310th Air Division
Encyclopedia
The 310th Air Division (310th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command
, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
During World War II
, the 310 Bombardment Wing, Medium was a command and control echelon of Fifth Air Force
in the Southwest Pacific theater, controlling numerous fighter and bomber groups and squadrons until the Japanese surrender in 1945. Its attached units flew missions against Japanese shipping, coastal installations, gun positions, airdromes, and troop concentrations. Fighting in New Guinea
and later the Philippine Islands, attached fighter units flew escort for bombing, supply, and reconnaissance missions. Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.
Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Tinker Field
, Oklahoma
in 1947. The organization was redesignated as an Air Division in April 1948 as part of the realignment of the United States Air Force command echelon structure. It was primarily an administrative organization. It inactivated in 1949.
Groups
Squadrons
In October 1945, the wing moved to Japan and served in the occupation force.
The 310th Bomb Wing (Light) was organized as an Reserve unit on 19 Feb. 1947 at Tinker AFB. The 310th Bombardment Wing was officially activated on 10 July 1947 in accordance with 10th Air Force General Order (10 AF GO) #41, 26 June 1947. The 323d Bombardment Group and 456th Bombardment Squadron at Tinker Field, the 340 Bombardment Group, 487th and 488th Bombardment Squadrons at Tulsa, and the 489th Bombardment Squadron at Davis Field were activated between 9 Sep. and 12 Nov. 1947, with requests for activation of up to five more bombardment squadrons pending as of early 1948.
Even before the bomb wing’s activation, it was decided that it should be equipped with the respected Douglas A-26 “Invader” light bombardment aircraft. The bomb wing’s reservists were indeed fortunate to receive several of these light bombers by mid-1948, with the promise of more. Plans were underway soon afterwards to activate the 323d Bombardment Group, and the 455th and 456th Bombardment Squadrons, all subordinate units of the 310th Bombardment Wing.
By April 1948 the 310th Bombardment Wing had grown so large that it was redesignated the 310th Air Division with (by then) Brigadier General Lewis remaining in command. The 323d Bombardment Group became the 323d Bombardment Wing (Light) on the same date, with Lieutenant Colonel R. Ahern commanding. From that point, the 323d Bombardment Wing became the focal point for Air Force Reserve activities in Oklahoma.
The 310th Air Division seemed to have become largely an administrative headquarters, and it slipped into obscurity for the remainder of its existence at Tinker Air Force Base, eventually being inactivated on 27 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 Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the 310 Bombardment Wing, Medium was a command and control echelon of Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
in the Southwest Pacific theater, controlling numerous fighter and bomber groups and squadrons until the Japanese surrender in 1945. Its attached units flew missions against Japanese shipping, coastal installations, gun positions, airdromes, and troop concentrations. Fighting in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and later the Philippine Islands, attached fighter units flew escort for bombing, supply, and reconnaissance missions. Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.
Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Tinker Field
Tinker Field
Tinker Field is a stadium in Orlando, Florida. It is primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Orlando Rays minor league baseball team before they moved to Cracker Jack Stadium in 2000...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
in 1947. The organization was redesignated as an Air Division in April 1948 as part of the realignment of the United States Air Force command echelon structure. It was primarily an administrative organization. It inactivated in 1949.
Lineage
- Established as 310 Bombardment Wing, Medium on 20 January 1944
- Activated on 1 February 1944
- Inactivated on 25 March 1946
- Redesignated 310 Bombardment Wing, Light on 27 May 1947
- Activated in the Reserve on 26 July 1947
- Redesignated 310 Air Division, Bombardment on 16 April 1948
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949.
Assignments
- Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, 1 February 1944 – 25 March 1946 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 26 July 1947 - Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 1 July 1948 - Twelfth Air Force, 12 January – 27 June 1949.
Stations
- Gusap AirfieldGusap AirportGusap Airport is a general aviation airport in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. located at the base of the Finisterre Range. It has no scheduled commercial airline service.-History:...
, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 1 February 1944 - HollandiaSentani AirportSentani Airport is an airport serving Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. The name of this airport is taken from a lake nearby.-History:...
, Netherlands East Indies, 6 May 1944 - Wama DromePitu AirportPitu Airport is a private airport located on the southern coast of Morotai Island, North Maluku, Indonesia.-History:Moratai island was the final island invasion in Netherlands New Guinea before the liberation of the Philippines. The island was recaptured by the 31st Infantry Division on 15...
, MorotaiMorotaiMorotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
, Dutch East IndiesDutch East IndiesThe Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, 18 September 1944 - Bayug AirfieldBayug AirfieldBayug Airfield is a World War II airfield located in the east of Burauen, Leyte, Philippines, and to the west of San Pablo Airfield, to the north of the Marabong River in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It was closed after the war.-History:...
, LeyteLeyteLeyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, Philippines, 14 November 1944
- McGuire FieldMcGuire FieldFor the airport in the United States, see San José International AirportSan Jose Airport , formerly known as McGuire Field, is an airport serving the general area of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines. It is one of three airports in Occidental Mindoro, the others being Mamburao...
, MindoroMindoroMindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, Philippines, 15 December 1944 - Clark FieldClark Air BaseClark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
, LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines, 23 August 1945 - Itami Airfield, Japan, 21 October 1945 – 25 March 1946
- Tinker Field (later, AFB), OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 26 July 1947 – 27 June 1949.
Components
Wing- 78 Fighter: c. 1 May – c. 16 July 1944.
Groups
- 3d Bombardment Group: 1 May 1944 – September 1944; 15 January 1945 – 31 May 1946
- 8th Fighter Group: c. 31 May 1944 – c. 25 March 1946
- 18th Fighter Group: c. 24 March – 26 April 1945
- 35th Fighter Group: c 1 February – 1 August 1944; 2 October 1944 – 25 March 1946
- 38th Bombardment Group38th Bombardment GroupThe 38th Bombardment Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. It was most recently assigned as the operational component of the 38th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France, where it was inactivated on 8 December 1957.During World War II the 38th Bomb Group...
: 19 October 1944 – c. 25 March 1946 - 42d Bombardment Group: c. January–25 March 1946
- 49th Fighter Group: c. 1 February – 3 September 1944; 9 January – 10 November 1945
- 58th Fighter Group: 9 January – 7 April 1945
- 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group: 9 January – 10 November 1945
- 90th Bombardment Group: 31 May – 3 September 1944; 15 January – 23 November 1945
- 312th Bombardment Group: 31 May – 3 September 1944; 1 July – 13 October 1945
- 323d Bombardment Group: 9 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 348th Fighter Group348th Fighter GroupThe 348th Fighter Group is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with V Fighter Command, stationed at Itami Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 10 May 1946....
: 1 May – 25 August 1944; 25 September 1945 – 25 March 1946 - 375th Troop Carrier Group: 24 March – 9 August 1945
- 380th Bombardment Group: c. 24 March 1945 – unknown
- 417th Bombardment Group417th Bombardment GroupThe 417th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with V Bomber Command, being stationed at Itami Airfield, Japan, where it was inactivated on 5 November 1945....
: 9 January – 1 November 1945 - 475th Fighter Group: 14 May – 16 June 1944
Squadrons
- 3 Emergency Rescue: 9 January 1945 – unknown
- 17 Reconnaissance: 29 May – 3 September 1944; c. 24 March – 3 April 1945
- 25 Liaison: c. 15 January 1945 – unknown
- 25 Photographic Reconnaissance: c. 9 January 1945 – unknown
- 26 Photographic Reconnaissance: c. 1 July – 3 September 1944
- 41 Troop Carrier: c. 17 May – 3 September 1944
- 65 Troop Carrier: c. 15 January 1945 – unknown
- 66 Troop Carrier: c. 15 January 1945 – unknown
- 82 Tactical Reconnaissance: 9 January 1945 – unknown
- 110 Reconnaissance: c. 1 February – 10 April 1944; c. 9 January 1945 – unknown
- 318 Troop Carrier: c. 15 January 1945 – unknown
- 418th Night Fighter Squadron418th Night Fighter SquadronThe 418th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, being inactivated at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona on 1 October 1976.-World War II:...
: 15 May – 9 November 1944; 26 December 1944 – 30 January 1945; 22 October – 10 November 1945 - 421st Night Fighter Squadron: c. 31 May – 3 September 1944
- 547th Night Fighter Squadron547th Night Fighter SquadronThe 547th Intelligence Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is currently responsible for intelligence support for all Red Flag-Nellis exercises.-History:...
: 9 January 1945 – unknown; 22 October – 10 November 1945.
Operations
Activated in New Guinea in February 1944, the 310th wing maintained operational control over numerous attached groups and squadrons until the Japanese surrender in 1945. Its attached units flew missions against Japanese shipping, coastal installations, gun positions, airdromes, and troop concentrations. Fighting in New Guinea and later the Philippine Islands, attached fighter units flew escort for bombing, supply, and reconnaissance missions.In October 1945, the wing moved to Japan and served in the occupation force.
The 310th Bomb Wing (Light) was organized as an Reserve unit on 19 Feb. 1947 at Tinker AFB. The 310th Bombardment Wing was officially activated on 10 July 1947 in accordance with 10th Air Force General Order (10 AF GO) #41, 26 June 1947. The 323d Bombardment Group and 456th Bombardment Squadron at Tinker Field, the 340 Bombardment Group, 487th and 488th Bombardment Squadrons at Tulsa, and the 489th Bombardment Squadron at Davis Field were activated between 9 Sep. and 12 Nov. 1947, with requests for activation of up to five more bombardment squadrons pending as of early 1948.
Even before the bomb wing’s activation, it was decided that it should be equipped with the respected Douglas A-26 “Invader” light bombardment aircraft. The bomb wing’s reservists were indeed fortunate to receive several of these light bombers by mid-1948, with the promise of more. Plans were underway soon afterwards to activate the 323d Bombardment Group, and the 455th and 456th Bombardment Squadrons, all subordinate units of the 310th Bombardment Wing.
By April 1948 the 310th Bombardment Wing had grown so large that it was redesignated the 310th Air Division with (by then) Brigadier General Lewis remaining in command. The 323d Bombardment Group became the 323d Bombardment Wing (Light) on the same date, with Lieutenant Colonel R. Ahern commanding. From that point, the 323d Bombardment Wing became the focal point for Air Force Reserve activities in Oklahoma.
The 310th Air Division seemed to have become largely an administrative headquarters, and it slipped into obscurity for the remainder of its existence at Tinker Air Force Base, eventually being inactivated on 27 June 1949.