Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
306th FLYING TRAINING GROUP
Lineage. Established as 306 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Redesignated as 306 Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 25 Dec 1946. Redesignated as 306 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 11 Jun 1947. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Redesignated as 306 Bombardment Group, Medium, on 11 Aug 1948. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952. Redesignated as 306 Flying Training Group on 30 Sep 2004. Activated on 4 Oct 2004.
Assignments. Second Air Force, 1 Mar 1942; 1 Bombardment Wing, 6 Sep 1942; 40 Combat Bombardment Wing, Sep 1943; 9 Air Division, 16 May 1945; 98 Bombardment Wing, Sep 1945; 40 Bombardment Wing, 15 Nov 1945; 128 Replacement Battalion (AAF/ET Replacement Depot), 22 Aug 1946; 40 Bombardment Wing, 13 Sep 1946; European Air Materiel Command, 20-25 Dec 1946. Strategic Air Command, 1 Jul 1947; Fifteenth Air Force, 16 Dec 1948; Second Air Force, 1 Apr 1950; 306 Bombardment Wing, 1 Sep 1950-16 Jun 1952. Nineteenth Air Force, 4 Oct 2004; 12 Flying Training Wing, 1 Jun 2012-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 1 Flying Training, 14 Dec 2007-. 34 Reconnaissance (later, 423 Bombardment): 1 Mar 1942-25 Dec 1946. 94 Flying Training: 4 Oct 2004-. 98 Flying Training: 4 Oct 2004-. 306 Air Refueling: 1 Sep 1950-16 Jun 1952. 367 Bombardment: 1 Mar 1942-25 Dec 1946; 1 Jul 1947-16 Jun 1952. 368 Bombardment: 1 Mar 1942-25 Dec 1946; 1 Jul 1947-16 Jun 1952. 369 Bombardment: 1 Mar 1942-29 Jun 1946; 1 Jul 1947-16 Jun 1952. 557 Flying Training: 4 Oct 2004-.
Stations. Gowen Field, ID, 1 Mar 1942; Wendover Field, UT, c. 6 Apr-1 Aug 1942; Thurleigh, England, c. 6 Sep 1942; Giebelstadt, Germany, 25 Dec 1945; Istres, France, 26 Feb 1946; Furstenfeldbruck, Germany, 16 Aug 1946; Lechfeld, Germany, 13 Sep-25 Dec 1946. Andrews Field (later, AFB), MD, 1 Jul 1947; MacDill AFB, FL, 1 Aug 1948-16 Jun 1952. USAF Academy, CO, 4 Oct 2004-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942-1946. B-29, 1948-1951; B-50, 1950-1951; B-47, 1951-1952; KC-97, 1951-1952. T-41, 2004-; T-51, 2004-; T-52, 2009-2012; T-53, 2011-; TG-10, 2004-2012; TG-14, 2004-2010; TG-15, 2004-; TG-16, 2011-; UV-18, 2004-; DA-20, 2007-.
Operations. Trained in the United States for bombardment operations overseas. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942 and entered combat in October. Between then and Apr 1945, bombed a variety of enemy targets in Europe, including railroad facilities and submarine pens in France and ball-bearing works, oil plants, marshalling yards, chemical plants, aircraft factories, and foundries in Germany. Took part in the first penetration into Germany by heavy bombers of the Eighth Air Force on 27 Jan 1943 by attacking U-boat yards at Wilhelmshaven. Sgt. Maynard H. Smith received the Medal of Honor for his actions on 1 May 1943. When the aircraft on which he was a gunner was hit by the enemy and set on fire, the sergeant threw explosive ammunition overboard, manned a gun until the German fighters were driven off, administered first aid to the wounded tail gunner, and extinguished the fire. Without fighter escort and in the face of powerful opposition, the group completed an assault against aircraft factories in central Germany on 11 Jan 1944, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the mission. Participated in the Big Week intensive campaign against the German aircraft industry, 20-25 Feb 1944. The group earned another DUC for effectively bombing an aircraft assembly plant at Bernberg, Germany on 22 Feb, even though escort fighters had abandoned the mission because of weather. Often supported ground forces and attacked interdictory targets in addition to its strategic operations. Hit airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium, and Germany in preparation for Normandy. On D-Day, 6 Jun 1944, raided railroad bridges and coastal guns in support of the assault. Assisted ground forces during the St. Lo breakthrough in July. Covered the airborne invasion of Holland in September 1944. During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, attacked airfields and marshalling yards to help stop the German advance. Bombed enemy positions in support of the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945. Remained in the theater after V-E Day and engaged in special photographic mapping duty in western Europe and North Africa, 1945-1946. Between Jul 1947 and Jun 1952, the group trained in the United States for strategic bombardment operations. Provided flying and parachute training for USAF Academy cadets, 2004-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Germany, 11 Jan 1944; Germany, 22 Feb 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 2005-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2009; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2011; 1 Jul 2011-30 Jun 2013; 1 Jul 2013-30 Jun 2015.
Emblem. Original emblem approved on 6 Jan 1943; modified version approved on 21 Oct 2004.