▁the ▁Mar iana ▁Islands ▁as ▁well . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁ 3 2 6 th ▁Air ▁Division ▁was ▁activ ated ▁in ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 1 9 5 7 ▁at ▁Whe eler ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base , ▁Hawai i ▁and ▁assigned ▁to ▁Pacific ▁Air ▁Forces . ▁ ▁The ▁division ▁was ▁responsible ▁for ▁the ▁air ▁defense ▁of ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Islands ▁Air ▁Def ense ▁Region . ▁After ▁ 2 4 ▁July , ▁the ▁division ▁was ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Hawai ian ▁Air ▁Def ense ▁Division . ▁Its ▁only ▁sub ordinate ▁unit ▁was ▁the ▁ 1 2 th ▁Communic ations ▁Squadron , ▁Air ▁Force , ▁which ▁was ▁in activ ated ▁six ▁months ▁after ▁the ▁division ▁activ ated . ▁Until ▁April ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁the ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁ 6 4 8 6 th ▁Air ▁Base ▁Wing ▁( P ac ific ▁Air ▁Forces ▁Base ▁Command ) ▁also ▁commanded ▁the ▁division . ▁ ▁The ▁division ▁was ▁program med ▁to ▁be ▁assigned ▁the ▁ 3 9 th ▁F ighter - Interceptor ▁Squadron , ▁which ▁was ▁to ▁move ▁to ▁Hawai i ▁from ▁Kom aki ▁Air ▁Base , ▁Japan . ▁However , ▁this ▁move ▁was ▁cancel led ▁and ▁the ▁ 3 9 th ▁was ▁instead ▁in activ ated . ▁Therefore , ▁to ▁perform ▁its ▁assigned ▁mission , ▁it ▁re lied ▁on ▁the ▁rad ar ▁equ ipped ▁and ▁M ight y ▁Mouse ▁ro cket ▁armed ▁North ▁American ▁F - 8 6 L ▁Sab res ▁of ▁the ▁Hawai i ▁Air ▁National ▁Guard ' s ▁ 1 9 9 th ▁F ighter