306th Fighter Wing
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 356th Special Operations Wing
| image=OV-10 Bronco firing White phosphorus.jpg
| image_size = 290
|caption=OV-10 Bronco firing white phosphorus
|dates= 1943–1945; 1975
|country={{USA}}
|branch={{air force|USA}}
|type=
|role=Fighter, Special Operations
|size=
|command_structure=
|garrison=
|garrison_label=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=Mediterranean Theater of Operations Vietnam War
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}
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.Maurer, pp. 417–418
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.
Moved to the US, July–August 1945. Inactivated on 7 November 1945.
=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.Ravenstein, p. 291
=Consolidation and redesignation=
The two wings were consolidated as the 356th Special Operations Wing in 1985, but have not been active since.Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
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
- Consolidated with the 656th Special Operations Wing as the 356th Special Operations Wing on 31 July 1985
; 656th Special Operations Wing
- Established as the 656th Special Operations Wing on 14 May 1975 (not organized)
: Activated on 30 June 1975
=Assignments=
- Fifteenth Air Force, 15 January 1944 – 15 July 1945
- Third Air Force, August − 7 November 1945
- Thirteenth Air Force, 30 June 1975
- 17th Air Division, 1 July – 22 September 1975
=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
- Nakhon Phanom Airport, Thailand, 30 June – 22 September 1975
=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
; 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
- P-51 Mustang, 1944–1945
- Sikorsky CH-53, 1975
- North American OV-10 Bronco, 1975
References
; Notes
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
- {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
- {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}
{{USAAF 15th Air Force World War II}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:306th Fighter Wing (World War Ii)}}