305th Air Division
Encyclopedia
The 305th Air Division (305th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command
, assigned to Fourth Air Force
, being stationed at McChord Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
All fighter groups transferred from 305th Fighter Wing
after 305 BW inactivated 13 June 1945.
Bombardment Groups
Anticipating transfer to participate in the war against Japan, the 305th emphasized instrument flying and navigation, and formation, high altitude, and transition flying. One of the wing's P 51 groups also conducted experimental work in dive bombing. In ground training, pilots practiced in the Link trainer and attended classes in engineering, air discipline, intelligence, personal equipment, air sea rescue, chemical warfare, navigation, and communications procedure, only to see the wing inactivated with the defeat of Japan,
The 305th was assigned to the Reserve after the war, first to Air Defense Command, then to Continental Air Command
(ConAC) when ADC was made a subordinate command of ConAC. While active in the Reserve, June 1947 – June 1949, the 305th was redesignated as a division and commanded several B-29 Superfortress
-designated groups. It is not clear if these groups were actually manned or equipped. The Division was inactivated on 29 June 1949
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
, assigned to Fourth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
, being stationed at McChord Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
Lineage
- Established as 305th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 7 December 1943
- Activated on 29 December 1943
- Redesignated 305th Bombardment Wing, Heavy 1944
- Inactivated on 9 September 1945
- Redesignated 305th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
- Activated in the Reserve on 12 July 1947
- Redesignated 305th Air Division, Bombardment on 16 April 1948
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Assignments
- Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, 29 December 1943 – 9 September 1945 - Air Defense Command
- Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
- 25 Air Defense (later, 25 Air) Division: 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
- ADC made a subordinate organization of Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
, 1 December 1948
Stations
- Foggia Airfield, Italy, 29 December 1943
- Spinazzola Airfield, Italy, 19 January 1944
- Bari Airfield, Italy, 6 March 1944
- Torremaggiore Airfield, Italy, c. December 1944-9 September 1945
- McChord Field (later, AFB), Washington, 12 July 1947 – 29 June 1949.
Components
Fighter Groups- 1 Fighter1st Operations GroupThe 1st Operations Group is the flying component of the 1st Fighter Wing, assigned to the USAF Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The 1st Operations Group is the oldest major air combat unit in the United States Air Force, being a successor organization...
: c. 13 June-c. 9 September 1945 - 14 Fighter14th Flying Training WingThe 14th Flying Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.-Mission:...
: c. 13 June – 9 September 1945 - 31 Fighter31st Fighter WingThe 31st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Third Air Force. It is stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy where it is also the host unit....
: c. 13 June – 9 September 1945 - 52 Fighter52d Fighter WingThe 52d Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.-Mission:The 52 FW maintains, deploys and employs F-16CJ and A/OA-10 aircraft and TPS-75 radar systems in support of NATO and the national defense directives...
: 13 June-c. 30 August 1945 - 82 Fighter82d Training WingThe 82d Training Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Second Air Force. It is stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas where it also is the host unit....
: 3–9 September 1945 - 325 Fighter325th Fighter WingThe 325th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.-Mission:The 325th Fighter Wing’s primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to support the combat Air...
: 13 June-c. 30 August 1945 - 332 Fighter332d Air Expeditionary WingThe United States Air Force's 332d Air Expeditionary Wing is an Air Expeditionary unit located at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.-Mission:...
: 13 June-c. 9 September 1945
All fighter groups transferred from 305th Fighter Wing
306th Fighter Wing (World War II)
The 306th Fighter Wing was a World War II United States Army Air Force organization assigned to Fifteenth Air Force as an intermediate-level command and control organization...
after 305 BW inactivated 13 June 1945.
Bombardment Groups
- 445 Bombardment445th Airlift WingThe 445th Airlift Wing is an operational wing of the United States Air Force Reserve. It is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio...
: 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949 - 454 Bombardment454th Bombardment WingThe 454th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Strategic Air Command 42d Air Division, stationed at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It was inactivated on 25 July 1968....
: 17 October 1947 – 27 June 1949 - 456 Bombardment: 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
Operational history
The 305th activated as a Bombardment wing in Italy in December 1943, but had no combat components assigned until after the European war ended in May 1945. In June, several fighter groups were assigned, and the wing instituted an extensive training program.Anticipating transfer to participate in the war against Japan, the 305th emphasized instrument flying and navigation, and formation, high altitude, and transition flying. One of the wing's P 51 groups also conducted experimental work in dive bombing. In ground training, pilots practiced in the Link trainer and attended classes in engineering, air discipline, intelligence, personal equipment, air sea rescue, chemical warfare, navigation, and communications procedure, only to see the wing inactivated with the defeat of Japan,
The 305th was assigned to the Reserve after the war, first to Air Defense Command, then to Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command
Continental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
(ConAC) when ADC was made a subordinate command of ConAC. While active in the Reserve, June 1947 – June 1949, the 305th was redesignated as a division and commanded several B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
-designated groups. It is not clear if these groups were actually manned or equipped. The Division was inactivated on 29 June 1949