304th Air Division

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304th Air Division
Active 1943–1949
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role Bombardment
Part of Fifteenth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
Engagements
 
  • World War II
European Campaign (1943–1945)

The 304th Air Division (304th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command, assigned to Fourth Air Force, being stationed at Long Beach Airport, California. It was inactivated on 24 June 1949.

History

Lineage

  • Established as 304th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 7 December 1943.
Activated on 29 December 1943.
Redesignated 304th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 4 May 1945.
Inactivated on 13 October 1945.
  • Redesignated 304th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 11 March 1947.
Activated in the Reserves on 19 April 1947.
Redesignated 304th Air Division Bombardment on 16 April 1947.
Inactivated on 27 June 1949.

Assignments

Fourth Air Force
25 Air Defense (later, 25 Air) Division: 19 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
ADC made a subordinate organization of Continental Air Command, 1 December 1948

Stations

Components

Groups

Aircraft

Operational history

Activated in Italy as a Bombardment wing in December 1943, the 304th participated in the strategic Bombardment of enemy occupied Europe. Targets included harbors, marshalling yards, airdromes, bridges, industrial areas, and troop concentrations in Italy, Austria, Germany, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Greece.

In May 1944, some subordinate units began an intensive bombing campaign against enemy oil resources, which included refineries at Ploesti, Romania, and oil and storage plants in Austria, Germany, and Hungary. During July and August 1944, subordinate units also prepared for and supported the invasion of southern France. Returned to the United States and inactivated, 13 October 1945.

Activated and assigned to the Reserves in April 1947. Assigned first to Air Defense Command, then to Continental Air Command (ConAC) when ADC was made a subordinate command of ConAC. While active in the Reserve the 304th was redesignated as a division and commanded several B-29 Superfortress-designated groups. It is not clear if these groups were actually manned or equipped. The Division was inactivated on 29 June 1949

See also


References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
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