305th Air Division

The division was first activated at Foggia, Italy in late December 1943 as the 305th Bombardment Wing, but does not appear to have been manned until early January.[note 2] The wing had no combat components assigned until after VE Day in May 1945, and the wing commanding officer was a lieutenant colonel.[2] Instead, its personnel was used to man Fifteenth Air Force headquarters, and a provisional fighter wing which was formed in the fall of 1944.[3]

Unlike most combat air forces during World War II, Fifteenth Air Force was not assigned a fighter command. Instead, all its fighter groups were assigned to its bombardment wings until February 1944, when they were transferred to the 306th Bombardment Wing, which became the 306th Fighter Wing in May.[4][note 3] On 3 September 1944, Fifteenth formed XV Fighter Command (Provisional) and attached the 306th Wing to it. At the same time, it also organized the 305th Fighter Wing (Provisional) at Salsola Airfield[5] and attached the three groups of the 306th Wing that were flying Lockheed P-38 Lightnings (the 1st, 14th and 82d Fighter Groups) to the provisional wing. The 306th Wing retained control of the groups flying the Mustang.[6][note 4]

The wing initially focused on strategic missions, such as escorting bombers.[7] After March 1945, the wing moved to Lesina Airfield[8] and its groups focused on interdiction missions against German forces in Italy, Southern Germany, Austria and Yugoslavia.[9]

On 12 June 1945, the provisional wing moved from Lesina to Torremaggiore Airfield, where the 305th Bombardment Wing was already located. It was disbanded upon arrival and its personnel assigned to the bombardment wing.[10]

In addition to absorbing the personnel and headquarters of the provisional wing, the Mustang groups of the 306th Fighter Wing were also assigned to the 305th in June 1945, and the wing instituted an extensive training program in anticipation that its groups would be transferred to the Pacific to participate in the war against Japan. The 305th emphasized instrument flying and navigation; and formation, high altitude, and transition flying. One of the wing's P-51 groups also conducted experimental work in dive bombing. Pilots practiced in the Link Trainer and attended classes in engineering, air discipline, intelligence, personal equipment, air sea rescue, chemical warfare and communications procedures. However, with the surrender of Japan in August the wing began to transfer its groups to the United States at the end of August and was inactivated in Italy in September.[2]

The wing was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) on 12 July 1947 at McChord Field, Washington. It was assigned the 445th and 456th Bombardment Groups. which were activated the same day at McChord[11] In October, the 454th Bombardment Group was activated at McChord and assigned to the wing.[12] The three groups were all designated as very heavy units, and nominally were Boeing B-29 Superfortress units. However, there is no indication that the groups were equipped with tactical aircraft.[13] Regular Air Force support for reserve training at McChord was provided by the 2345th Air Force Reserve Training Center.[14]

In 1948, Continental Air Command assumed responsibility from ADC for managing Air National Guard and reserve units.[15] When the regular Air Force implemented the wing base organization system, which placed operational and support units on a base under a single wing that same year, the 305th Wing, along with other reserve wings with more than one combat group assigned, was redesignated as an air division.[2]

The 305th participated in routine reserve training and supervised the training of its three assigned groups until all were inactivated, in part due to President Truman’s 1949 defense budget, which required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[16] Most of their equipment and personnel were used to form the 302d Troop Carrier Wing, which was simultaneously activated at McChord.[2][17]

• Fifteenth Air Force, 29 December 1943 – 9 September 1945
• Fourth Air Force, 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949[2]

• Foggia, Italy, 29 December 1943
• Spinazzola Airfield, Italy, 19 January 1944
• Bari, Italy, 6 March 1944
• Torremaggiore Airfield, Italy, c. December 1944 – 9 September 1945
• McChord Field (later McChord Air Force Base), Washington, 12 July 1947 – 29 June 1949[2]

Fighter Groups (1945)

Bombardment Groups (1947–1948)

• 445th Bombardment Group: 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 454th Bombardment Group: 17 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 456th Bombardment Group: 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949[2]

• Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 1945
• North American P-51 Mustang, 1945[2]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Simpson, Albert F (1949). "Sicily and Southern Italy, Chapter 16, The Fifteenth Air Force". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. II, Europe: Torch to Pointblank. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
• Simpson, Albert F (1951). "Italy, Chapter 10, Anzio". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. III, Europe: Argument to V-E Day. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
• Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.