The 309th Air Division (309th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Hensley AFB, Texas. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.
The 309th Bombardment Wing from February 1944 served as the forward command and control element of all Fifth Air Force units. Numerous tactical and support components were assigned or attached to the wing during World War II. Its subordinate units flew missions against shipping, coastal installations, storage buildings, gun positions, airdromes, and, when possible, Japanese troop concentrations, and its tactical reconnaissance units flew numerous photo missions.
After the Japanese surrendered, 309th personnel systematically destroyed Japanese aircraft and equipment of no value to the U.S. Government. Another effort involved supporting aircraft that staged through Chitose AB on their return to the United States. Operational duties consisted of surveillance flights by P-51 aircraft covering northern Honshū and Hokkaido Islands. Inactivated in Japan during early 1946.
Activated as part of the Air Force Reserve at Hensley Field, Texas in 1947 controlling B-29 Superfortress groups for Strategic Air Command. The organization was redesignated as an Air Division in April 1948 as part of the realignment of the United States Air Force command echelon structure. It was primarily an administrative organization. It inactivated in 1949.
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