On 19 February 1965, USAF F-100 Super Sabres and B-57 Canberras attacked the Viet Cong inside South Vietnam, the first use of jets for such offensive actions.

[1] On 1 April 1966, the division's resources were absorbed by the newly activated Seventh Air Force; and by this time it consisted of nearly 1,000 aircraft and approximately 30,000 personnel.

2nd Air Division aircrews received an important role in the vice president's South Florida Drug Task Force[vague].

In almost two and a half years, the squadron flew more than 1,100 sorties which supported the capture or destruction of more than $1.5 billion in drugs, vessels, aircraft, equipment and weapons.

In late October 1983, the 2nd AD provided three AC-130H Spectre gunships and five MC-130E Combat Talons to support Operation Urgent Fury on the island of Grenada, off the coast of Venezuela.

The U.S. government considered Americans, primarily medical students studying in Grenada, in imminent danger from anti-American elements.

From March 1983 to February 1987, 2nd Air Division forces, with worldwide responsibilities and assignments, engaged in deployment, exercise and training programs.