History of the 306th
Bombardment Wing

Compiled and Edited by Jim Strickland
Research by Howie Bialas

Foreword

The 306th designation existed in the Army  Air Corps and Air Force for fifty years from 1942 to 1992. The history you will read here covers each activation, and inactivation of the 306th, but concentrates on events occurring during the ten year period from 1963 through 1973 when the 306th Bombardment Wing was assigned to McCoy AFB, Florida. The history has been organized into chronological periods reflected in the menu to the left. You can start at the WW II period by selecting "Next" at the end of this page, and continue through the total history by selecting "Next" at the end of each period, or you can go directly to a period by selecting it from the menu.

The 306th Bombardment Group, activated in March 1942, became one of the pioneer units involved in the Air War in the European Theatre. It was first over Germany, often without fighter escort, striking targets deep into the heart of the Third Reich. The B-17s of the 306th supported many campaign offensives such as the Battle of the Bulge, the airborne assault across the Rhine and destruction of the German Air Force and its supporting industries. For its outstanding combat record, the 306th was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster and six campaign stars. The 306th Bombardment Group was inactivated in December 1946.

The 306th Bombardment Wing, activated at Andrews AFB, Maryland in July 1947 became part of  the Strategic Air Command. In 1948 it was transferred to MacDill AFB, Florida where it maintained a primary mission of heavy bombardment transition crew training in the B-29.

The 306th at MacDill converted to B-47s in November 1951 and soon emerged as a leader in jet bombardment tactics and strategies. In 1953, it became the first operational B-47 Wing. The B-47 Stratojets and the KC-97 Aerial Refueling Tankers of the 306th broke new ground in long-range global operations by deploying to forward overseas operating bases. They also became the backbone of the US Nuclear Deterrence Strategy by maintaining high levels of ground alert in the US and at overseas bases. The Wing was awarded  the Air Force Outstanding Unit  citation for its role as a pioneer and leader in jet bombardment tactics, while at MacDill AFB.

As B-52s replaced B-47s the 306th Bombardment Wing was inactivated at MacDill AFB and immediately activated at McCoy AFB, Florida in April 1963, as a B-52 and KC-135 unit. The 306th replaced the 4047th Strategic Wing that was initially constituted in 1961, with the transfer of Bomber Crews and B-52Ds from the 347th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bomb Wing, Westover AFB, Massachusetts. The 306th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the 4047th in early 1962 upon converting from KC-97s to KC-135 Tankers.

During the cold war, the 306ths' primary mission at McCoy AFB was deterring nuclear attack on the US by maintaining constant ground alert, and flying frequent cycles of airborne alert. In 1966 the wing began preparing and training for deployment to the Western Pacific in support of Projects Arc Light & Young Tiger. In September 1966 the wing deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam and to Kadena AFB, Okinawa. Its mission while in the Western Pacific was to "...Conduct bombing raids in support of US and allied ground forces fighting in the Vietnamese War." Later the wing also operated from U Tapao Royal Thai Airfield, Thailand as U. S. forces built up in the Vietnam theater. The 919th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to McCoy in March 1967.

The wing continued frequent Arc Light and Young Tiger deployments to the Western Pacific operating bases in support of the many Vietnam campaigns, and in Line Backer I and II Operations over North Viet Nam. While at McCoy, between deployments, the wing continued its' nuclear deterrent mission by maintaining B-52s and KC-135s on nuclear ground alert. The Wing earned a second Outstanding Unit Award in January 1968.

Final inactivation of the 306th Bombardment Wing began in 1973 and was completed in July 1974. In August 1976, the 306th was activated once again as the 306th Strategic Wing (SAC), Ramstein AB, Germany.  The 306th SW operated until February 1992 when the 100th Air Refueling Wing (USAFE), assumed the 306th SW responsibilities and became Headquarters European Tanker Task Force.

The 306th has a rich history of dedicated service to protect the freedoms we Americans enjoy. The accomplishments of the 306th in its' more than fifty years of history, through a World War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and strategic refueling and reconnaissance support to the Air Force and Department of Defense, are cause for all who served in the 306th to be extremely proud.

The 306th has been a Bomb Group, a Bomb Wing, a Bombardment Wing, and a Strategic Wing.  Now it is a Flying Training Group.  In a ceremony at the US Air Force Academy on 4 October 2004, the Air Force activated the 306th and established the 306th Flying Training Group, assigned to the 19th Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, TX.

306th BW (McCoy) Reunion Organization. All rights reserved. This page last updated: 09 Oct 2004