The First Air Division was activated in september 1970. It's headquarters was located in Da Nang. It consisted of the 41st, 51st and 61st Tactical Wings. The shown structure was in effect as of june 1974, when the VNAF was the world's fourth largest air force and at the peak of it's growth.
| 41st TW, Da Nang | 51st TW, Da Nang | 61st TW, Da Nang |
| 110th OS, O-1, O-2, U-17 | 213th HS, UH-1H | 516th FS, A-37B |
| 120th OS, O-1, U-17 | 233th HS, UH-1H | 528th FS, A-37B |
| 427th TS, C-7A | 239th HS, UH-1H | 550th FS, A-37B |
| detachment 718 RS, EC-47D | 253th HS, UH-1H | 538th FS, F-5A, F-5B |
| detachment 821st AS, AC-119K | 257th HS, UH-1H | |
| 247th HS, CH-47A |
The 41st tactical Wing was activated at Da Nang air base in january 1964. This wing consisted of the 1st Air Division's observation, transport, reconnaissance and gunship squadrons.
The 51st Tactical Wing was part of the 1st Air Division (Da Nang) and consisted of six helicopter squadrons. Activation date is not known.
The 61st Tactical Wing was part of the 1st Air Division (Da Nang) and consisted of four fighter squadrons. Activation date is not known.
The Second Air Division was activated in july 1970. It's headquarters was established in Nha Trang. It consisted of the 62nd, and 92 Tactical Wings. The shown structure was in effect as of june 1974, when the VNAF was the world's fourth largest air force and at the peak of it's growth.
| 62nd TW, Nha Trang | 92nd TW, Nha Trang |
| 114th OS, O-1, U-17 | 524th FS, A-37B |
| 215th HS, UH-1H | 534th FS, A-37B |
| 219th HS, UH-1H | 548th FS, A-37B |
| detachment C 259th HS, UH-1H | detachment D 259th HS, UH-1H |
| detachment 821st AS, AC-119K | 257th HS, UH-1H |
| 817th AS, AC-47D |
This wing was activated in december 1962 as Air Base 62 at Pleiku. It became the 62nd Tactical Wing in march 1964 and moved to Nha Trang in january 1965 when it replaced the 12th Tactical Wing. The 62nd TW served the 2nd Air Division's needs for observation, helicopter and gunship duties.
This wing was activated at Phan Rang air base, date unknown. It was the 2nd Air Division's fighter and medevac wing.
The Third Air Division was activated in may 1970. The headquarters was in Bien Hoa. It consisted of the 23rd, 43rd and 63rd Tactical Wings. The 23rd TW was the wing whose aircraft sported the much seen colorful yellow and black checkerboard fuselage bands. The shown structure was in effect as of june 1974, when the VNAF was the world's fourth largest air force and at the peak of it's growth
| 23rd TW, Bien Hoa | 43rd TW, Bien Hoa | 63rd TW, Bien Hoa |
| 112th OS, O-1, U-17 | 221st HS, UH-1H | 522nd FS, F-5A, F-5B, RF-5A |
| 124th OS, O-1, U-17 | 223rd HS, UH-1H | 536th FS, F-5A, F-5B, F-5E |
| 514th FS, A-1H | 231st HS, UH-1H | 540th FS, F-5 |
| 518th FS, A-1H | 245th HS, UH-1H | 544th FS, F-5 |
| 251st HS, UH-1H | ||
| 237th HS, CH-47A | ||
| detachment E, 259th HS, UH-1H |
The 23rd Tactical Wing was activated at Bien Hoa air base in june 1964. Two observation squadrons and two fighter squadron, still equipped with Douglas A-1 Skyraiders, were part of this wing. It was part of the 3rd Air Division. Aircraft belonging to this wing were easily recognizable with their elaborate yellow and black checkerboard fuselage bands. This fuselage band could be found on Cessna O-1 Bird Dogs, Douglas A-1 Skyraiders and Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighters.
The 43rd Tactical Wing was activated at Bien Hoa air base, date unknown. It was the 3rd Air Division's helicopter wing.
The 63rd Tactical Wing was activated at Bien Hoa at an unknown date. It was part of the 3rd Air Division and consisted of F-5 Freedom Fighter squadrons only.
The Fourth Air Division was activated in march 1970. It had two headquarters; one in Binh Thuy, one in Can Tho. It consisted of the 64th, 74th and 84th Tactical Wings. The shown structure was in effect as of june 1974, when the VNAF was the world's fourth largest air force and at the peak of it's growth.
| 64th TW, Can Tho | 74th TW, Can Tho | 84th TW, Can Tho |
| 217th HS, UH-1H | 116th OS, O-1, U-17 | 211th HS, UH-1H |
| 255th HS, UH-1H | 122nd OS, O-1, U-17 | 225th HS, UH-1H |
| 249th HS, CH-47A | 520th FS, A-37B | 227th HS, UH-1H |
| detachment H, 259th HS, UH-1H | 526th FS, A-37B | detachment H, 259th HS, UH-1H |
| 546th FS, A-37B |
The 64th Tactical Wing was part of the 4th Air Division. Activation date is unknown.
Activated at Can Tho air base on 1 april 1964 the wing later moved to Binh Thuy air base. It was the 4th Air Division's observation and fighter wing.
The 84th Tactical Wing was activated at Soc Trang air base, date unknown. It later moved to Binh Thuy and was aprt of the 4th Air Division.
The Fifth Air Division was activated in January 1971. It's headquarters was at Tan Son Nhut air base, Saigon. It consisted of the 33rd and 53rd Tactical Wings. The shown structure was in effect as of june 1974, when the VNAF was the world's fourth largest air force and at the peak of it's growth.
| 33rd TW, Tan Son Nhut (Saigon) | 53rd TW, Tan Son Nhut (Saigon) |
| 314th SMS, VC-47B, U-17 | 819th AS, AC-119G |
| 716th RS, RC-47D, EC-47D, U-6A | 821st AS, AC-119K |
| 718th RS, EC-47D | 435th TS, C-130A |
| 429th TS, C-7A | 437th TS, C-130A |
| 431st TS, C-7A | |
| detachment G, 259th HS, UH-1H |
The 33rd Tactical Wing was activated at Tan Son Nhut air base on 4 january 1964. The 33rd served the 5th Air Division's reconnaissance, (V.I.P.) transport and medical evacuation needs.
The activation date of this wing is not known. It consisted of two gunship squadrons and two transport squadrons and was part of the 5th Air Division at Tan Son Nhut air base.
The Sixth Air Division's headquarters was at Pleiku air base. The division's activation date is not known. It consisted of the 72nd and 82nd Tactical Wings. The shown structure was in effect as of june 1974, when the VNAF was the world's fourth largest air force and at the peak of it's growth.
| 72nd TW, Pleiku | 82nd TW, Phu Cat |
| 118th OS, O-1, O-2, U-17 | 532nd FS, A-37B |
| 530th FS, A-1H | 241st HS, CH-47A |
| 229th HS, UH-1H | 243rd HS, UH-1H |
| detachment B, 259th HS, UH-1H | detachment A, 259th HS, UH-1H |
| 235th HS, UH-1H | |
| detachment G, 259th HS, UH-1H |
The 72nd Tactical Wing was part of the 6th Air Division and was activated at pleiku air base in early 1965.
The 82nd Tactical Wing was activated at Phu Cat air base, date unknown. It was part of the 6th Air Division.
83rd Tactical Wing / 83rd Special Operations Group
The 83rd SOG (Special Operations Group) is somewhat of a mystery. It is not part of a wing, nor of an Air Division. It seemed to be under direct VNAF headquarters control. Their aircraft had no national markings. This unit was used for covert or clandistine missions over North Vietnam. President Thieu ordered the disbandment of the 83rd SOG in january 1968 because he feared General Ky would use the unit in a coup attempt. The 522nd FS (which was at that time an integral part of the 83rd) was assigned to the 23rd TW at Bien Hoa and it's pilots were dispersed over various other fighter squadrons. When the 83rd SOG was disbanded, it's helicopter element was redesignated 219th Helicopter Squadron.
The Air Training Center was located at Nha Trang air base throughout the exsistance of the VNAF. It was activated in 1955 and consisted of the 918th and 920th Air Traning Squadrons, the first stationed at Nha Trang air base, the latter at Phan Rang air base. The 918th Air Training Squadron operated Cessna U-17As (model C185) and the 920th Air Training Squadron operated Cessna T-37A Tweety Birds and Bell UH-1H Hueys.