314th Air Division

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314th Air Division

Emblem of the 314th Air Division
Active 1944–1986
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Engagements
  • World War II
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1945)
  • Army of Occupation (Japan)
    (1945–1948,1950–1952)
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

The 314th Air Division (314th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Pacific Air Forces, based at Osan AB, South Korea. It became inactive in September 1986.

The unit's origins lie with the World War II 314th Bombardment Wing (314th BW), which was part of the Twentieth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces. The 314th BW engaged in bombing operations against Japan using Boeing B-29 Superfortresses.

History

World War II

The 314th Bombardment Wing was activated in July 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado as a command and control organization for four Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombardment groups. The unit trained in Colorado while subordinate groups were trained in Kansas by the Second Air Force.

19th Bombardment Group B-29 Superfortresses 1945

When training was completed the 314th moved to Guam in the Mariana Islands of the Central Pacific Area in January 1945 The 314th was the fourth B-29 Wing assigned to XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force. Its mission was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands and the destruction of its war-making capability. In the Marianas, the Wing provided command and control to the 19th, 29th 39th and 330th Bombardment Groups. The 19th and 29th arrived in January; the 39th and 330th in February.

Its groups flew "shakedown" missions against Japanese targets on Moen Island, Truk, and other points in the Carolines and Marianas. The 19th began combat missions over Japan on 25 February 1945 with a firebombing mission over Northeast Tokyo; the 29th with a firebombing mission over central Tokyo on March 9. The 39th's first mission was an attack of the Hodagaya Chemical Works in Koriyama on 15 April; the 330th hitting the same three days earlier on April 12. The Division continued attacking urban areas until the end of the war in August 1945; its subordinate units conducted raids against strategic objectives, bombing aircraft factories; chemical plants; oil refineries; and other targets in Japan. The wing flew its last combat missions on 14 August when hostilities ended. Afterwards, the wing's B 29s carried relief supplies to Allied prisoner of war camps in Japan and Manchuria.

The 330th Bomb Group was relieved from assignment on 21 November, its personnel and equipment returning to the United States for demobilization; the 39th in December. The other groups returned in May 1946. The Wing then moved to Johnson Army Airbase, Japan in mid-May 1946 to become part of the Fifth Air Force Occupation forces.

With the postwar consolidation of units, the organization was redesignated 314th Composite Wing in 1946, having both groups and squadrons of varying missions assigned to the wing. For approximately two years (1946–1948) the 314th served as one of Fifth Air Force's major components. It maintained intensive training schedules, participated in training exercises and took part in the post-hostilities program of mapping Japan.

Korean War

F-86s of the 4th Fighter-interceptor Wing 1951

Activated at Nagoya AB, Japan, on 1 December 1950 as the 314th Air Division, the organization immediately assumed the missions of the air defense of Japan, logistical support for Fifth Air Force during the Korean War, and airfield construction in Japan. Units under the Division's direct jurisdiction during the Korean War were the following:

On 1 March 1952 the 314th Air Division was stood down, as part of a Far East Air Force reorganization. Its units were reassigned to other organizations.

Cold War

F-4D of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1973

Reactivated in March 1955 at Osan Air Base, South Korea, the 314th Air Division was the primary command and control organization in South Korea for the next 30 years. The division maintained assigned and attached forces at a high degree of combat readiness during the Cold War. In fulfilling its mission, the division supported numerous military exercises in the region, such as Commando Bearcat, Commando Jade, and Commando Night.

The Division was inactivated in 1986 by the decision to upgrade the organization to a Numbered Air Force level, being replaced by the reactivated Seventh Air Force, which assumed all of its assigned assets.

Lineage

World War II 314th Bombardment Wing emblem
  • Established as 314th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 15 April 1944.
Activated on 23 April 1944.
Re-designated 314th Composite Wing on 15 April 1946.
Inactivated on 20 August 1948.
  • Re-designated 314th Air Division on 21 November 1950.
Activated on 1 December 1950.
Inactivated on 1 March 1952.
  • Activated on 15 March 1955.
Consolidated (1 July 1978) with organization established as 314th Air Division on 13 August 1948.
Organized on 18 August 1948
Discontinued on 1 March 1950.
Inactivated on 8 September 1986

Assignments

Units assigned

World War II

c. 9 Dec 1944-15 May 1946
31st Air Service Group
28th Bombardment Squadron
30th Bombardment Squadron
93d Bombardment Squadron
c. 9 Nov 1944-15 May 1946; Not operational, 12 Feb-15 May 1946
69th Air Service Group
6th Bombardment Squadron
43d Bombardment Squadron
52d Bombardment Squadron
18 February-27 December 1945
89th Air Service Group
60th Bombardment Squadron
61st Bombardment Squadron
62d Bombardment Squadron
c. 9 Nov 1944-c. 21 Nov 1945
90th Air Service Group
457th Bombardment Squadron
458th Bombardment Squadron
459th Bombardment Squadron

United States Air Force

Wings

Groups

Not operational, 15 Apr-31 Oct 1947
Detached 31 Oct 1947-18 Aug 1948
  • 6146th Air Force Advisory (Republic of Korea Air Force) (later, 6146 Flying Training; 6146 Air Force Advisory) Group: 15 Mar-24 Sep 1955; 18 Sep 1956-1 Apr 1971

Squadrons

Stations

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.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
  • Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

    External links

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