History
In January 1959 the 525th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Bitburg Air Base received its first Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, designed to upgrade the air defense capabilities of Western Europe. HQ USAFE decided to upgrade the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing to Air Division status and centralize the command of all the European Air Defense squadrons in USAFE to it. With this change, the 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing was redesignated the 86th Air Division (Defense) on 18 November 1960.
At Ramstein, the 526th FIS was equipped with F-102s in 1960, while the 440th, 512th, 513th and 514th FIS began to retire their F-86s during November and December, and were deactivated on Jan. 8, 1961.
However at the time of their arrival in Europe, the F-102 was already being replaced by the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo and the Convair F-106 Delta Dart in the Air Defense Command as an interceptor, and by much more versatile McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. In USAFE, the 497th FIS transitioned to F-4Cs in 1963 and was redesignated 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron and transferred to George AFB, California.
The 86th AD continued to fly an air defense mission using its separate fighter-interceptor squadrons while simultaneously providing control of the airways through efforts of the various aircraft control and warning units. In recognition of how well it accomplished its myriad missions and for implementing the single 412L Air Weapons Control System, the 86th received a second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period from July 1964 to June 1965.
By 1968, the F-102s were phased out of the interceptor role in Europe, and replaced by the F-4C/E. On 14 November 1968 the 86th Air Division was inactivated.
Read more about this topic: 86th Air Division
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