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303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing

October 15, 2023

The 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing (303 ASW) was a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Aeronautical Systems Center, 2005-2010. It was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio as a tenant unit.

303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing
Emblem of the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing
Active1951–1964; 1986–1989; 2005–2010
CountryUnited States
BranchAir Force
TypeAeronautical Systems
Part ofAir Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQWright-Patterson Air Force Base

The wing was the successor organization to the World War II Eighth Air Force 303rd Bombardment Group. The group was one of the first VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortress units in England. The "Hell's Angels" were the first B-17 group to complete 25 combat missions in June 1943, going on to fly more than 300 combat missions, more than any other group. The 359th BS B-17F 41-24605 "Knock-out Dropper" was the first aircraft in Eighth Air Force to complete 50, then 75 missions.

During the Cold War, the Strategic Air Command 303rd Bombardment Wing was a Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium bomber wing in the 1950s, and in the 1980s became a Tactical Missile Wing assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe.

Overview Edit

Wing responsibilities also included identifying, coordinating, and implementing horizontal integration/capability planning across weapons systems in support of the Global Strike and Global Persistent Attack concept of operations.

History Edit

For additional history and lineage, see 303d Bombardment Group
 
Emblem of the 303d Bombardment Wing (Medium)
 
303d Tactical Missile Wing Emblem

Trained for strategic bombardment and air refueling operations to meet Strategic Air Command's global commitments, equipped with B-29 Superfortresses. Deployed to Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco, 5 Oct-6 Nov 1952.

Replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in 1953, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. Flew numerous training missions and participated in various SAC exercises and deployments with the Stratojet, deploying to Greenham Common RAF Station, England, 17 Mar-28 Apr 1954; Fairford RAF Station, England, 28 Apr-5 Jun 1954; and Anderson AFB, Guam, 4 Jul-4 Oct 1956 and 5 Apr-5 Jul 1958.

In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. Began sending its stratojets to AMARC in 1963, the last being retired in 1964. Wing was inactivated on 15 June 1964 after the last B-47 was retired.

Reactivated as a BGM-109G Gryphon Cruise Missile wing in August 1986. Maintained 64 operational missiles in a combat-ready state. Inactivated in January 1989 as a result of the INF treaty and the elimination of the BGM-109G missile from service.

As part of the Aeronautical Systems Center, the 303d designs, develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U.S. Air Force, other U.S. military, allied and coalition-partner warfighters, in support of Air Force leadership priorities.

Lineage Edit

  • Established as 303d Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 27 August 1951
Activated on 4 September 1951
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 June 1964
  • Redesignated 303d Tactical Missile Wing on 19 August 1986
Activated on 12 December 1986
Inactivated on 31 January 1989
  • Consolidated (23 Jun 2006) with the 303d Reconnaissance Systems Wing, which was established on 23 November 2004.
Activated on 18 January 2005
Redesignated 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing on 14 July 2006.
Inactivated on 1 July 2010 as it was re-stood up as ASC/WI (Aeronautical Systems Center, ISR Directorate) on the same date.

Assignments Edit

Attached to: 5th Air Division, 5 Oct-6 Nov 1952
Attached to: 7th Air Division, 4 Mar-5 Jun 1954
Attached to: 3rd Air Division, 4 Jul-4 Oct 1956 and 5 Apr-4 Jul 1958

Components Edit

Group

Squadrons

Detachments: Det, 96th Air Refueling Squadron: attached c. 4 Jul-c. 4 October 1956.

Stations Edit

BGM-109G Missile site located at: 52°22′55″N 000°25′41″W / 52.38194°N 0.42806°W / 52.38194; -0.42806 (303d TMS)

Aircraft and missiles Edit

See also Edit

References Edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  • Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
  • Grier, Peter (2002). (PDF). Vol. 85, no. 7. Air Force Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.

External links Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing (United States Air Force).
  • Wright-Patterson AFB Home Page

October 15, 2023
303rd, aeronautical, systems, wing, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing 303 ASW was a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Aeronautical Systems Center 2005 2010 It was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base Ohio as a tenant unit 303rd Aeronautical Systems WingEmblem of the 303rd Aeronautical Systems WingActive1951 1964 1986 1989 2005 2010CountryUnited StatesBranchAir ForceTypeAeronautical SystemsPart ofAir Force Materiel CommandGarrison HQWright Patterson Air Force Base The wing was the successor organization to the World War II Eighth Air Force 303rd Bombardment Group The group was one of the first VIII Bomber Command B 17 Flying Fortress units in England The Hell s Angels were the first B 17 group to complete 25 combat missions in June 1943 going on to fly more than 300 combat missions more than any other group The 359th BS B 17F 41 24605 Knock out Dropper was the first aircraft in Eighth Air Force to complete 50 then 75 missions During the Cold War the Strategic Air Command 303rd Bombardment Wing was a Boeing B 47 Stratojet medium bomber wing in the 1950s and in the 1980s became a Tactical Missile Wing assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Contents 1 Overview 2 History 2 1 Lineage 2 2 Assignments 2 3 Components 2 4 Stations 2 5 Aircraft and missiles 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOverview EditWing responsibilities also included identifying coordinating and implementing horizontal integration capability planning across weapons systems in support of the Global Strike and Global Persistent Attack concept of operations History EditFor additional history and lineage see 303d Bombardment Group nbsp Emblem of the 303d Bombardment Wing Medium nbsp 303d Tactical Missile Wing EmblemTrained for strategic bombardment and air refueling operations to meet Strategic Air Command s global commitments equipped with B 29 Superfortresses Deployed to Sidi Slimane AB French Morocco 5 Oct 6 Nov 1952 Replaced the propeller driven B 29s with new B 47E Stratojet swept wing medium bombers in 1953 capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union Flew numerous training missions and participated in various SAC exercises and deployments with the Stratojet deploying to Greenham Common RAF Station England 17 Mar 28 Apr 1954 Fairford RAF Station England 28 Apr 5 Jun 1954 and Anderson AFB Guam 4 Jul 4 Oct 1956 and 5 Apr 5 Jul 1958 In the early 1960s the B 47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence and was being phased out of SAC s strategic arsenal Began sending its stratojets to AMARC in 1963 the last being retired in 1964 Wing was inactivated on 15 June 1964 after the last B 47 was retired Reactivated as a BGM 109G Gryphon Cruise Missile wing in August 1986 Maintained 64 operational missiles in a combat ready state Inactivated in January 1989 as a result of the INF treaty and the elimination of the BGM 109G missile from service As part of the Aeronautical Systems Center the 303d designs develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U S Air Force other U S military allied and coalition partner warfighters in support of Air Force leadership priorities Lineage Edit Established as 303d Bombardment Wing Medium on 27 August 1951Activated on 4 September 1951 Discontinued and inactivated on 15 June 1964Redesignated 303d Tactical Missile Wing on 19 August 1986Activated on 12 December 1986 Inactivated on 31 January 1989Consolidated 23 Jun 2006 with the 303d Reconnaissance Systems Wing which was established on 23 November 2004 Activated on 18 January 2005 Redesignated 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing on 14 July 2006 Inactivated on 1 July 2010 as it was re stood up as ASC WI Aeronautical Systems Center ISR Directorate on the same date Assignments Edit 36th Air Division 4 September 1951Attached to 5th Air Division 5 Oct 6 Nov 1952 Attached to 7th Air Division 4 Mar 5 Jun 1954 Attached to 3rd Air Division 4 Jul 4 Oct 1956 and 5 Apr 4 Jul 195812th Air later 12 Strategic Aerospace Division 15 Mar 1960 15 Jun 1964 Third Air Force 12 Dec 1986 31 Jan 1989 Aeronautical Systems Center 18 Jan 2005 presentComponents Edit Group 303d Bombardment Group 4 Sep 1951 16 Jun 1952 not operational Squadrons 9th Air Refueling Squadron attached 15 Jan 5 Oct 1952 and 15 Nov 1952 25 Apr 1953 43rd Air Refueling Squadron 15 Mar 15 Nov 1960 303d Air Refueling Squadron attached 4 Sep 1951 8 Apr 1952 not operational assigned 18 Feb 1953 1 Feb 1956 detached 19 Apr 2 Jun 1955 358th Bombardment Squadron attached 4 Sep 1951 15 Jun 1952 assigned 16 Jun 1952 15 Jun 1964 359th Bombardment Squadron attached 4 Sep 1951 15 Jun 1952 assigned 16 Jun 1952 15 Jun 1964 360th Bombardment Squadron attached 4 Sep 1951 15 Jun 1952 assigned 16 Jun 1952 15 Jun 1964 427th Bombardment Squadron 1 Dec 1958 1 Jan 1962 not operational 1 Sep 1961 1 Jan 1962 87th Tactical Missile Squadron 12 December 1986 to 31 January 1989 303d Tactical Missile Maintenance Squadron 12 December 1986 to 31 January 1989Detachments Det 96th Air Refueling Squadron attached c 4 Jul c 4 October 1956 Stations Edit Davis Monthan AFB Arizona 4 Sep 1951 15 Jun 1964 RAF Molesworth England 12 Dec 1986 31 Jan 1989BGM 109G Missile site located at 52 22 55 N 000 25 41 W 52 38194 N 0 42806 W 52 38194 0 42806 303d TMS Wright Patterson AFB Ohio 18 Jan 2005 presentAircraft and missiles Edit B 29 Superfortress 1951 1953 KB 29 Superfortress Tanker 1952 1952 1953 B 47 Stratojet 1953 1964 KC 97 Stratofreighter 1953 1956 1956 1960 BGM 109G GLCM 1987 1988 See also EditList of B 29 units of the United States Air Force List of B 47 units of the United States Air Force List of BGM 109G GLCM Units List of United States Air Force missile squadronsReferences Edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Ravenstein Charles A Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947 1977 Maxwell Air Force Base Montgomery Alabama Office of Air Force History 1984 ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Grier Peter 2002 The Short Happy Life of the Glick Em PDF Vol 85 no 7 Air Force Magazine Archived from the original PDF on 8 March 2016 Retrieved 5 December 2016 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing United States Air Force Wright Patterson AFB Home Page 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing amp oldid 1104304803, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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