to act as infantry to help repel a German counterattack. Operations resumed on13 July.[15] On 12 July, wing headquarters moved to Gela,[2] and took over control from the elements aboard the Monrovia and its sister ships.[10] In the middle of the month, the wing's fighter and reconnaissance units moved to Sicily from North Africa.[16] Recognizing the changed mission of the wing with the addition of tactical groups, it was redesignated the 64th Fighter Wing in late July.[2]
In Sicily, the wing inaugurated a more efficient system of communication with ground units needing air support. Previously, such request followed the ground force chain of command upward and the air force chain of command downward before being implemented. The wing established liaison teams of operations and intelligence officers with each division, who could transmit requests for support directly to wing headquarters through a special radio net. While still clumsy compared to later systems it was an improvement over previous systems.[17]
At the beginning of September 1943, the wing moved to Milazzo Airfield, Sicily,[2] from which it would be able to support Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy near Salerno. From this location, it was also able to handle air-sea rescue operations for aircraft on missions to mainland Italy.[18] Elements of the wing disembarked at Salerno on 9 September and by that evening were able to provide warning of enemy air attacks.[19] An experiment with the use of aircraft VHF radios modified for ground use led to the deployment of controllers in jeeps with radios mounted on them to control attacking aircraft. However, landline communications with ground forces were still required. With this system, fighter-bombers could be launched to receive their targets once they were near the battle area. However, limitations on the system still required a majority of strike to be against targets determined before takeoff. More offensive missions were being controlled, and strikes nearer the front lines were possible. The addition of the 415th Night Fighter Squadron to the wing permitted interceptions against night raids.[20]
324th Fighter Group P-40 Warhawks
In January 1944, during Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio, an element of the wing aboard HMSUlster Queen directed American fighters defending the landing forces. By 24 January, the wing had established a control unit near the Villa Borghese[21] Prior to this operation, air support missions, as a safety measure, were conducted across a bomb safety line, typically five to ten miles ahead of the front lines. With the aid of a wing detachment located with VI Corps headquarters and a radio equipped halftrack near the front lines, Curtiss P-40 Warhawks of the 324th Fighter Group conducted strikes against enemy strong points close to friendly troops. This system proved particularly effective against transportation, and the wing claimed the destruction of thousands of enemy vehicles during the Anzio campaign.[22] In March, officers of Ninth Air Force, which was preparing for the invasion of Normandy, visited the wing for briefings on the system of air-ground cooperation the wing had developed in North Africa and Italy.[23]
Stinson L-5 Sentinel on the ground in 1943
In June 1944, the wing experimented with the use of Piper L-4 Grasshoppers with observers from the 1st Armored Division aboard to control strikes. Later using Stinson L-5 Sentinels and flying low and typically within ten to twenty miles of the battle line, these light planes could identify targets and call fighter bombers to strike them. When needed, they could also point out targets to the strike aircraft. Similarly, tactical reconnaissance aircraft flew further to the rear and radioed wing controllers, who could direct strikes. These were usually transportation targets, trains or trucks.[24]
During the Italian campaign, wing fighter and fighter-bombers supported ground forces in a wide range of operations that included cover patrols, battle-area patrols, escort missions, dive bombing missions, and reconnaissance. Primary targets included enemy gun positions, road junctions, traffic concentrations, assembly areas, bridges, and targets of opportunity.[2]
Operations in France and Germany
USS Catoctin during Operation Dragoon
On 19 July, the wing moved to the staging area at Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Italy and began preparation for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France.[25] A headquarters detachment went aboard the USSCatoctin, which would be the headquarters afloat for the invasion,while a control team went to Malta, where they trained aboard HMS Stuart Prince. The control ships for the landing would once again be the Ulster Queen, plus Fighter Director Tender 13 (FDT 13), an LST converted for fighter direction with a control room and two radars.[26]
Wing F-6C Mustang tactical reconnaissance plane in southern France
On 15 August 1944 the landings began. Using techniques developed during the two previous invasions, wing personnel controlled air operations from FDT 13. This now included tactical reconnaissance aircraft patrolling the landing areas and reporting on potential targets. In addition, a control team from the 328th Fighter Control Squadron landed with the 550th Glider Infantry Battalion at Le Muy, operating with the advance elements of the airborne forces with a radio equipped Jeep. In addition to controlling fighter-bombers, this team also relayed reports by tactical reconnaissance planes to the airborne troops. For the first few days following the landings, this became the team's primary function.[27] Light resistance in most landing areas permitted two control centers to land on D-Day, and wing headquarters was established near St Tropez, France the same day.[2]
With the landing of troops, a beachhead control unit directed aircraft to hit enemy strong points, ammunition dumps, troop concentrations, road intersections, supply lines, and communications. As Allied forces advanced northward along the Rhone Valley, the wing implemented a plan to give more rapid support to the ground troops. Forward control units, equipped with the latest in air ground communications, were established with each division, strike aircraft could launch without a specific target, to be directed to whatever sector air support unit had identified a current target[2][28]
A wing P-47 Thunderbolt landing at Toul-Ochey Airfield
The Allies had not made plans for an air establishment to support Sixth Army Group, which was conducting the advance up the Rhone. Many of the air units that had been attached for Operation Dragoon had been withdrawn to their permanent commands.[29] In October 1944, First Tactical Air Force (Provisional) (1 TAF) was established, although not on a permanent basis. Although the 64th Wing remained assigned to XII Tactical Air Command for administration, it would be attached to 1 TAF for operations for the remainer of the war.[2][30] The wing commanded all American fighter forces in the command,[d] which, with the exception of the 415th Night Fighter Squadron, flew Republic P-47 Thunderbolts.[31] Its control elements also controlled strikes by medium bombers of the 42nd Bombardment Wing and fighters and bombers of the Free French1er Corps Aerien, using attached French controllers.[32]
Due to bad weather during the winter of 1944-45, the wing developed a technique called "Eggbasket." Eggbasket targets were identified strongpoints. When fighters were unable to attack targets because clouds prevented them from identifying their targets, they would receive radar vectors to Eggbasket targets, and the controller would tell them when to drop their bombs.[33] Aditionally, a wing Ground-controlled interception (GCI) site provided "Popeye Letdown"s[e] directing planes flying above an overcast to visual conditions below, using the site's radar. The wing's aircraft warning units began re-equipping with more advanced SCR-584 microwave radars. The first of the 593rd Battalion's radars went into operation on 10 April 1945 at a site combining both the warning functions of the batallion and the control functions of the fighter control squadrons.[34] After providing training on systems operations and maintenance, by 1945, control teams operating with the French ground forces of Sixth Army Group were composed of French military personnel.[35]
On 15 March 1945, Sixth Army Group attacked into Germany. Wing fighter-bombers flew as many as four sorties daily per plane, flying 943 sorties, 93% of which were close air support missions. This was more than 300 sorties over the previous high for the wing. The record only lasted a day, when the wing flew 974 sorties on the 16th, then flew 984 sorties on the 18th.[36] The wing's 50th and 358th Fighter Groups each received a Distinguished Unit Citation ((DUC) for their effective attacks isolating enemy troop formations and preventing their withdrawal during this operation.[37] Although preceded by control teams, wing headquarters moved into Germany, and established itself at Edenkoben on 1 April. Shortly thereafter, the wing's fighter units began moving into Germany. Sortie numbers had dropped as the army advanced farther from their bases in France, extending time spent flying to and from targets.[38]
Two combat commands of the 10th Armored Division outran their supply lines, and on 8 April 1945 were surrounded in Crailsheim by German forces. For the next two days, Douglas C-47 Skytrains of IX Troop Carrier Command provided emergency relief through an airfield within their perimeter. Wing fighter groups provided fighter cover for the transports, destroying at least a dozen German aircraft before the emergency airlift ended on the 10th. The 358th earned another DUC for this and following actions.[39][40] In late April, the wing's 50th and 358th Groups destroyed 157 aircraft, including Me 262 jet fighters on the ground near Munich, earning the 50th another DUC.[41][f]
Occupation duty
The wing moved to Germany at the end of April 1945, establishing its headquarters at Schwäbisch Hall. After V-E Day, it served in the occupation of Germany, returning to the control of XII Tactical Air Command, when 1 TAF was discontinued in May 1945. [2] The wing performed occupation duties such as destroying captured enemy aircraft, repairing roads, bridges and processing prisoners of war. For brief periods through 1946, it also commanded units which were inactivating or returning to the United States.[42]
The wing was redesignated the 64th Air Division and activated at Pepperrell Air Force Base, Newfoundland in April 1952.[2] It was assigned to Northeast Air Command (NEAC) and was assigned the 152nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group, an Air National Guard (ANG) unit that had been mobilized for the Korean War. The 152nd had arrived in NEAC's area of responsibility in the spring of 1952 and its squadrons were establishing radar coverage of northeastern Canada and Greenland. By the summer of 1953, temporary stations had been established.[51]
In late December 1952, the division was reorganized, The 152d Group was inactivated and its squadrons at Harmon Air Force Base, McAndrew Air Force Base, and Red Cliff Air Station, Newfoundland; Goose Bay Airport, Labrador and Thule Air Base, Greenland were assigned directly to division headquarters, with the exception of the 106th Air Control Squadron, which was also inactivated with its mission and equipment being absorbed into the division, which changed organizationally to a "table of distribution" unit. The following August, the division's three ANG squadrons were inactivated and their mission, personnel and equipment transferred to newly-activated regular squadrons.[51]
The division and its subordinate units under its control participated in numerous exercises.[2] NEAC was inactivated in April 1957, and its air defense mission was reassigned to Air Defense Command (ADC).
At Stewart it assumed the mission of training and providing air defense combat ready forces for the aerospace defense of a 6,000,000 square miles (16,000,000 km2) region of North America, including New Jersey, New York, New England north of Massachusetts, Eastern Canada, and atmospheric forces in Greenland.
The Division was inactivated in July 1963[2] with the phasedown of ADC at Stewart, its mission being taken over by First Air Force.
Lineage
Established as the 3d Air Defense Wing on 12 December 1942
Activated on 12 December 1942
Redesignated 64th Fighter Wing on 24 July 1943
Inactivated on 5 June 1947
Redesignated 64th Air Division (Defense) on 17 March 1952
XII Air Support Command (later XII Tactical Air Command), 9 March 1943 – 5 June 1947 (attached to First Tactical Air Force (Provisional), 27 November 1944 – c. 21 May 1945)
79th Fighter Group: attached 18 January – 10 February 1944, 27 February – 20 April 1944, 20 September – 30 September 1944[64]
86th Fighter-Bomber Group (later 86th Fighter Group): Assigned c. 31 July – c. 1 December 1943, attached 20 February – c. 30 April 1945, August 1945 – 15 February 1946; assigned 20 August 1946 – 1 March 1947[14]
324th Fighter Group: 22 August 1943 – c. 5 March 1944; 30 April – 14 August 1945[2]
328th Fighter Control Squadron: attached c. 19 January 1944 – 1945[68][67]
415th Night Fighter Squadron: attached c. 3 September – 5 December 1943, assigned 5 December 1943 – 15 February 1946[2] (attached to 87th Fighter Wing c. 3 July – c. 5 August 1944, detachment attached to No. 600 Squadron, RAF, 23 July – 5 August 1944) [43]
416th Night Fighter Squadron: 15 August – 9 November 1946 (attached to All-Weather Group (Provisonal), 64th Fighter Wing)[45]
417th Night Fighter Squadron: 24 March – 17 May 1945; 26 June 1945 – 9 November 1946(attached to All-Weather Group (Provisonal), 64th Fighter Wing after 15 August 1946)[44]
Battalions
Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion (Provisional) (later 2691st Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion (Provisional) (Mobile)): attached 1 March 1943–1943, 31 July 1943 – 15 January 1944[5]
439th Signal Construction Battalion, Aviation: 19 September 1943 – unknown[68]
582nd Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion: 15 January 1944 – 1945[66][67]
593rd Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion: 10 March 1944 – 1945[68][67]
Other
346th Signal Company, Wing (later 20th Communications Squadron, Wing): 21 April 1944 – c. 5 June 1947[68]
90th Wireless Observer Unit (RAF): attached 1943 – 1944[69]
↑ Approved 8 August 1952. Description: Or, issuing from base a demi-sphere with line markings, snow capped, surmounted with a radar antenna, proper; in front of a representation of the Aurora Borealisargent, edges gules, in chief, surmounting the Aurora Borealis a stylized aircraft azure, in bend, with trailing flames proper. Maurer, p. 402.
↑ This support continued through the Italian and French campaigns. In North Africa, it apparently included a source who was a Luftwaffe pilot breaking radio silence intentionally to provide information about his unit. Campbell et al., p. 14.
↑ The 71st Fighter Wing was also assigned, but it had no subordinate units and its personnel were used to man XII Tactical Air Command headquarters. Maurer, p. 406.
↑ "Popeye" is a code word for flying in actual instrument conditions.
↑ This attack was included in the award to the 358th previously mentioned.
↑ With the arrival of the 318th, the detachment of the 59th was discontinued and returned to join the rest of the squadron. Buss.
↑ The simultaneous inactivation and organization on 20 December 1952 represents a change between a Table of Organization and a Table of Distribution unit.
↑ Campbell states that wing headquarters were established near the Montecorvino Airfield on 11 September, then moved to Frattamaggiore in October.
↑ Maurer does not list the two previous stations and dates the move to Orbetello as taking place on 1 June. Maurer, p. 402.
↑ The 64th Air Division fact sheet gives the World War dates as c. 28 May 1943 – c. 22 October 1945, however only the listed dates agree with the Wing History and Haulman, Factsheet.
↑ Dollman, David (20 October 2016). "Factsheet 355 Fighter Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
Campbell, TSG Harlan S.; Campbell, SSG Phillip S.; Lexeen, SSG John M. (1945). Danford, Lt Col Edward C. (ed.). History, 64th Fighter Wing 1942-1945. Tubingen, Germany: United States Army. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
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