PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARMY AIR CORPS MUSEUM! [MORE]
Ads help support our web operation, if you would like to turn them OFF for this visit;
Constituted as 309th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 20 Jan 1944. Activated in New Guinea on 1 Feb 1944. Assigned to Fifth AF. Served in combat until the end of the war, operating with various groups that were attached for short periods of time. Inactivated in Japan on 25 Mar 1946.
Redesignated 309th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy). Allotted to the reserve. Activated in the US on 10 Jan 1947. Redesignated 309th Air Division (Bombardment) in Apr 1948. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
Groups. 3d Air Commando: 1946. 446th Bombardment: 1947-1949. 455th Bombardment: 1947-1949.
Stations. Lae, New Guinea, 1 Feb 1944; Saidor, New Guinea, c. Mar 1944; Noemfoor, 28 Jul 1944; Owi, Schouten Islands, 9 Nov 1944; San Marcelino, Luzon, 8 Feb 1945; Lingayen, Luzon, May 1945; Chitose, Japan, Oct 1945-25 Mar 1946. Hensley Field, Tex, 10 Jan 1947-27 Jun 1949.
Commanders. Brig Gen Paul B Wurtsmith, 1 Feb 1944; Col Neel E Kearby, 26 Feb 1944; Maj Gen St Clair Streett, 3 Mar 1944; Lt Col Robert R Rowland, 5 Apr 1944; Col Jack W Saunders, 13 May 1944; Col Norman D Sillin, 16 Dec 1944; Col Herbert L Grills, 20 Oct 1945-unkn.
Campaigns. China Defensive; New Guinea; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; China Offensive.
Decorations. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
Do you have WWII memorabilia that you are not sure what to do with it? The children don't want it? Then let us help you preserve this history by donating these items to the Army Air Corps Library and Museum. We are accepting donations in the form of uniforms, medals, ribbons, patches, photos, memorabilia, papers, gear and equipment. We also accept monetary donations to support our operations and long term plans. This website is part of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, and as a 501(c)(3) Non-profit, your qualifying donations are tax deductible.
Read about how we need your support and use donations.
Historical Artifacts: We are looking for photos, documents and other types of artifacts including uniforms, medals, insignia, gear, manuals, and training material. We accept electronic/scans or originals of pictures and paper records. A General Order could be an award document that contains information on many servicemen. Special Orders may contain transfers or other information. Flight records, accident reports, maintenance logs, after action reports, pilot encounter reports, diaries and biorgraphies; all of these types of documents help us support or mission: preserving your history! Contact us today for instructions on sending us this material. Contact Today
Are you an AAC, AAF or USAF Veteran, family member, historian or WW2 enthusiast? We Need YOU! Contact us today to see how you can help the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a Texas Not-For-Profit Corporation. We need your help! We are looking for volunteers that can help us with the following tasks. Typing and Transcriptionists: One of our big projects is extracting data from the thousands of documents we have and putting this data into a database where we can display the information on a website such as this one. We also need assistance with retyping unit history documents.
