309th Air Division
Encyclopedia
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 June 1949.
The 309th Bombardment Wing from February 1944 served as the forward command and control 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 Honshū
and Hokkaido
Islands. Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.
Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Hensley Field, Texas in 1947 controlling B-29 Superfortress
groups for Strategic Air Command
. 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.
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 Hensley AFB
Naval Air Station Dallas
Naval Air Station Dallas was a United States Navy Naval Air Station located on Mountain Creek Lake in southwest Dallas. The installation was originally established as an Army Aviation center, and eventually became home to aviation assets from all the military services. The facility was...
, Texas. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
The 309th Bombardment Wing from February 1944 served as the forward command and control element of all 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....
units. Numerous tactical and support components were assigned or attached to the wing 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...
. 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 Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
and Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
Islands. Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.
Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Hensley Field, Texas in 1947 controlling 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...
groups for Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
. 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 309 Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 20 January 1944
- Activated on 1 February 1944
- Inactivated on 25 March 1946
- Redesignated 309 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 6 January 1947
- Activated in the Reserve on 10 January 1947
- Redesignated 309 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 - 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:...
- 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....
, 10 January 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
- Lae AirfieldLae AirfieldLae Airfield is a former World War II airfield and later, civilian airport in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The airport was closed in the 1980s, in favor of Lae Nadzab Airport, which was able to accommodate larger jet aircraft. The facility is now being redeveloped.-History:Built in the 1930s...
, 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 - Kornasoren AirfieldKornasoren AirportKornasoren Airport is a civil airport in Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, Indonesia. . Currently, there is no commercial air service.-History:...
NoemfoorNoemfoorNumfor is one of the Biak Islands in Papua province, Indonesia. It was the site of conflict between Japanese and the Allied forces during World War II, and was major airbase for both sides.-Geography:The island is situated just north of the large Cenderawasih Bay...
, Schouten IslandsSchouten IslandsThe Indonesian Schouten Islands are an island group of Papua province, eastern Indonesia in the Cenderawasih Bay 50 km off the north-western coast of the island of New Guinea...
, 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...
, 28 July 1944 - Owi AirfieldOwi AirfieldOwi Airfield is a World War II airfield located on Pulau Owi island in the Schouten Islands, Indonesia.The airfield was built by the Americans and used as a major command and control, as well as an operational fighter and bomber base in from the summer of 1944 until the end of the war in September...
, Schouten IslandsSchouten IslandsThe Indonesian Schouten Islands are an island group of Papua province, eastern Indonesia in the Cenderawasih Bay 50 km off the north-western coast of the island of New Guinea...
, Netherlands East Indies, 9 November 1944 - San Marcelino AirfieldSan Marcelino AirfieldSan Marcelino Airfield is a World War II airfield located in Zambales province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. It was closed after the war.-History:...
, 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, 8 February 1945 - Lingayen AirfieldLingayen AirportLingayen Airport is the airport serving the general area of Lingayen, the capital of the province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. It is one of two airports in the province: the other being Rosales Airport...
, 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, c. 29 May 1945 - Chitose Airfield, Japan, 12 October 1945 – 25 March 1946
- Hensley Field (later, AFB), Texas, 10 January 1947 – 27 June 1949.
Components
Groups- 3d Air Commando Group: attached 29 May-c. 8 August 1945 and c. 27 October 1945 – 25 March 1946
- 35th Fighter Group: 1 August–September 1944
- 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...
: 29 May – 25 September 1945 - 49th Fighter Group: 29 May – 25 September 1945
- 58th Fighter Group: 25 August 1944 – 1 January 1945
- 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group: 29 May – 25 September 1945
- 345th Bombardment Group: c. 8 February – 25 September 1945
- 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....
: c. 25 August – 7 November 1944; 8 February – 25 September 1945 - 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....
: c. 25 August – 6 December 1944 - 446th Bombardment Group: 26 March 1948 – 27 June 1949
- 455th Bombardment Group: 17 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 475th Fighter Group: 29 May – 23 September 1945