64th Air Division
| 64th Air Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1947; 1952–1963 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Command of air defense forces |
| Motto | Mors Semper Tyrannus (Latin for 'Death Always to Tyrants') (World War II) |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations European Theater of Operations |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Glenn O. Barcus Carroll W. McColpin Nelson P. Jackson |
| Insignia | |
| 64th Air Division emblem | |
| 64th Fighter Wing emblem | |
The 64th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command at Stewart Air Force Base, New York, where it was inactivated on 1 July 1963.
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 from Pepperrell Air Force Base, Newfoundland to Stewart, transferring operational control of most units to its Goose Air Defense Sector, but expanding its management control to include the Distant Early Warning Line, the Pinetree Line and air defense of Iceland.