306th Fighter Wing

356th Special Operations Wing
	OV-10 Bronco firing white phosphorus
Active	1943–1945; 1975
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter, Special Operations
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations Vietnam War

Last updated January 14, 2021

The 306th Fighter Wing (306th FW) was a World War II United States Army Air Forces organization assigned to Fifteenth Air Force as an intermediate-level command and control organization. It was last stationed at Drew Field, Florida and was inactivated on 7 November 1945.

History

World War II

The first predecessor of the 356th Special Operations Wing was the 306th Fighter Wing of World War II.^[1]

Constituted originally as the 306th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 7 December 1943. Activated in Italy on 15 January 1944. Assigned to Fifteenth Air Force.

Entered combat in Mar as a fighter organization. Redesignated 306th Fighter Wing in May 1944. Operated in the Mediterranean and European theaters until the end of the war.^[1]

Moved to the US, July–August 1945. Inactivated on 7 November 1945.^[1]

Vietnam War

The second predecessor of the wing was the 656th Special Operations Wing, which replaced the 56th Special Operations Wing in Thailand in 1975.^[2]

Consolidation and redesignation

The two wings were consolidated as the 356th Special Operations Wing in 1985, but have not been active since.^[3]

Lineage

306th Fighter Wing

Constituted as the 306th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 7 December 1943

Activated on 15 January 1944.

Redesignated 306th Fighter Wing in May 1944

Inactivated on 7 November 1945^[1]

Consolidated with the 656th Special Operations Wing as the 356th Special Operations Wing on 31 July 1985^[3]

656th Special Operations Wing

Established as the 656th Special Operations Wing on 14 May 1975 (not organized)

Activated on 30 June 1975

Inactivated on 22 September 1975.^[2]

Consolidated with the 306th Fighter Wing as the 356th Special Operations Wing on 31 July 1985^[3]

Assignments

Fifteenth Air Force, 15 January 1944 – 15 July 1945
Third Air Force, August − 7 November 1945^[1]
Thirteenth Air Force, 30 June 1975
17th Air Division, 1 July – 22 September 1975^[2]

Stations

Bari Airfield, Italy, 15 January 1944
Foggia Airfield, Italy, 27 January 1944
Lucera Airfield, Italy, 23 February 1944
Torremaggiore, Italy, 8 March 1944
Lesina Airfield, Italy, 3 September 1944
Fano Airfield, Italy, 5 March – 15 July 1945
Drew Field, Florida, August −7 November 1945^[1]
Nakhon Phanom Airport, Thailand, 30 June – 22 September 1975^[2]

Components

Groups

1st Fighter Group, 27 March – November 1944
14th Fighter Group, 1 November 1943 – 27 March 1944
31st Fighter Group, 2 April 1944 – 13 June 1945
52d Fighter Group, 14 May 1944 – 13 June 1945
82d Fighter Group, 27 March 1944 – 13 June 1945
325th Fighter Group, December 1943 – 13 June 1945
332d Fighter Group, 28 May 1944 – 13 June 1945^[1]

Squadrons

21st Special Operations Squadron, attached 30 June – 22 September 1975
23rd Flying Training Squadron, attached 30 June – 22 September 1975

Aircraft

P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944^[1]
P-51 Mustang, 1944–1945^[1]
Sikorsky CH-53, 1975^[2]
North American OV-10 Bronco, 1975^[2]

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References

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Maurer, pp. 417–418
1 2 3 4 5 6 Ravenstein, p. 291
1 2 3 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/ .

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977 . Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

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[Maurer306FW-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Maurer, pp. 417–418

[Ravenstein656SOW-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ravenstein, p. 291

[DAFMPM648q-3] 1 2 3 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations

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