The 306th Fighter Wing (306th FW) was a World War II United States Army Air Forces organization assigned to Fifteenth Air Force as an intermediate-level command and control organization. It was last stationed at Drew Field, Florida and was inactivated on 7 November 1945.
The first predecessor of the 356th Special Operations Wing was the 306th Fighter Wing of World War II.
Constituted originally as the 306th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 7 December 1943. Activated in Italy on 15 January 1944. Assigned to Fifteenth Air Force.
Entered combat in Mar as a fighter organization. Redesignated 306th Fighter Wing in May 1944. Operated in the Mediterranean and European theaters until the end of the war.
Moved to the US, July–August 1945. Inactivated on 7 November 1945.
The second predecessor of the wing was the 656th Special Operations Wing, which replaced the 56th Special Operations Wing in Thailand in 1975.
Consolidation and redesignation
The two wings were consolidated as the 356th Special Operations Wing in 1985, but have not been active since.
306th Fighter WingConstituted as the 306th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 7 December 1943Activated on 15 January 1944.Redesignated
306th Fighter Wing in May 1944Inactivated on 7 November 1945
Consolidated with the 656th Special Operations Wing as the 356th Special Operations Wing on 31 July 1985656th Special Operations WingEstablished as the 656th Special Operations Wing on 14 May 1975 (not organized)Activated on 30 June 1975Inactivated on 22 September 1975.
Consolidated with the 306th Fighter Wing as the 356th Special Operations Wing on 31 July 1985Fifteenth Air Force, 15 January 1944 – 15 July 1945Third Air Force, August − 7 November 1945Thirteenth Air Force, 30 June 197517th Air Division, 1 July – 22 September 1975Bari Airfield, Italy, 15 January 1944Foggia Airfield, Italy, 27 January 1944Lucera Airfield, Italy, 23 February 1944Torremaggiore, Italy, 8 March 1944Lesina Airfield, Italy, 3 September 1944Fano Airfield, Italy, 5 March – 15 July 1945Drew Field, Florida, August −7 November 1945Nakhon Phanom Airport, Thailand, 30 June – 22 September 1975Groups1st Fighter Group, 27 March – November 194414th Fighter Group, 1 November 1943 – 27 March 194431st Fighter Group, 2 April 1944 – 13 June 194552d Fighter Group, 14 May 1944 – 13 June 194582d Fighter Group, 27 March 1944 – 13 June 1945325th Fighter Group, May 1944 – 13 June 1945332d Fighter Group, 28 May 1944 – 13 June 1945Squadrons21st Special Operations Squadron, attached 30 June – 22 September 197523d Tactical Air Support Squadron, attached 30 June – 22 September 1975P-38 Lightning, 1944-1945P-51 Mustang, 1944-1945P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944-1945Sikorsky CH-53, 1975North American OV-10 Bronco, 1975
