308th Bombardment Wing

308th Bombardment Wing was a United States Army Air Forces unit that served with distinction during World War II and later during the Cold War. Initially activated in 1942, it played a crucial role in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and the China Burma India Theater, operating heavy bombers like the B-24 Liberator. The wing was inactivated after the war, reactivated in 1952 as a Strategic Air Command unit equipped with B-47 Stratojet aircraft, and was finally inactivated in 1962.

History

The wing was first activated in late 1942 as part of the Fourteenth Air Force in the China Burma India Theater, where its B-24 Liberator groups conducted long-range strategic bombardment missions against Japanese targets. These operations included strikes on Formosa, Hong Kong, and enemy shipping in the South China Sea, for which the wing's 373d Bombardment Squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation. Following Victory over Japan Day, the wing was inactivated in China in late 1945. It was reactivated under Strategic Air Command in 1952 at Hunter Air Force Base, transitioning to the jet age with the B-47 Stratojet. Throughout the 1950s, the wing maintained a state of nuclear alert during the Cold War, participating in numerous Strategic Air Command exercises and Operation Chrome Dome airborne alerts before its final inactivation in 1962.

Lineage and honors

Constituted as the 308th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 28 January 1942 and activated on 15 April 1942. Redesignated as the 308th Bombardment Wing, Heavy in 1944. Inactivated on 10 December 1945. Redesignated 308th Bombardment Wing, Medium and activated on 4 June 1952. Inactivated on 25 June 1962. The wing's combat elements, particularly the 373d Bombardment Squadron, were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for actions from 10 May to 14 September 1944. The wing also received campaign streamers for the China Defensive, China Offensive, and Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Assignments and stations

During World War II, the wing was assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force, operating from advanced bases in China such as Chengdu and Kunming. After the war, it was assigned to the United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific before inactivation. Upon reactivation in 1952, it was assigned to the Second Air Force of Strategic Air Command. Its primary station was Hunter Air Force Base in Georgia, where it remained for its entire second active period. The wing was also an integral part of the 42d Air Division and later the 819th Air Division within the SAC command structure.

Aircraft operated

The wing's primary aircraft during World War II was the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, a four-engine heavy bomber used for long-range missions over the vast distances of the China Burma India Theater. After its reactivation, the wing transitioned to the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, a six-engine Strategic Air Command jet bomber that formed the backbone of the U.S. nuclear deterrent throughout the 1950s. The wing also operated various support aircraft, including the KC-97 Stratofreighter for aerial refueling and the T-33 Shooting Star for training.

Commanders

Notable commanders included Colonel Howard M. Moore, who led the wing during its early combat operations in China. During its Strategic Air Command era, commanders were typically Brigadier Generals or senior Colonels, such as Colonel William E. Eubank Jr., who commanded in the mid-1950s. These officers were responsible for maintaining the wing's combat readiness, overseeing the complex logistics of B-47 Stratojet operations, and executing the directives of Headquarters United States Air Force and Strategic Air Command.

Category:United States Army Air Forces wings Category:Bombardment wings of the United States Air Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1942