310th Air Division | |
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Active | 1944–1949 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Command and Control |
Part of | Continental Air Command |
The 310th Air Division (310th AD) 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. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
During World War II, the 310 Bombardment Wing, Medium was a command and control echelon of Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific theater, controlling numerous fighter and bomber groups and squadrons until the Japanese surrender in 1945. Its attached units flew missions against Japanese shipping, coastal installations, gun positions, airdromes, and troop concentrations. Fighting in New Guinea and later the Philippine Islands, attached fighter units flew escort for bombing, supply, and reconnaissance missions. Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.
Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Tinker Field, Oklahoma in 1947. The organization was redesignated as an Air Division in April 1948 as part of the realignment of the United States Air Force command echelon structure. It was primarily an administrative organization. It inactivated in 1949.
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Activated in New Guinea in February 1944, the 310th wing maintained operational control over numerous attached groups and squadrons until the Japanese surrender in 1945. Its attached units flew missions against Japanese shipping, coastal installations, gun positions, airdromes, and troop concentrations. Fighting in New Guinea and later the Philippine Islands, attached fighter units flew escort for bombing, supply, and reconnaissance missions.
In October 1945, the wing moved to Japan and served in the occupation force.
The 310th Bomb Wing (Light) was organized as an Reserve unit on 19 Feb. 1947 at Tinker AFB. The 310th Bombardment Wing was officially activated on 10 July 1947 in accordance with 10th Air Force General Order (10 AF GO) #41, 26 June 1947. The 323d Bombardment Group and 456th Bombardment Squadron at Tinker Field, the 340 Bombardment Group, 487th and 488th Bombardment Squadrons at Tulsa, and the 489th Bombardment Squadron at Davis Field were activated between 9 Sep. and 12 Nov. 1947, with requests for activation of up to five more bombardment squadrons pending as of early 1948.
Even before the bomb wing’s activation, it was decided that it should be equipped with the respected Douglas A-26 “Invader” light bombardment aircraft. The bomb wing’s reservists were indeed fortunate to receive several of these light bombers by mid-1948, with the promise of more. Plans were underway soon afterwards to activate the 323d Bombardment Group, and the 455th and 456th Bombardment Squadrons, all subordinate units of the 310th Bombardment Wing.
By April 1948 the 310th Bombardment Wing had grown so large that it was redesignated the 310th Air Division with (by then) Brigadier General Lewis remaining in command. The 323d Bombardment Group became the 323d Bombardment Wing (Light) on the same date, with Lieutenant Colonel R. Ahern commanding. From that point, the 323d Bombardment Wing became the focal point for Air Force Reserve activities in Oklahoma.
The 310th Air Division seemed to have become largely an administrative headquarters, and it slipped into obscurity for the remainder of its existence at Tinker Air Force Base, eventually being inactivated on 27 June 1949.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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