323d Air Expeditionary Wing: Difference between revisions

The 323d Flying Training Wing is an inactive USAF wing which was inactivated in 1993. During it's history, the 323d was previously known as the 323d Bombardment Group, 323d Bombardment Wing, and 323d Fighter Bomber Wing, with various missions. It's last station was Mather AFB California. The unit fought during World War II as part of Ninth Air Force.

• 449th Flying Training Squadron
• 450th Flying Training Squadron
• 451st Flying Training Squadron
• 452d Flying Training Squadron
• 453d Flying Training Squadron
• 454th Flying Training Squadron

• Martin B-26 Marauder (1942-1945)
• Douglas B-26 Invader (1949-1951)
• North American F-86 Sabre (1955-1957)
• North American F-100 Super Sabre (1956-1957)
• Boeing T-43 (1973-1993)
• Cessna T-37 Tweet (1973-1993)

• Columbia AAB, SC 4 Aug 1942
• MacDill Field, FL 21 Aug 1942
• Myrtle Beach Bombing Range, SC 2 Nov 1942-25 Apr 1943
• Horham, England 1 May 1943 119
• Earls Colne, England 14 Jun 1943 358
• Beaulieu, England 21 Jul 1944 408
• Lessay, France 26 Aug 1944
• Chartres, France 21 Sep 1944
• Laon/Athies, France 13 Oct 1944
• Denain/Prouvy, France Feb 1945
• Gablingen, Germany 15 May 1945
• Landsberg, Germany 16 Jul 1945
• Clastres, France Oct-Dec 1945
• Tinker AFB, OK 27 June 1949 - 28 Mar 1951
• Bunker Hill AFB, IN 8 Aug 1955-1 Sep 1957
• Mather AFB, CA 1 Apr 1973 - 30 Sep 1993

Constituted as 323d Bombardment Group (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 4 Aug 1942. Trained with B-26's. Moved to England, Apr-Jun 1943. Arrived at RAF Horham in Suffolk on 12 May 1943 from Myrtle Beach AAF South Carolina. The group was assigned to the 8th Air Force 3d Bomb Wing and flew Martin B-26B/C Marauders with a Horizontal white tail band for its group marking. Operational squadrons of the 323d were:

• 453d Bomb Squadron (VT)
• 454th Bomb Squadron (RJ)
• 455th Bomb Squadron (YU)
• 456th Bomb Squadron (WT)

Relocated to RAF Earls Colne and replaced the 94th Bomb Wing on 14 June 1943 and inaugurated medium-altitude bombing missions on 16 July 1943 and during that summer its principal targets were marshalling yards, airfields, industrial plants, military installations, and other targets in France, Belgium, and Holland.

In common with other Marauder units of the 3d Bomb Wing, the 323d was transferred to Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943. Tactical missions were flown against V-weapon sites along the coast of France and attacked airfields at Leeuwarden and Venlo in conjunction with the Allied campaign against the German Air Force and aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944.

The 323d helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing coastal defenses, marshalling yards, and airfields in France and struck roads and coastal batteries on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

On 21 July the group was moved south to RAF Beaulieu in Hampshire, a move designed to extend their range over western France.

Within a few days. over 60 B-26s were in residence and operations were well under way. During the following five weeks. 28 missions were flown from Beaulieu without loss, although one B-26 crash-landed near the airfield after running out of fuel.

Between August 16 and 26, the 323rd moved to Lessay airfield in France (A-20), the main movement of aircraft taking place on the 26th. By VE-Day, the group was based near Gablingen, Germany (R-77) and participated in the disarmament program. It returned to the United States in December and was inactivated on 12 December 1945.

In accordance with 10th Air Force General Order (10 AF GO) #41, June 26, 1947. The 323d Bombardment Group (Light) was alloted to the reserves, then activated on 9 Sep 1947. Ordered to active duty on 10 Mar 1951 at Tinker AFB, Oklaholma. Even before the bomb wing’s activation, it was decided that it should be equipped with the respected Douglas A-26 “Invader” light bombardment aircraft. The bomb wing’s reservists were indeed fortunate to receive several of these light bombers by mid-1948, with the promise of more.

By April 1948 the 323d Bombardment Group became the 323d Bombardment Wing (Light) on the same date, with Lieutenant Colonel R. Ahern commanding. From that point, the 323d Bombardment Wing became the focal point for Air Force Reserve activities in Oklahoma.

The wing was inactivated on 17 Mar 1951.

Reactivated at Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana 8 Aug 1955 and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with North American F-86Fs and later F-100s to become proficient in Tactical Air operations. In 1955, Strategic Air Command (SAC) began stationing units at the base, and the 8th Air Force claimed jurisdiction in September 1957.

With the turnover of the base to SAC, the 323d was phased down and replaced by the SAC 401st Air Base Group on 1 September 1957.

Reactivated as Air Training Command navigator training wing at Mather AFB, California on 1 April 1973. Conducted training for navigators, navigator-bombiders and Electronic Warfare Officers.

The wing operat4ed Mather AFB and published Navigator magazine and conducted operational test and evaluation of the T-43A aircraft, 1 Aug - 31 Oct 1973. Began converting to T-43s afterwards. As the only USAF school teaching navigation, the wing served not only the USAF, but also the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and friendly foreign nations.

Began training U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard flight officers in July 1976, and supporting Marine Aerial Navigation School (which moved from Texas to Mather AFB) in July 1976, although the USMC conducted its own navigation training. Began training female navigators in March 1977.

The wing was deactivated as part of closing of Mather AFB on 30 September 1993

• Eighth Air Force
• Ninth Air Force
• Tactical Air Command
• Air Training Command

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.