Constituted as 21st Bombardment Wing on 16 Dec 1942 and activated on 22
Dec. Assigned to Second AF. Functioned throughout the war as a staging
wing, processing heavy bombardment crews and aircraft to prepare them for
overseas movement; in Apr 1944 began processing men returning to the US
from combat zones. Redesignated I Staging Command in Sep 1945. Assigned to
Fourth AF in Nov. Inactivated on 3 Apr 1946.
Redesignated 21st Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy). Allotted to the
reserve. Activated on 20 Dec 1946. Redesignated 21st Air Division
(Bombardment) in Apr 1948. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
Redesignated 21st Air Division. Activated on 16 Feb 1951. Assigned to
Strategic Air Command.
(This wing is not related to a 21st Bombardment Wing that was
constituted on 19 Oct 1940, activated at Barksdale Field on 1 Nov 1940,
inactivated on 1 Nov 1941, and disbanded on 15 Dec 1942.)
Components. Groups. 95th: 1947-1949. 384th: 1947-1949.
Wings. 44th Bombardment: 1951-1952. 55th Reconnaissance: 1952-. 90th
Reconnaissance: 1951-.
Stations. Smoky Hill AB, Kan, 22 Dec 1942; Topeka AAFld, Kan, May 1943;
Merced AAFld, Calif, c. 7 Oct 1945-3 Apr 1946. Memphis Mun Aprt, Tenn, 20
Dec 1946-27 Jun 1949. Forbes AFB, Kan, 16 Feb 1951-.
Commanders. Brig Gen Albert F Hegenberger, 22 Dec 1942; Col Henry W
Harms, Feb 1944; Col Cornelius W Cousland, 26 Dec 1944; Col Wallace S
Dawson, 21 Jan 1945; Col Ralph E Koon, 29 May 1945; Brig Gen James M
Fitzmaurice, 19 Jul 1945-c. Apr 1946. Maj Gen David W Hutchison, 16 Mar
1951; Brig Gen Joseph D C Caldara, Dec 1952; Brig Gen David Wade, 15 Apr
1954; Brig Gen Henry R Sullivan Jr, 25 Jul 1955-.
Campaigns. American Theater.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. Shield: Per bend enhanced, azure and argent, in base a branch
of olive proper, over all a sword bend sinisterwise proper, hilt and
pommel or, point to dexter base, in chief five stars or, encircling the
hilt and pommel of the sword, three and two. (Approved 17 Jul 1952.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 | 
