Thedivision was first activated as the310th Bombardment Wing in New Guinea duringWorld War II. It served as atask force headquarters, commanding advanced elements ofFifth Air Force during the New Guinea campaign and theliberation of the Philippines. AfterVJ Day, it moved to Japan, serving in theoccupation forces until inactivating in March 1946. Thewing was again activated in thereserves in 1947, becoming a division the following year.
DuringWorld War II, the310 Bombardment Wing, Medium was a command echelon ofFifth 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 in the Philippine Islands, attached fighter units flew escort for bombing, supply, and reconnaissance missions."[1] In October 1945, the wing moved to Japan and served in theoccupation force. It was inactivated in Japan during early 1946.[1]
The 310th Bombardment Wing was activated as areserve unit underAir Defense Command (ADC) atTinker Field, Oklahoma on 26 July 1947, but had no units assigned until September when the323d Bombardment Group was activated at Tinker and assigned to the wing. The 177th AAF Base Unit (later the 2592d Air Force Reserve Training Center) supervised the training of reserve units at Tinker.[2][3] Later that fall, at the end of October, the340th Bombardment Group was activated atTulsa Municipal Airport and assigned to the wing.[1] Although the units were designated as bombardment units, it appeared they were equipped withNorth American AT-6 Texan andBeechcraft AT-11 aircraft only.[4]
The 310th was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949.[1] The division's personnel and equipment were transferred to the323d Bombardment Wing, which was activated at Tinker the same day and assumed command of the 323d Bombardment Group.[6] PresidentTruman’s reduced 1949 defense budget also required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[7] and the 340th Group was inactivated in August and not replaced as reserve flying operations at Tulsa ceased.[8]
United States
United States Air Force
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