309th Air Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 309th Air Division


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dates= 1944-1949
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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role= Command and Control
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command_structure= Continental Air Command
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battle_honours=The 309th Air Division (309th 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 Hensley AFB, Texas. It was inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.

History

Lineage

* Established as 309 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 20 Jan 1944: Activated on 1 Feb 1944: Inactivated on 25 Mar 1946
* Redesignated 309 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 6 Jan 1947: Activated in the Reserve on 10 Jan 1947: Redesignated 309 Air Division, Bombardment on 16 Apr 1948: Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.

Assignments

* Fifth Air Force, 1 Feb 1944-25 Mar 1946
* Continental Air Command: Tenth Air Force, 10 Jan 1947: Fourteenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1948: Twelfth Air Force, 12 Jan-27 Jun 1949.

Stations

* Lae, New Guinea, 1 Feb 1944
* New Guinea, c. 3 Mar 1944
* Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, 28 Jul 1944
* Owi, Schouten Islands, 9 Nov 1944
* San Marcelino, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 8 Feb 1945
* Lingayen, Luzon, Philippine Islands, c. 29 May 1945
* Chitose AB, Japan, 12 Oct 1945-25 Mar 1946
* Hensley Field (later, AFB), TX, 10 Jan 1947-27 Jun 1949.

Components

Groups
* 3 Air Commando: attached 29 May 1945-c. 25 Mar 1946
* 35 Fighter: 20 Aug-c. 5 Oct 1944
* 38 Bombardment: 29 May-c. 25 Sep 1945
* 49 Fighter: 29 May-c. 25 Sep 1945
* 58 Fighter: c. 25 Aug 1944-unkn
* 71 Tactical Reconnaissance: 29 May-25 Sep 1945
* 345 Bombardment: c. 8 Feb-c. 25 Sep 1945
* 348 Fighter: c. 25 Aug-c. 7 Nov 1944; c. 8 Feb-c. 25 Sep 1945
* 417 Bombardment: c. 25 Aug-c. 6 Dec 1944
* 446 Bombardment: 26 Mar 1948-27 Jun 1949
* 455 Bombardment: 17 Oct 1947-27 Jun 1949
* 475 Fighter: 29 May-c. 25 Sep 1945.

Aircraft

* A-20, 1944
* B-24, 1944
* B-25, 1944-1945
* P-47, 1944
* C-47, 1945
* F-5, 1945
* F-6, 1945
* P-38, 1945
* P-51, 1945
* P-61, 1945.

Operational History

The 309th Bombardment Wing from Feb 1944 served as the forward element of all Fifth Air Force units. Numerous tactical and support components were assigned or attached to the wing during World War II. Its subordinate units flew missions against shipping, coastal installations, storage buildings, gun positions, airdromes, and, when possible, Japanese troop concentrations, and its tactical reconnaissance units flew numerous photo missions.

After the Japanese surrendered, 309th personnel systematically destroyed Japanese aircraft and equipment of no value to the U.S. Government. Another effort involved supporting aircraft that staged through Chitose AB on their return to the United States. Operational duties consisted of surveillance flights by P 51 aircraft covering northern Honshu and Hokkaido Islands.

The 309th , while active in the Reserve, Jan 1947-Jun 1949, was designated as a division.

References

External links