The 810th Strategic Aerospace Division was an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) unit assignment. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, where it was inactivated on 30 June 1964.
History The division was originally established as the 810th Air Division on 16 June 1956 and activated on 1 July 1956 at Smoky Hill Air Force Base (later Schilling Air Force Base), Kansas. It was assigned to Second Air Force and assumed command of the 40th Bombardment Wing and the 310th Bombardment Wing, both equipped with Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium bombers and Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter tankers. The division supervised training and operational readiness of its assigned wings.
In 1962, as part of a USAF reorganization to incorporate intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) into strategic wing structures, the division was redesignated the 810th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 March 1962. Concurrently, it moved to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and was reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force.
At Minot, the division commanded the 4136th Strategic Wing (later replaced by the 450th Bombardment Wing) and the 5th Bombardment Wing, which operated Boeing B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft. The division also exercised operational control over the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron, equipped with LGM-30A Minuteman I ICBMs, marking its role in the transition to aerospace operations.
The 810th Strategic Aerospace Division was inactivated on 30 June 1964, and its component units were reassigned to the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division.
Lineage
- Established as 810th Air Division on 16 June 1956
- Activated on 1 July 1956
- Redesignated 810th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 March 1962
- Inactivated on 30 June 1964
Assignments
- Second Air Force, 1 July 1956 – 1 March 1962
- Fifteenth Air Force, 1 March 1962 – 30 June 1964
Stations
- Smoky Hill Air Force Base (later Schilling Air Force Base), Kansas, 1 July 1956 – 1 March 1962
- Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, 1 March 1962 – 30 June 1964
Components (Selected)
- Wings:
- 40th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1956 – 1 March 1962
- 310th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1956 – 1 March 1962
- 4136th Strategic Wing: 1 February 1963 – 1 July 1963 (Minot)
- 450th Bombardment Wing: 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1964 (Minot)
- 5th Bombardment Wing: 1 March 1962 – 30 June 1964 (Minot)
- Missile Squadron:
- 850th Strategic Missile Squadron: 1 February 1963 – 30 June 1964 (Minot)
