Constituted as 42d Bombardment Wing (Dive) on 8 Feb 1943 and activated
on 6 Feb. Redesignated 42d Bombardment Wing (Medium), transferred overseas
without personnel and equipment, and assigned to Twelfth AF, on 31 Jul
1943. Received groups in Aug 1943 and served in combat in the
Mediterranean and European theaters until the end of the war. Returned to
the US in Oct 1945. Inactivated on 25 Oct 1945.
Redesignated 42d Air Division. Organized on 10 Mar 1951. Assigned to
Strategic Air Command.
Components. Groups. 1st Fighter: 1943. 17th Bombardment: 1943-1945.
319th Bombardment: 1943-1944. 320th Bombardment: 1943-1945. 325th Fighter:
1943.
Wings. 1st Fighter: 1951-. 27th Fighter: 1951-. 531st Fighter:
1951.
Stations. Birmingham AAB, Ala, 16 Feb-31 Jul 1943; North Africa, 31 Jul
1943; Ariana, Tunisia, 21 Aug 1943; Elmas, Sardinia, 15 Nov 1943; Borgo,
Corsica, 21 Sep 1944; Dijon, France, 24 Nov 1944; Reims, France, Jul-c.
Oct 1945; Camp Shanks, NY, 24-25 Oct 1945. Bergstrom AFB, Tex, 10 Mar
1951-.
Commanders. Brig Gen Robert M Webster, 24 Aug 1943; Brig Gen John P
Doyle, 1 Sep 1944-1945. Brig Gen Clarence T Edwinson, c. 15 Mar 1951-.
Campaigns. Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North
Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe.
Decorations. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr-Jun 1944. Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 | 
