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The 19th Air Division, was organized on 16 Feb
1951, some subordinate units trained in, and flew, B-36 aircraft. Later, these
units received B-52 and KC-135 aircraft and continued training in global
strategic bombardment and air refueling operations. In early 1960, some assigned units evaluated various models
of the B-58 aircraft, while at the same time operating a combat crew training
school to train SAC aircrews in the B-58 weapons system. After evaluation,
assigned units utilized the B-58 aircraft in the strategic bombardment role. In
Jan 1967, subordinate units began deploying B-52 aircraft and aircrews to
Southeast Asia for combat operations. The 19th continued deploying
aircraft and aircrews to Southeast Asia until the American participation ceased
in 1973. Later, in 1975, the 19th provided air-refueling support for
the evacuation of Vietnamese and Americans from South Vietnam. After 1975, the
division insured its subordinate units were manned, trained, equipped, and
operationally ready to conduct bombing and air refueling missions, and if
necessary, to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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