305th Operations Group

305th Operations Group
File:305th Bomb Group emblem.gif Emblem of the World War II 305th Bombardment Group
Active	1942-1946; 1947-1948; 1950-1952; 1991-1993; 1994-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

305th OG KC-10 Extender resumes its flight pattern after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan

A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord AFB flies over New York city after completing the first transcontinental flight on synthetic fuel to McGuire AFB.

The 305th Operations Group (305th OG) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing. It is stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.

During World War II, the group's predecessor unit, the 305th Bombardment Group was one of the first VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortress units in England and was one of the most decorated USAAF heavy bombardment groups in the European Theater. 1st Lt William R. Lawley, Jr. and 1st Lt Edward S. Michael, pilots in the 364th Bomb Squadron, each received the Medal of Honor.

While commanded by Colonel Curtis LeMay the Group pioneered many bomber flying formations and bombing procedures that became the standard operating procedures in the Eighth Air Force. It suffered the heaviest loss of 14 October 1943 Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission, and for this reason was given the Nazi flag found flying in the city when it was captured by the US troops in April, 1945.

Overview

The mission of the 305th Operations Group is to deploy worldwide from Air Mobility Command's Eastern Gateway, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL), to perform aerial refueling and airlift, in support of tactical, strategic, reconnaissance, transport, and bombardment forces in high-threat and chemical warfare environments.

The group flies the C-17 Globemaster III and KC-10 Extender in support of worldwide operations.

Components

The group comprises the following squadrons:

• 2d Air Refueling Squadron (KC-10)

The 2nd ARS provides the United States with the Global Reach necessary to support our national security objectives, while placing an increased emphasis on squadron members' families-the unsung heroes of the unit's successful operations.

• 6th Airlift Squadron (C-17)

The 6th Airlift Squadron is the oldest airlift squadron in the Air Force, having served with distinction since Oct. 1, 1933.

• 32d Air Refueling Squadron (KC-10)

The 32nd ARS can generate, mobilize and deploy 16 KC-10 aircraft with more than 180 aircrew, maintenance and support people to fulfill a wide variety of worldwide mobility taskings.

• 305th Operations Support Squadron

The mission of the 305th OSS is to provide information, support, and equipment to allow aircrews to accomplish their global mobility mission.

History

For additional history and lineage, see 305th Air Mobility Wing

Lineage

• Established as 305 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 1 March 1942

Redesignated 305 Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 20 August 1943

Inactivated on 25 December 1946

• Redesignated 305 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 11 June 1947

Activated on 1 July 1947

Inactivated on 6 September 1948

• Redesignated 305 Bombardment Group, Medium, on 20 December 1950

Activated on 2 January 1951

Inactivated on 16 June 1952

• Redesignated 305 Operations Group on 29 August 1991

Activated on 1 September 1991

Inactivated on 15 October 1993

• Activated on 1 October 1994.

Assignments

• II Bomber Command, 1 March 1942
• 16th Bombardment Wing, c. July-c. 23 August 1942
• VIII Bomber Command, 10 September 1942
• 1st Bombardment (later, 1 Combat Bombardment) Wing, c. 12 September 1942

Attached to: 102 Provisional Heavy Combat Bombardment Wing, 13 December 1942-15 September 1943

• 40th Combat Bombardment Wing, 16 September 1943
• 9th Air Division, 16 May 1945

Attached to Ninth Air Force for operational control, 16 May-c. 14 September 1945

• 98th Bombardment Wing, 15 September 1945
• 40th Bombardment Wing, c. 15 November 1945
• European Air Materiel Command (originally IX Air Force Service Command), 20-25 December 1946
• Strategic Air Command, 1 July 1947-6 September 1948
• 305th Bombardment Wing, 2 January 1951-16 January 1952
• 305th Air Refueling Wing, 1 September 1991-15 October 1993
• 305th Air Mobility Wing, 1 October 1994–present

Components

• 2d Air Refueling Squadron1 July 1995–present
• 6th Airlift Squadron: 1 October 1994–present
• 13 Airlift: 1 October 1994-31 March 2000
• 18 Airlift: 1 October 1994-1 July 1995
• 32d Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1995–present
• 33 Reconnaissance (later, 422 Bombardment): 1 March 1942-25 December 1946
• 46 Air Refueling: 1 June 1992-8 October 1993
• 70th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1991-1 April 1993
• 305 Air Refueling: 2 July 1951-16 June 1952 (detached entire period); 1 September 1991-20 August 1993
• 364 Bombardment Group (WF): 1 March 1942-29 June 1946; 1 July 1947-6 September 1948; 2 January 1951-16 June 1952 (detached 10 February 1951-16 June 1952)
• 365 Bombardment Group (XK): 1 March 1942-31 October 1946; 1 July 1947-6 September 1948; 2 January 1951-16 June 1952 (detached 10 February 1951-16 June 1952)
• 366 Bombardment Group (KY): 1 March 1942-25 December 1946; 1 July 1947-6 September 1948; 2 January 1951-16 June 1952 (detached 10 February 1951-16 June 1952)
• 423 Bombardment Group (JJ): attached 16 July-25 December 1946
• 905 Air Refueling: 1 June 1992-1 July 1993
• 920 Air Refueling: 1 June-30 September 1992.

Stations

• Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, 1 March 1942
• Geiger Field, Washington, 11 June 1942
• Muroc Army Air Field, California, 4 July 1942
• Fort Dix Army Air Base, New Jersey, 29 August-4 September 1942
• RAF Grafton Underwood (USAAF Station 106), England, 13 September 1942
• RAF Chelveston (USAAF Station 105), England, 11 December 1942

• Fliegerhorst Saint Trond (ALG A-92), Belgium, 25 July 1945
• Fliegerhorst Lechfield (ALG R-71), Germany, 19 December 1945-25 December 1946
• Andrews Field (later, AFB), Maryland, 1 July 1947-6 September 1948
• MacDill AFB, Florida, 2 January 1951-16 June 1952
• Grissom AFB, Indiana, 1 September 1991-15 October 1993
• Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1 October 1994–present

Aircraft assigned

• B-17, 1942–1946
• B-18, 1942
• B-24, 1942
• UC-64, 1946
• B-29, 1951
• KC-135, 1991–1993

• EC-135, 1991–1992
• C-141, 1994–2004
• KC-10, 1995–present
• C-12, 1994–1995
• C-17, 2004–present

Operational history

World War II

Boeing B-17F-115-BO Flying Fortress Serial 42-30647 of the 366th BS on a mission to Stuttgart, 6 September 1943. On 23 September 1943, this aircraft crashed at Chevelston returning from a mission, killing all onboard

Boeing B-17G-60-BO Flying Fortress Serial 42-102964 of the 366th BS on mission to Frankfurt, October 1944. This aircraft survived the war and was sent to Kingman Army Airfield Arizona on 4 December 1945 for storage.

Activated 1 March 1942 at Salt Lake City AB, Utah. They trained there until 2 March 1943. Then moved to Geiger Field, Washington on 11 June 1942 Intensive training at Muroc Lake AB, California from the 29t June to 20 August 1942. The ground unit went by train to at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The ground unit sailed on the Queen Mary on 5 September 1942, and disembarked from Greenock on 12 September 1942. the Aircraft assembled at Syracuse, New York and spent six weeks in advance flight training. They received new B-17F bombers, and left for the United Kingdom in October 1942 via the presque Isle, and Gander to Prestwick.

Deployed to England in September 1942 and formed at RAF Grafton Underwood as part of VIII Bomber Command 40th Bombardmetn Wing. Was assigned group tail code "Triange-G". At Grafton Underwood, the group began combat on 17 November 1942 and attacked such targets as submarine pens, docks, harbours, shipyards, motor works, and marshalling yards in France, Germany, and the Low Countries. During December 1942, the group was transferred to RAF Chelveston.

On 27 January 1943, the group participated in the Eighth Air Force's first raid on Germany. During the winter of 1942/43, the 305th was commanded by Colonel Curtis LeMay and pioneered many of the techniques of daylight bombing used by the USAAF over Nazi-controlled Europe. These fundamental procedures and techniques were later adapted to the B-29 Super Fortresses which fought the war to its conclusion in the Pacific.

The 305th BG bombed the navy yards at Wilhelmshaven on 27 January 1943 when heavy bombers of Eighth AF made their first penetration into Germany. Through mid-1943, the group attacked strategic targets as submarine pens, docks, harbors, shipyards, motor works, and marshaling yards in France, Germany, and the Low Countries.

The 305th BG received the Distinguished Unit Citation for a mission on April 1943 when an industrial target in Paris was bombed with precision in spite of pressing enemy fighter attacks and heavy flak.

During the second half of 1943, the unit began deeper penetration into enemy territory to strike heavy industry. Significant objectives included aluminum, magnesium, and nitrate works in Norway, industries in Berlin, oil plants at Merseburg, aircraft factories at Anklam, shipping at Gdynia, and ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt.

A second Distinguished Unit Citation was awarded to the 305th for withstanding severe opposition to bomb aircraft factories in central Germany on 11 January 1944. The unit participated in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20–25 February 1944.

In addition to bombardment of strategic targets, the 305th BG often flew tactical interdictory missions and supported infantry units. Prior to the Normandy invasion in June 1944, it helped to neutralize enemy installations such as V-weapon sites, airfields, and repair shops. On D-Day, 6 June, the unit bombed enemy strongholds near the battle area. During the Battle of Normandy the 305th attacked enemy positions in advance of ground forces at Saint-Lô in July 1944 and struck antiaircraft batteries to cover the airborne invasion of Holland in September.

After V-E Day, the 305th moved to St Trond Air Base, Belgium in July, 1945 where it conducted photo-mapping flights which was called Project: Casey Jones over Europe and North Africa. On 15 December 1945 moved to Lechfeld, Germany which they had bombed on 18 March 1944. The 364th Bomb Squadron was inactivated on 1 July 1946. The 423 Bomb Squadron of the 306th Bomb Group was attached to the Group after this date but by the end of October 1946 the Group ceased all operations. Officially the unit was inactivated on 25 December 1946. On the Continent it was assigned to Ninth Air Force and inactivated on 15 November 1945.

Cold War

Not operational from 16 October-25 December 1946. During two periods of activation, between July 1947 and September 1948 and between January 1951 and June 1952, the group was manned only from 2 January-9 February 1951 when the Air Force reorganized its wings into the tri-deputate system.

Modern era

On 1 September 1991, the 305th Operations Group activated under the "Objective Wing" concept adapted by the Air Force as the lines between tactical and strategic forces blurred. The flying components of the 305th Air Refueling Wing were reassigned to the newly established group. Upon activation, the 305 OG was bestowed the history, lineage and honors of the 305th Bombardment Group from the wing.

The 1993 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) directed realignment of Grissom AFB to the Air Force Reserve and the 305th OG phased out operations there in 1994. The KC-135R equipped 70th and 305th ARS were inactivated. In addition, the EC-135G/L radio relay aircraft as part of the PACCS system were also retired.

The 305th was moved without personnel or equipment to McGuire AFB, New Jersey, replacing the 438th OG on October 1, 1994. At McGuire, the group controls three squadrons of Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transports and Douglas KC-10A Extender air refueling aircraft.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (Official Web site)
• Air Mobility Command (Official Web site)
• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
• Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
• Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present