340th Flying Training Group
Encyclopedia
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...
unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The 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....
. It is stationed at Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, Texas as an associate unit.
The 340 FTG administers and executes the Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
(AETC) and Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
(AFRC) Associate Instructor Pilot Program and provides Active Guard Reserve and Traditional Reserve IPs to augment the cadre of active duty pilots conducting pilot training.
The group has inherited the history and traditions of the Second World War 340th Bombardment Group. The 340th BG flew B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
medium bombers at part of Twelfth Air Force, engaging chiefly in support and interdiction missions. The 340th participated in the reduction of Pantelleria
Pantelleria
Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...
and Lampedusa
Lampedusa
Lampedusa is the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The comune of Lampedusa e Linosa is part of the Sicilian province of Agrigento which also includes the smaller islands of Linosa and Lampione. It is the southernmost part of Italy. Tunisia, which is about ...
in June 1943, the bombing of German evacuation beaches near Messina in July, the establishment of the Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
beachhead in September, the drive for Rome during January to June 1944, the invasion of Southern France
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
in August, and attacks on the Brenner Pass
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
and other German lines of communication in Northern Italy
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
from September 1944 to April 1945. Active for over 60 years, the 340th Bombardment Wing was a component organization of 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...
's deterrent force during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, as a strategic bombardment wing.
Units
The Group consists of a headquarters element at Randolph AFB and five Associate Reserve Flying Training Squadrons flying the T-37B, T-38/AT-38T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
, T-1, and T-6
T-6 Texan II
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . Based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer and...
.
- 5th Flying Training Squadron5th Flying Training SquadronThe 5th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training.-World War II:...
at Vance AFB, Oklahoma - 39th Flying Training Squadron at Randolph
- 43d Flying Training Squadron43d Flying Training SquadronThe 43d Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi...
at Columbus AFB, Mississippi - 96th Flying Training Squadron96th Flying Training SquadronThe 96th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the Reserve associate to the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas...
at Laughlin AFB, Texas - 97th Flying Training Squadron97th Flying Training SquadronThe 97th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the Reserve associate to the 80th Flying Training Wing based at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas...
at Sheppard AFB, Texas
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...
United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
combat organization. It served primarily in the Mediterranean, African, and The Middle East Theatres
Mediterranean Theatre of World War II
The African, Mediterranean and Middle East theatres encompassed the naval, land, and air campaigns fought between the Allied and Axis forces in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Africa...
of 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...
.
Operational squadrons of the 340th Bomb Group utilized identification codes applied to the outboard sides of the vertical fins featuring a squadron-designated numeral, coupled with a letter for the individual aircraft: the 486th(6x), 487th(7x), 488th(8x), and 489th(9x) Bombardment Squadrons.
The unit was constituted as 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 10 August 1942 and was activated on 20 August. Trained with B-25 Mitchell bombers for duty overseas. Arrived in the Mediterranean theater in March 1943. Assigned first to the Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
IX Bomber Command and later (in August 1943) to the Twelfth Air Force when the Ninth was reassigned to England.
The 340th served in combat from April 1943 to April 1945. Engaged chiefly in support and interdictory missions, but sometimes bombed strategic objectives. Targets included airfields, railroads, bridges, road junctions, supply depots, gun emplacements, troop concentrations, marshalling yards, and factories in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, France, Austria, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, and Greece.
Also dropped propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Participated in the reduction of Pantelleria
Pantelleria
Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...
and Lampedusa
Lampedusa
Lampedusa is the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The comune of Lampedusa e Linosa is part of the Sicilian province of Agrigento which also includes the smaller islands of Linosa and Lampione. It is the southernmost part of Italy. Tunisia, which is about ...
in June 1943, the bombing of German evacuation beaches near Messina in July, the establishment of the Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
beachhead in September, the drive for Rome during January–June 1944, the invasion of Southern France
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
in August, and attacks on the Brenner Pass
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
and other German lines of communication in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945.
In January 1944, Colonel Charles D. Jones was the commanding officer of the 340th Bombardment Group. On 10 March 1944, while participating in a bombing mission with the 486th Bombardment Squadron, he was shot down and became a prisoner of war (POW) for the remainder of the war. Colonel Jones later received the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
(DFC) for this mission.
The 340th Bombardment Group probably suffered the loss of more aircraft than any other medium bombardment group during World War II primarily because of two devastating events that occurred in addition to their normal combat losses. The first of these events was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano in the Gulf of Naples, Italy, about east of Naples and a short distance from the shore. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years, although it is not currently erupting...
in March 1944 when the 340th just happened to be based at Pompeii Airfield near Terzigno, Italy, just a few kilometers from the base of the mountain. The second event was a surprise German air raid of their base at Alesani, Corsica on 13 May 1944. Estimated losses were 75–88 B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
s from Vesuvius and approximately 60 aircraft from the German air raid.
The 340th Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the period April–August 1943 when, although handicapped by difficult living conditions and unfavorable weather, the group supported the British Eighth Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
in Tunisia and Allied forces in Sicily. A second DUC was received for the destruction of the Italian light cruiser Taranto in the heavily defended harbor of La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
on 23 September 1944 before the ship could be used by the enemy to block the harbor's entrance.
With the end of the war in Europe, the 340th returned to the United States during July–August 1945. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945 at Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, South Carolina.
The unit was reactivated and continued performing medium bombardment training in the Air Force Reserve from October 1947 to August 1949 at Tulsa Municipal Airport
Tulsa International Airport
Tulsa International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five miles northeast of downtown Tulsa, a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. It was originally named Tulsa Municipal Airport, when the city acquired it in 1929...
, 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...
with B-29 Stratofortresses.
B-47 Stratojet era
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...
established the 340th Bombardment Wing, (Medium) on 3 October 1952. It was activated on 20 October 1952 at Sedalia (later Whiteman) AFB, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The 320th Bombardment Group was its operational component, with the 441st, 442d and 443d Bomb Squadrons. The 320th was assigned to Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
.
The 340th replaced and absorbed the resources of the 4224th Air Base Squadron in October 1952. Whiteman at the time was undergoing a massive modernization program, from its World War II configuration of temporary buildings and short runways designed for glider and pilot training to that of a modern, permanent Air Force Base. The wing devoted its efforts to supervising base rehabilitation and new construction until May 1954, This was done by the 340th Air Base Group. The wing headquarters, tactical and maintenance squadrons had minimum manning during this period and were basically "paper" units.
The Wing received its first Boeing B-47E Stratojet in March 1954 and on 1 July 1955, was declared combat ready. The wing also supported the 340th Air Refueling Squadron with KC-97L Stratotankers. On 3 December 1955, Sedalia AFB became Whiteman AFB.
The 340th BMW achieved recognition as one of SAC's first units to reorganize under the Deputy Commander concept of command and control. It tested the feasibility of assigning Aviation Depot Squadron functions to the Deputy Commander for Maintenance. SAC later adopted the plan and accomplished a command-wide change which included the formation of Munitions Maintenance Squadrons. Until 1960, the 340th BMW played a key role in SAC's mission of strategic deterrence. 1961 to 1963 the 34th Air Refueling Squadron (Offutt AFB) was assigned to the 340th BW and operated the "Looking Glass" SAC Airborne Command Post with KC-135's.
By 1962 the B-47 was being programmed for retirement as it was believed that it could not penetrate the air defenses of the Soviet Union. The wing began phasing down and sent its aircraft to other SAC wings or to flyable storage at Davis-Monthan AFB. The 340th inactivated on 1 September 1963 at Whiteman, the host responsibilities for the base being assumed by the incoming 351st Strategic Missile Wing.
B-52 Stratofortress era
On 1 September 1963 the 340th Bomb Wing was immediately reactivated at Bergstrom AFB, Texas as the 340th Bombardment Wing (Heavy), replacing the provisional 4130th Strategic Wing in a name-only transfer and redesignation.On 1 October 1958 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...
had established the 4130th SW at Bergstrom as part of SAC's plan to disburse its B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The wing consisted of the 335th Bombardment Squadron
335th Bombardment Squadron
The 335th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 4130th Strategic Wing. It was inactivated at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas on 15 September 1963-History:...
, consisting of 15 B-52Ds, and the KC-135-equipped 910th Air Refueling Squadron. Half of the aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. SAC Strategic Wings were considered a provisional unit by HQ, USAF and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.
In 1962, in order to retain the lineage of its MAJCOM 4-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious 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...
records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCOM strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.
The redesignated 340th Bomb Wing at Bergstrom was assigned to the Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
19th Air Division. The 335th Bomb Squadron was also redesignated as the 486th Bombardment Squadron
486th Bombardment Squadron
The 486th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 22d Bombardment Wing, stationed at March Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 July 1971-History:...
, one of the unit's World War II historical bomb squadrons. The 910th ARS designation was unchanged, and component support units were also redesignated to the 340th numerical designation of the newly-established wing. As under the Tri-Deputate organization, all flying components were directly assigned to the wing, no operational group element was activated.
With the redesignation completed, wing continued SAC global strategic bombardment training and air refueling operations. Beginning in 1965, the Air Force decided to convert most of its B-52Ds to conventional warfare capability for service in Southeast Asia. Foremost among the changes needed was to give the B-52D the ability to carry a significantly larger load of conventional bombs. This led to the Big Belly project which was begun in December 1965.
By 1966, Intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s (ICBM) had been deployed and become operational as part of the United States' strategic triad, and the need for B-52s had been reduced. In addition, funds were also needed to cover the costs of combat operations in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. The 340th Bombardment Wing was inactivated on 2 October 1966 and its aircraft were reassigned to other SAC units.
As part of the inactivation, Bergstrom AFB was transferred to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
, which closed Connally AFB in Waco and moved the headquarters of Twelfth Air Force to Bergsrom and also activated the 75th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing as the new host organization at the base.
FB-111A era
After a near two-year inactivation, the unit was reactivated again by SAC as the 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 2 July 1968 at Carswell AFB, Texas. Although it was given the designation of a bomb group, the 340th was organized and functioned as a SAC Wing. Its operational squadron was the 4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS)The 340th BMG was given the primary mission of conducting initial qualification training for General Dynamics FB-111A aircrew members. The FB-111A was the all-weather strategic bombing version of the F-111, intended as an interim successor to the B-52 Stratofortress and B-58 Hustler of the Strategic Air Command. The 340th was stationed at Carswell, as the FB-111A were being produced at the huge General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
plant, also known as Air Force Plant #4 in Fort Worth, and it shared the main runway at Carswell.
The first production FB-111A aircraft (67-0159) flew on 13 July 1968. It was accepted by the Air Force on 30 August. A second FB-111A was delivered on 25 October. However, these two planes were powered by TF30-P-12A engines designed for Naval service instead of the Air Force P-7 turbofan. In addition, problems with the avionics subsystem slowed further deliveries, with the Air Force not accepting its next FB-111A until 23 June 1969.
On 8 October 1969 the 7th FB-111A manufactured (67–7193) entered service with the 4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron of the 340th Bomb Group. The 340th's staff and instructor received training in TAC F-111As at Nellis AFB, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
with the 4527th CCTS. The Group also maintained a combat crew force capable of conducting bombardment operations if necessary with the FB-111A.
On 7 October 1970, the 340th BMG's first major aircraft accident occurred when FB-111A 68-0253 crashed at Carswell AFB, causing the deaths of Lt. Col Robert S. Montgomery (9th BMS's Commander) and his navigator, Lt. Col Charles G. Robinson.
The 340th BG participated in SAC's annual Bombing and Navigation Competition held at McCoy AFB, Florida from 13–20 November 1970. Showing an outstanding performance, the group finished the competition first in bombing and second in navigation. The 340th also participated in the Strike Command Bombing and Navigation held 17–23 April 1971. The FB-111A was not allowed to compete for the trophies but flew in the competition.
The last production FB-111A (69–6514) was delivered to SAC on 30 June 1971, and the 340th Bomb Group was inactivated on 31 December 1971 with the end of production. A total of 76 FB-111A aircraft were produced, and when group was inactivated the 4007th CCTS was reassigned to Plattsburgh AFB, New York and became part of the 380th Strategic Aerospace Wing with 38 FB-111A aircraft
The FB-111A served nearly 20 years as part of SAC, being phased out in the late 1980s when the B-1B Lancer came into operational service. Most survivors were converted to into a tactical ground attack configuration and redesignated as F-111Gs. Eighteen were later sold to Australia where they remained in active service with the RAAF as modified F-111Cs until they were retired in September 2007.
KC-135 Stratotanker era
Six years later the unit was redesignated as the 340th Air Refueling Group (Heavy) and reactivated on 1 July 1977 by SAC at Altus AFB, OklahomaOklahoma
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...
as a tenant unit. At Altus the group controlled the 11th Air Refueling Squadron equipped with KC-135s.
It was redesignated the 340th Air Refueling Wing (Heavy) on 1 October 1984 and gained the 306th Air Refueling Squadron as a second KC-135 squadron. The wing was assigned to the SAC Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 19th Air Division. It was then reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force
The 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....
, on 6 June 1988 with subsequent redesignation as the 340th Air Refueling Wing on 1 September 1991.
With the inactivation of SAC, the wing was reassigned to Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
on 1 June 1992 and was inactivated on 1 October 1992 as part of the general drawdown of the USAF after the Cold War ended, its components subsequently merging with collocated 443d Airlift Wing at Altus to form the 97th Air Mobility Wing
97th Air Mobility Wing
The 97th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The wing is also the host unit at Altus...
.
Modern era
The 340th was reactivated at Randolph AFB, Texas, as the 340th Flying Training Group, on 1 Apr 1998 as an Air Force Reserve Command unit under Tenth Air ForceTenth Air Force
The 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....
. The 340 FTG was organized to provide associate instructor pilots for the AETC SUPT mission.
Lineage
- Established as 340th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 10 Aug 1942
- Activated on 20 Aug 1942
- Redesignated 340th Bombardment Group, Medium on 20 Aug 1943
- Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945
- Redesignated 340th Bombardment Group, Light on 8 Oct 1947
- Activated in the Reserve on 31 Oct 1947
- Inactivated on 19 Aug 1949
- Consolidated (31 Mar 1982) with the 340th Bombardment Wing, Medium, which was established on 3 Oct 1952
- Activated on 20 Oct 1952
- Inactivated on 1 Sep 1963
- Redesignated 340th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 1 Sep 1963, replacing the 4130th Strategic Wing
- Activated on 1 Sep 1963 assuming the resources (Manpower, Aircraft, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the 4130th Strategic Wing (Inactivated)
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 2 Oct 1966
- Redesignated 340th Bombardment Group, Medium, and activated, on 22 May 1968
- Organized on 2 Jul 1968
- Inactivated on 31 Dec 1971
- Redesignated 340th Air Refueling Group, Heavy on 14 Jun 1977
- Activated on 1 Jul 1977
- Redesignated: 340th Air Refueling Wing, Heavy on 1 Oct 1984
- Redesignated: 340th Air Refueling Wing on 1 Sep 1991
- Inactivated on 1 Oct 1992
- Redesignated 340th Flying Training Group, and activated in the Reserve, on 1 Apr 1998.
Assignments
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 20 Aug 1942-unkn - Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 5 Apr 1943 - Twelfth Air Force, 22 Aug 1943
- XII Air Support Command, 1 Sep 1943
- 57th Bombardment Wing, 1 Nov 1943
- XII Bomber CommandXII Bomber CommandThe XII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force, based in Corsica, France...
, 2 Jan 1944 - 57th Bombardment Wing, 1 Mar 1944
- Army Air Forces, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, 26 Jul 1945
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 7 Aug – 7 Nov 1945 - 310th Bombardment Wing, Light (later, 310 Air Division)310th Air DivisionThe 310th Air Division 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...
, 31 Oct 1947 – 19 Aug 1949
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 20 Oct 1952 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 1 Jul 1955 - Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 1 Jan 1959 - 17th Air (later, 17 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 15 Jul 1959
- 4th Air Division, 1 Sep 1963
- 19th Air Division, 1 Sep 1964 – 2 Oct 1966
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe 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...
, 22 May 1968 - 19th Air Division, 2 Jul 1968 – 31 Dec 1971; 1 Jul 1977
- 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....
, 16 Jun 1988 – 1 Oct 1992 - 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....
, 1 Apr 1998 – present
Components
Groups- 340th Operations: 1 Sep 1991 – 1 Oct 1992
- 398th Operations: 1 Jun – 1 Oct 1992
Squadrons
- 5th Flying Training Squadron5th Flying Training SquadronThe 5th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates T-1 Jayhawk aircraft conducting flight training.-World War II:...
: 1 Apr 1998 – present - 9th Bombardment Squadron: 2 Jul 1969 – 31 Dec 1971
- 11th Air Refueling Squadron11th Air Refueling SquadronThe 11th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma...
: 1 Jul 1977 – 1 Sep 1991 - 34th Air Refueling Squadron34th Air Refueling SquadronThe 34th Strategic Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 11th Strategic Group, stationed at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain...
: 1 Oct 1958 – 1 Oct 1959 - 39th Flying Training Squadron39th Flying Training SquadronThe 39th Flying Training Squadron is currently part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.-Mission:...
: 2 Apr 2001 – present - 43d Flying Training Squadron43d Flying Training SquadronThe 43d Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi...
: 1 Apr 1998 – present - 96th Flying Training Squadron96th Flying Training SquadronThe 96th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the Reserve associate to the 47th Flying Training Wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas...
: 1 Apr 1998 – present - 97th Flying Training Squadron97th Flying Training SquadronThe 97th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the Reserve associate to the 80th Flying Training Wing based at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas...
: 1 Apr 1998 – present - 100th Flying Training Squadron: 1 Apr 1999 – 12 Sep 2007
- 306th Air Refueling Squadron306th Air Refueling SquadronThe 306th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 457th Operations Group, stationed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma...
: 1 Oct 1984 – 1 Sep 1991 - 340th Air Refueling Squadron340th Air Refueling SquadronThe 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Operations Group, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar....
: 20 Oct 1952 – 1 Jul 1953 (detached entire period); 18 Jan 1954 – 15 Oct 1962 (detached 29 Oct – 31 Dec 1956, 25 Sep – 28 Dec 1957, 5 Jan – 9 Apr 1959, and 3 Jan – 1 Apr 1961) - 486th Bombardment Squadron486th Bombardment SquadronThe 486th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 22d Bombardment Wing, stationed at March Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 July 1971-History:...
: 20 Aug 1942 – 7 Nov 1945; 31 Oct 1947-19 Aug 1949; 20 Oct 1952 – 2 Oct 1966 (not operational, 20 Oct 1952 – Feb 1954) - 487th Bombardment Squadron487th Bombardment SquadronThe 487th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 340th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It was inactivated on 1 September 1963-History:...
: 20 Aug 1942 – 7 Nov 1945; 31 Oct 1947-19 Aug 1949; 20 Oct 1952 – 1 Sep 1963 (not operational, 20 Oct 1952 – Feb 1954) - 488th Bombardment Squadron488th Bombardment SquadronThe 488th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 340th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.. It was inactivated on 1 September 1963-History:...
: 20 Aug 1942 – 7 Nov 1945; 31 Oct 1947-19 Aug 1949; 20 Oct 1952 – 1 Sep 1963 (not operational, 20 Oct 1952 – Feb 1954) - 489th Bombardment Squadron489th Bombardment SquadronThe 489th Reconnaissance Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. The 489th Bombardment Squadron was previously assigned to the 340th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri...
: 20 Aug 1942 – 7 Nov 1945; 10 Nov 1947-27 Jun 1949; 1 Oct 1958 – 1 Jan 1962 - 910th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 Sep 1963 – 2 Oct 1966
- 4007th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 2 Jul 1968 – 31 Dec 1971
- 4111th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 2 Jul 1968 – 2 Jul 1969.
Stations
- Columbia AABColumbia Metropolitan AirportColumbia Metropolitan Airport is the main airport for Columbia, South Carolina. The airport lies five miles southwest of Columbia's central business district, in Lexington County.-Airlines and destinations:...
, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 20 August 1942 - WalterboroWalterboro, South CarolinaWalterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Colleton County.-History:...
, South Carolina 30 November 1942 – 30 January 1943 - RAF KabritRAF KabritKibrit Air Base is a closed Egyptian Air Force base located in Egypt, approximately 20 miles north of Suez; 125 km east of Cairo. The name of the station came from a nearby village, and in Egyptian means "sulphur كبريت".-History:...
, Egypt March 1943 - Medenine AirfieldMedenine AirfieldMedenine Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, which was located just to the west of Medenine, 46 km N of Tataouine; 430 km south-southeast of Tunis. It was a temporary airfield built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, used by the United States...
, Tunisia March 1943 - Sfax Airfield, Tunisia April 1943
- Hergla AirfieldHergla AirfieldHergla Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, which was located approximately 12 km north-northwest of Harqalah in al Janubiyah Wilayat provience, about 90 km south-southwest of Tunis....
, Tunisia 2 June 1943 - Comiso Airfield, Sicily c. 2 August 1943
- Catania Airport, Sicily 27 August 1943
- San Pancrazio AirfieldSan Pancrazio AirfieldSan Pancrazio Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, which is located approximately 4 km northeast of San Pancrazio Salentino in the province of Brindisi in Puglia,on the south-east Italy coast...
, Italy c. 15 October 1943 - Foggia Airfield, Italy 19 November 1943
- Pompeii AirfieldPompeii AirfieldPompeii Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 1 km south of Terzigno, a few kilometers east of the base of Mount Vesuvius, and approximately 20 km east-southeast of Naples....
, Italy c. 2 January 1944
- Paestum AirfieldPaestum AirfieldPaestum Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located approximately 9 km north-northeast of Agropoli, in the province of Salerno, in the Campania region of Italy....
, Italy 23 March 1944 - Alesani, CorsicaCorsicaCorsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, France c. 14 April 1944 - Rimini Airfield, Italy c. 2 April – 27 July 1945
- Seymour Johnson Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
9 August 1945 - Columbia AABColumbia Metropolitan AirportColumbia Metropolitan Airport is the main airport for Columbia, South Carolina. The airport lies five miles southwest of Columbia's central business district, in Lexington County.-Airlines and destinations:...
, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
2 October – 7 November 1945 - Tulsa Municipal AirportTulsa International AirportTulsa International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five miles northeast of downtown Tulsa, a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. It was originally named Tulsa Municipal Airport, when the city acquired it in 1929...
, 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...
, (1947–1949) - Sedalia (later Whiteman) AFB, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, (1952–1963) - Bergstrom AFB, Texas, (1963–1966)
- Carswell AFB, Texas, (1968–1971)
- Altus 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...
, (1977–1992) - Randolph AFB, Texas, (1997 – present)
Aircraft Flown
- North American B-25 Mitchell (1942–1945)
- B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe 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...
(1947–1949) - B-47D Stratojet (1952–1963)
- B-52G Stratofortress (1963–1966)
- General Dynamics FB-111AGeneral Dynamics F-111The General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark" was a medium-range interdictor and tactical strike aircraft that also filled the roles of strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare in its various versions. Developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, it first entered service in 1967 with the...
(1968–1971)
- KC-135A/Q Stratotanker (1977–1992)
- Cessna T-37B (1997–2009)
- T-38A TalonT-38 TalonThe Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
(1997 – present) - T-1 Jayhawk (1997 – present)
See also
- List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
- List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force
External links
- The 489th Bombardment Squadron on Corsica
- Allied raids on Italy and Europe, 1943 b/w video, mute – provided by Archivio Storico Istituto Luce –