Active 1944–1952; 1955-1986 Part of Pacific Air Forces | Country United States | |
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Branch United States Air Force Role Command of tactical air forces Motto(s) Destruction ab Alto Latin Destruction from Above | ||
The 314th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Pacific Air Forces at Osan Air Base, South Korea. It became inactive in September 1986.
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The unit's origins lie with the World War II 314th Bombardment Wing, which was part of the Twentieth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces. The 314th engaged in bombing operations against Japan using Boeing B-29 Superfortresses.
World War II
The 314th Bombardment Wing was activated in July 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado as a command organization for four Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombardment groups. The unit trained in Colorado while subordinate groups were trained in Kansas by the Second Air Force. When training was completed the 314th moved to Guam in the Mariana Islands of the Central Pacific Area in January 1945 The 314th was the fourth B-29 Wing assigned to XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force. Its mission was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands and the destruction of its war-making capability. In the Marianas, the Wing commanded the 19th, 29th 39th and 330th Bombardment Group (VH)s. The 19th and 29th arrived in January; the 39th and 330th in February.
Its groups flew "shakedown" missions against Japanese targets on Moen Island, Truk, and other points in the Carolines and Marianas. The 19th began combat missions over Japan on 25 February 1945 with a firebombing mission over Northeast Tokyo; the 29th with a firebombing mission over central Tokyo on March 9. The 39th's first mission was an attack of the Hodagaya Chemical Works in Koriyama on 15 April; the 330th hitting the same three days earlier on April 12. The Division continued attacking urban areas until the end of the war in August 1945; its subordinate units conducted raids against strategic objectives, bombing aircraft factories; chemical plants; oil refineries; and other targets in Japan. The wing flew its last combat missions on 14 August when hostilities ended. Afterwards, the wing's B 29s carried relief supplies to Allied prisoner of war camps in Japan and Manchuria.
The 330th Bomb Group was relieved from assignment on 21 November, its personnel and equipment returning to the United States for demobilization; the 39th in December. The other groups returned in May 1946. The Wing then moved to Johnson Army Air Base, Japan in mid-May 1946 to become part of the Fifth Air Force Occupation forces.
With the postwar consolidation of units, the organization was redesignated 314th Composite Wing in 1946, having both groups and squadrons of varying missions assigned to the wing. For approximately two years (1946–1948) the 314th served as one of Fifth Air Force's major components. "It maintained intensive training schedules, participated in training exercises and took part in the post-hostilities program of mapping Japan."
Korean War
Activated at Nagoya AB, Japan, on 1 December 1950 as the 314th Air Division, the organization immediately assumed the missions of the air defense of Japan, logistical support for Fifth Air Force during the Korean War, and airfield construction in Japan. Units under the Division's direct jurisdiction during the Korean War were the following:
On 1 March 1952 the 314th Air Division stood down, as part of a Far East Air Force reorganization. Its units were reassigned to other organizations.
Cold War
Reactivated in March 1955 at Osan Air Base, South Korea, the 314th Air Division was the primary command organization in South Korea for the next 30 years. "The division maintained assigned and attached forces at a high degree of combat readiness during the Cold War. In fulfilling its mission, the division supported numerous military exercises in the region, such as Commando Bearcat, Commando Jade, and Commando Night."
The Division was inactivated in 1986 and was replaced by the reactivated Seventh Air Force, which assumed all of its assigned assets.
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314th Air Division
Table of Distribution 314th Air Division