305th Air Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 305th Air Division


caption= Emblem of the 305th Bombardment Wing
dates= 1943-1949
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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role= Fighter/Bombardment
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command_structure= Fifteenth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
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* World War II: European Campaign (1943-1945)
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battle_honours=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.

History

Lineage

* Established as 305th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 7 Dec 1943: Activated on 29 Dec 1943: Redesignated 305th Bombardment Wing, Heavy 1944: Inactivated on 9 Sep 1945
* Redesignated 305th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947: Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jul 1947: Redesignated 305th Air Division, Bombardment on 16 Apr 1948: Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949

Assignments

* Fifteenth Air Force, 29 Dec 1943-9 Sep 1945
* Air Defense Command: Fourth Air Force:: 25 Air Defense (later, 25 Air) Division: 12 Jul 1947 - 27 Jun 1949: ADC made a subordinate organization of Continental Air Command, 1 Dec 1948

Stations

* Foggia, Italy, 29 Dec 1943
* Spinazzola, Italy, 19 Jan 1944
* Bari, Italy, 6 Mar 1944
* Torremaggiore, Italy, c. Dec 1944-9 Sep 1945
* McChord Field (later, AFB), Washington, 12 Jul 1947-29 Jun 1949.

Components

Fighter Groups
* 1 Fighter: c. 13 Jun-c. 9 Sep 1945
* 14 Fighter: c. 13 Jun-9 Sep 1945
* 31 Fighter: c. 13 Jun-9 Sep 1945
* 52 Fighter: 13 Jun-c. 30 Aug 1945
* 82 Fighter: 3-9 Sep 1945
* 325 Fighter: 13 Jun-c. 30 Aug 1945
* 332 Fighter: 13 Jun-c. 9 Sep 1945

All fighter groups transfered from 305th Fighter Wing after 305 BW inactivated 13 Jun 1945.

Bombardment Groups
* 445 Bombardment: 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949
* 454 Bombardment: 17 Oct 1947-27 Jun 1949
* 456 Bombardment: 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949

Aircraft

* P-38 Lightning
* P-51 Mustang

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 (ConAC) when ADC was made a subordinate command of ConAC. While active in the Reserve, Jun 1947-Jun 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

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.

External links