303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing

303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing
303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing
	Emblem of the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing
Active	1951–1964; 1986–1989; 2005–2010
Country	United States
Branch	Air Force
Type	Aeronautical Systems
Part of	Air Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ	Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Last updated November 08, 2023

The 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing (303 ASW) was a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Aeronautical Systems Center, 2005-2010. It was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio as a tenant unit.

The wing was the successor organization to the World War II Eighth Air Force 303rd Bombardment Group. The group was one of the first VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortress units in England. The "Hell's Angels" were the first B-17 group to complete 25 combat missions in June 1943, going on to fly more than 300 combat missions, more than any other group. The 359th BS B-17F 41-24605 "Knock-out Dropper" was the first aircraft in Eighth Air Force to complete 50, then 75 missions.

During the Cold War, the Strategic Air Command 303rd Bombardment Wing was a Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium bomber wing in the 1950s, and in the 1980s became a Tactical Missile Wing assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe.

Overview

Wing responsibilities also included identifying, coordinating, and implementing horizontal integration/capability planning across weapons systems in support of the Global Strike and Global Persistent Attack concept of operations.

History

For additional history and lineage, see 303d Bombardment Group

Emblem of the 303d Bombardment Wing (Medium) 303d-bomb-wing-medium.png — Emblem of the 303d Bombardment Wing (Medium)

Trained for strategic bombardment and air refueling operations to meet Strategic Air Command's global commitments, equipped with B-29 Superfortresses. Deployed to Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco, 5 Oct-6 Nov 1952.

Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1953, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. Flew numerous training missions and participated in various SAC exercises and deployments with the Stratojet, deploying to Greenham Common RAF Station, England, 17 Mar-28 Apr 1954; Fairford RAF Station, England, 28 Apr-5 Jun 1954; and Anderson AFB, Guam, 4 Jul-4 Oct 1956 and 5 Apr-5 Jul 1958.

In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. Began sending its stratojets to AMARC in 1963, the last being retired in 1964. Wing was inactivated on 15 June 1964 after the last B-47 was retired.

Reactivated as a BGM-109G Gryphon Cruise Missile wing in August 1986. Maintained 64 operational missiles in a combat-ready state. Inactivated in January 1989 as a result of the INF treaty and the elimination of the BGM-109G missile from service.

As part of the Aeronautical Systems Center, the 303d designs, develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U.S. Air Force, other U.S. military, allied and coalition-partner warfighters, in support of Air Force leadership priorities.

Lineage

Established as 303d Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 27 August 1951

Activated on 4 September 1951

Discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 June 1964

Redesignated 303d Tactical Missile Wing on 19 August 1986

Activated on 12 December 1986

Inactivated on 31 January 1989

Consolidated (23 Jun 2006) with the 303d Reconnaissance Systems Wing, which was established on 23 November 2004.

Activated on 18 January 2005

Redesignated 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing on 14 July 2006.

Inactivated on 1 July 2010 as it was re-stood up as ASC/WI (Aeronautical Systems Center, ISR Directorate) on the same date.

Assignments

36th Air Division, 4 September 1951

Attached to: 5th Air Division, 5 Oct-6 Nov 1952

Attached to: 7th Air Division, 4 Mar-5 Jun 1954

Attached to: 3rd Air Division, 4 Jul-4 Oct 1956 and 5 Apr-4 Jul 1958

12th Air (later, 12 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 15 Mar 1960 – 15 Jun 1964
Third Air Force, 12 Dec 1986 – 31 Jan 1989
Aeronautical Systems Center, 18 Jan 2005–present

Components

Group

303d Bombardment Group: 4 Sep 1951 – 16 Jun 1952 (not operational)
645th Aeronautical Systems Group

Squadrons

9th Air Refueling Squadron: attached 15 Jan-5 Oct 1952 and 15 Nov 1952 – 25 Apr 1953
43rd Air Refueling Squadron: 15 Mar-15 Nov 1960
303d Air Refueling Squadron: attached 4 Sep 1951 – 8 Apr 1952 (not operational); assigned 18 Feb 1953 – 1 Feb 1956 (detached 19 Apr-2 Jun 1955)
358th Bombardment Squadron: attached 4 Sep 1951 – 15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952 – 15 Jun 1964
359th Bombardment Squadron: attached 4 Sep 1951 – 15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952 – 15 Jun 1964
360th Bombardment Squadron: attached 4 Sep 1951 – 15 Jun 1952, assigned 16 Jun 1952 – 15 Jun 1964
427th Bombardment Squadron: 1 Dec 1958 – 1 Jan 1962 (not operational, 1 Sep 1961 – 1 Jan 1962)
87th Tactical Missile Squadron: 12 December 1986 to 31 January 1989
303d Tactical Missile Maintenance Squadron: 12 December 1986 to 31 January 1989

Detachments: Det, 96th Air Refueling Squadron: attached c. 4 Jul-c. 4 October 1956.

Stations

Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 4 Sep 1951 – 15 Jun 1964
RAF Molesworth, England, 12 Dec 1986 – 31 Jan 1989

BGM-109G Missile site located at: 52°22′55″N000°25′41″W / 52.38194°N 0.42806°W

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 18 Jan 2005–present

Aircraft and missiles

B-29 Superfortress, 1951–1953
KB-29 Superfortress (Tanker), 1952, 1952–1953
B-47 Stratojet, 1953–1964
KC-97 Stratofreighter, 1953–1956, 1956, 1960
BGM-109G, GLCM, 1987–1988.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">305th Air Mobility Wing</span> Military unit

The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force strategic airlift and air refueling wing under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command. It generates, mobilizes and deploys C-17 Globemaster III and KC-46A Pegasus aircraft. The 305th AMW is a tenant unit at mostly the McGuire AFB component of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in central New Jersey. It also controls one of the Air Force's busiest aerial ports, and the air operations at both McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Lakehurst.

The 501st Combat Support Wing is an administrative support wing of the United States Air Force, based at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom. It is one of three wings located in the United Kingdom as components of the Third Air Force and United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE).

The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was last stationed at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic, supporting U.S. and ISAF operations in Afghanistan.

The 43rd Airlift Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit last stationed at Pope Field, part of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where it was inactivated in March 2011. The wing performed en route operations support at Pope Field to include mission command & control, aircrew management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft loading, aircraft fueling and supply. Since the wing's inactivation, the 43rd Airlift Group has carried out airlift, maintenance, and base support at Pope Field.

The 44th Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Twentieth Air Force, being assigned to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 4 July 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12th Air Division</span> Military unit

The 12th Air Division an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Eighth Air Force, based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 31 July 1990.

The 308th Armament Systems Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Air Armament Center, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 30 July 2010.

The 301st Air Refueling Wing is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force being last assigned to the Strategic Air Command at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where it was inactivated on 1 June 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">6th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Unit of the US Air Force, part of the 60th Operations Group

The 6th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. It operates the McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender aircraft conducting mobility, and air refueling missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">820th Strategic Aerospace Division</span> Military unit

The 820th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s Eighth Air Force at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1965.

The 818th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, where it was inactivated on 25 March 1965.

The 810th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command (SAC), assigned to Fifteenth Air Force at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, where it was inactivated on 30 June 1971.

The 801st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s Eighth Air Force at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, where it was inactivated on 15 March 1965.

The 813th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where it was inactivated on 2 July 1966.

The 97th Air Refueling Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. It was most recently activated on 1 October 2019 and assigned to the 92nd Operations Group, 92nd Air Refueling Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">53rd Electronic Warfare Group</span> Military unit

The 53rd Electronic Warfare Group was a component of the 53rd Wing of the Air Force Warfare Center, Air Combat Command, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The 51st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 68th Bombardment Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1982.

The 303rd Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 499th Air Refueling Wing at Kindley AFB, Bermuda, where it was inactivated on 15 June 1963.

The 87th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive squadron of the United States Air Force last based at RAF Molesworth, England. The squadron was originally activated as the 8th Reconnaissance Squadron. The unit served on antisubmarine patrol early in World War II, then as a training unit until it was disbanded in 1944.

The 90th Missile Wing is a component of Twentieth Air Force, stationed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base and equipped with LGM-30G Minuteman III Missiles. It has served at Warren as a component of Strategic Air Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Space Command and Air Force Global Strike Command since 1963.

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977 . Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
Grier, Peter (2002). "The Short, Happy Life of the Glick-Em" (PDF). Vol. 85, no. 7. Air Force Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.