320th Air Expeditionary Wing

320th Air Expeditionary Wing
File:320bw.gif 320th Bombardment Wing emblem
Active	1942-1989, 2001-Present ?
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Southwest Asia.
Motto(s)	Strength through Awareness

File:320aew1.jpg

A C-130 Hercules, assigned to the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location, awaits its next mission on the flightline. The aircraft was used to perform a heavy equipment airdrop into south central Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cherie Thurlby)

The United States Air Force's 320th Air Expeditionary Wing is an airlift wing located in Southwest Asia.

The 320th AEW moved American military power closer to the fights in Afghanistan and Iraq by transporting eight divisions -- around 80,000 troops -- hauling some 47,000 tons of cargo, flying 17,000 sorties and logging 40,000 flying hours all while simultaneously supporting operations in 12 countries.

The task of developing a comprehensive listing of AEW units present in Southwest Asia and other combat areas is particularly difficult as the events of 11 September 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly difficult. The USAF seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies as to the extent of American operations, therefore a listing of which units deploying where and when is unavailable.

History

Lineage

• 320th Bombardment Group
• 320th Bombardment Wing
• 320th Air Expeditionary Wing

Bases Assigned

• MacDill Field, FL 23 Jun 1942
• Drane Field, FL 8-28 Aug 1942
• Hethel, England 12 Sep 1942 114
• La Senia, Algeria c. 2 Dec 1942
• Tafaraoui, Algeria 28 Jan 1943
• Montesquieu, Algeria Apr 1943
• Massicault, Tunisia 29 Jun 1943
• El Bathan, Tunisia 28 Jul 1943
• Sardinia 1 Nov 1943
• Corsica c. 18 Sep 1944
• Dijon/Longvic, France 11 Nov 1944
• Dole/Tavaux, France 1 Apr 1945
• Herzogenaurach, Germany 18 Jun 1945
• Clastres, France c. Oct-Nov 1945
• March Air Force Base, California December 1, 1952 - February 1, 1963
• Mather Air Force Base, California February 1, 1963 - September 30, 1989
• Southwest Asia 2001-Present ?

Major Aircraft Types Operated

• Martin B-26 Marauder (1942-1945)
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1952-1953)
• Boeing B-47 Stratojet (1953-1960)
• Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (1963-1989)
• Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (1963-1989)
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules (2001-Present) ?

World War II

Constituted as 320th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942 and activated on 23 Jun. Trained with B-26 aircraft. Most of the group moved to North Africa via England, Aug-Dec 1942; crews flew their planes over the South Atlantic route and arrived in North Africa, Dec 1942-Jan 1943.

Began combat with Twelfth AF in Apr 1943 and operated from bases in Algeria, Tunisia, Sardinia, and Corsica until Nov 1944. During the period Apr-Jul 1943, flew missions against enemy shipping in the approaches to Tunisia, attacked installations in Sardinia, participated in the reduction of Pantelleria, and supported the invasion of Sicily. Then bombed marshalling yards, bridges, airdromes, road junctions, viaducts, harbors, fuel dumps, defense positions, and other targets in Italy. Supported forces at Salerno and knocked out targets to aid the seizure of Naples and the crossing of the Volturno River. Flew missions to Anzio and Cassino and engaged in interdictory operations in central Italy in preparation for the advance toward Rome.

Received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for action in preparation for and in support of Allied offensive operations in central Italy, Apr-Jun 1944. Received a DUC for a mission on 12 May 1944 when, in the face of an intense antiaircraft barrage, the group bombed enemy troop concentrations near Fondi in support of Fifth Army's advance toward Rome. From Jun to Nov 1944 operations included interdictory missions in the Po Valley, support for the invasion of Southern France, and attacks on enemy communications in northern Italy.

Moved to France in Nov 1944 and bombed bridges, rail lines, gun positions, barracks, supply points, ammunition dumps, and other targets in France and Germany until V-E Day. Received a DUC for operations on 15 Mar 1945 when the group bombed pillboxes, trenches, weapon pits, and roads within the Siegfried Line to enable a breakthrough by Seventh Army. Moved to Germany in Jun 1945 and participated in the disarmament program. Returned to the US, Nov-Dec.

Inactivated on 4 Dec 1945.

Cold War

The 320th Bombardment Wing replaced the 106th Bombardment Wing, (Medium) (ANG) at March Air Force Base, California in Dec 1952. At March, the wing conducted global bombardment training and air refueling operations to meet SAC commitments, 1952-1960. This wing was employed for training reservists to backfill rotating B-29 combat crews serving in Korea. While the reservists were undergoing training they were paid on the lesser reserve pay scale. Trained B-47 cadre for 96th Bombardment Wing, Medium, Dec 1953-Jan 1955. Deployed as a wing to Brize Norton RAF Station, England, 5 June-4 September 1954, and Andersen AFB, Guam, 5 October 1956-11 January 1957.

The 320th replaced the 4134th Strategic Wing at Mather Air Force Base, California in Feburary 1963. The wing's 441st Bomb Squadron (441st BS) flew the B-52Fs acquired from the 4134th SW until 1968, when it converted to the B-52G. The wing also activated the 904th Air Refueling Squadron (904th ARS) with KC-135A stratotankers.

From Mather, the wing performed global bombardment training and air refueling operations to meet SAC commitments, Feb 1963-1965 and later. The entire wing was drastically reduced Feb-Jul 1965, Dec 1965-Mar 1966, and Jun 1972-Oct 1973, when all aircraft, crews, and most support personnel loaned to other SAC units based at Andersen AFB Guam, U-Tapao RTNAB Thailand and Kadena AB Okinawa for operations in Southeast Asia.

Starting in 1972, the 3542d Operations Squadron conducted Convair T-29 Saberliner pilot training for the Fifteenth Air Force in conjunction with the Air Training Command (ATC) 323d Flying Training Wing to support the navigator training program at Mather. The T-29s were retired in 1973 and the squadron inactivated.

The 904th ARS was inactivated 1 October 1986 and it's older KC-135A's sent to AMARC for disposal. The 441st BS with it's B-52Gs was inactivated on 30 September 1989. It was the first squadron to inactivate with the gradual drawdown of the B-52G fleet.

The 320th Bombardment Wing was inactivated on 30 September 1989. It was the first B-52 wing to be inactivated in conjunction with the phased retirement of the B-52G fleet.

Major Command

• Air Combat Command/USCENTAF (???-Present)
• Strategic Air Command ((1 Dec 1952-30 September 1989)

Unit Chronology

• Changed equipment in: 1953 to B-47s, YRB-47s, KC-97s.
• Changed equipment in: 1954 to B-47s, KC-97s.
• Reassigned to: Department of the Air Force on 16 September 1960.
• Reassigned to: Strategic Air Command on 15 November 1962
• Moved to: Mather AFB, CA, on 1 February 1963.
• Changed equipment in: 1963 to B-52s, KC-135s
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 February 1963.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 18th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 July 1965.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 47th Air Division on 2 July 1966.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Strategic Aerospace Division on 31 March 1970.
• Reassigned to: Second Air Force, 47th Air Division on 30 June 1971.
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force, 14th Air Division on 1 October 1972.
• Changed equipment in: 1972 to B-52s, KC-135s, T-29s.
• Reassigned to: 47th Air Division on 1 October 1982
• Reassigned to: Fifteenth Air Force 15 July 1998
• Inactivated on: 30 September 1989

Air Division

• 47th Air Division (1 Oct 1982-15 Jul 1988)
• 14th Air Division
• 47th Air Division
• 14th Strategic Aerospace Division
• 47th Air Division
• 18th Strategic Aerospace Division
• 14th Strategic Aerospace Division
• 12th Air Division

References

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. ISBN 0912799536; 0160022614
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell
• Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.