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308th Armament Systems Wing

January 21, 2023

"308th Bombardment Wing" redirects here. For the 308th Bombardment Wing of World War II, see 308th Bombardment Wing (U.S. Army Air Forces).

The 308th Armament Systems Wing (308 ARSW) is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Air Armament Center, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 30 July 2010.

308th Armament Systems Wing
Dr. Bruce Simpson, Air Armament Center Deputy for Acquisition, helps Randy Brown, 308th Armament Systems Wing Director, roll up the guidon for the former 308th Wing, 30 July 2010, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Active1951–1961, 1962–1987, 2006–2010
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleArmament Test and Evaluation
Garrison/HQEglin AFB, Florida
EngagementsWorld War II
Cold War
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
308th Armament Systems Wing emblem (Approved 22 August 2006[1]

History

For additional lineage and history, see 308th Armament Systems Group

Strategic Bombardment

In 1951, the 308th was activated as a bombardment unit at Hunter Air Force Base, Savannah, Georgia, and initially equipped with B-29s. Those aircraft were then replaced with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium jet bombers in 1954, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. Also received KC-97 tankers. Over the next eight years, tie 308th conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling to meet Strategic Air Command's global commitments.

Deployed to bases in North Africa three times, twice in detachment form and once as a unit Sidi Slimane Air Base Morocco, 21 August – 26 October 1956). From November 1956 to March 1957, the wing tested the SAC alert plan by maintaining one-third of its bomber and tanker force on continuous alert.

The wing was broken up in mid July 1959, for unclear reasons. Part of the unit went to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia. The bulk of the wing moved to Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York on 15 July 1959, where its aircraft were placed under the control of the 380th Bomb Wing. The wing was not operational as one formation from July 1959 to June 1961.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

The Wing was redesignated and activated on 20 November 1961 as the 308th Strategic Missile Wing with Charles Peter O'Sullivan as the first commander.[2] In early 1962 the Air Force established 18 Titan II launch sites at Strategic Air Command's Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. The 308th was reactivated, being organized on 1 April 1962. The wing became fully operational with eighteen sites in December 1963. It gained control over its first missile complex in August 1962 and became fully operational with 18 sites in December 1963. In October 1981, US President Ronald Reagan announced that all Titan II sites would be deactivated by 1 October 1987, as part of a strategic modernization program. The wing completed deactivation on 18 August 1987.

308th Armament Systems Wing

On 23 November 2004 the Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing was established at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was tasked to design, develop, field and maintain a family of air-to-ground munitions that enhanced United States armed forces strike capabilities. The wing was activated on 27 January 2005. On 3 May 2006 the AGMS Wing was consolidated with the 308th Wing, and the resulting formation was redesignated the 308 Armament Systems Wing on 15 May 2006.

The wing was activated in 2004 to design, develop, field and maintain a family of air-to-ground munitions that enhance warfighter strike capabilities.

The mission of the 308th Armament Systems Wing was to enhance worldwide Air Force combat capability, effectiveness, aircrew survivability, and readiness through joint development, procurement, deployment and sustainment. This mission is executed by air combat test and training systems, expeditionary support equipment, munitions handling equipment and armament subsystems, Explosive Ordnance Disposal support equipment, and realistic Electronic Warfare threat simulators.

The 308 ARSW designed, develops, produces, fields, and sustains a family of air-to-ground and air-to-air munitions, enhancing warfighter capabilities (both U.S. and allies) in defeating a spectrum of enemy targets.

The 308 ARSW was a critical component of the Air Armament Center, which covers the complete weapon-system life-cycle from concept through development, acquisition, experimental testing, procurement, operational testing and final employment in combat.

The wing consisted of over 400 highly qualified personnel trained in the development, test, acquisition, fielding, and operational support of systems such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW), Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) and a host of other specialized programs.

The wing was inactivated on 30 June 2010 and became a directorate to comply with Air Force 2008–2010 Strategic Plan and the CSAF's directive to implement guidelines for new personnel strength standards for units across the Air Force.

Lineage

 
308th Bomb Wing emblem
 
308th Strategic Missile Wing emblem
  • Established as the 308th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 4 October 1951
Activated on 10 October 1951
Inactivated 25 June 1961
  • Redesignated 308th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Titan), and activated, on 29 November 1961
Organized on 1 April 1962
Inactivated 18 August 1987
Consolidated with the Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing as the Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing on 3 May 2006[1]
  • Established as Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing on 23 November 2004
Activated on 27 January 2005
Consolidated with the 308th Strategic Missile Wing on 3 May 2006
Redesignated: 308th Armament Systems Wing on 15 May 2006[1]
Inactivated on 30 June 2010

Assignments

Attached to 21st Air Division, 10 October 1951 – 17 April 1952
Attached to 5th Air Division, 21 August-c. 26 October 1956

Components

Groups

  • 308th Bombardment Group: 10 October 1951 – 16 June 1952 (not operational)
  • 308th, 328th, 408th, 708th, 728th Armament Systems Groups (present)

Squadrons

Stations

 
308th SMW Titan II Missile Sites

Aircraft and Missiles

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Robertson, Patsy (27 August 2015). . Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  2. ^ Wolf, Ron. "Charles Peter O'Sullivan", Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, November 1, 1998, page 5D

Bibliography

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

  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

Further reading

  • Schlosser, Eric (2013). Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Incident, and the Illusion of Nuclear Safety. New York, NY: The Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-59420-227-8.

External links

  • 308 Strategic Missile Wing Memorial Website

January 21, 2023
308th, armament, systems, wing, 308th, bombardment, wing, redirects, here, 308th, bombardment, wing, world, 308th, bombardment, wing, army, forces, arsw, inactive, united, states, force, unit, last, assigned, armament, center, stationed, eglin, force, base, fl. 308th Bombardment Wing redirects here For the 308th Bombardment Wing of World War II see 308th Bombardment Wing U S Army Air Forces The 308th Armament Systems Wing 308 ARSW is an inactive United States Air Force unit It was last assigned to the Air Armament Center stationed at Eglin Air Force Base Florida It was inactivated on 30 July 2010 308th Armament Systems WingDr Bruce Simpson Air Armament Center Deputy for Acquisition helps Randy Brown 308th Armament Systems Wing Director roll up the guidon for the former 308th Wing 30 July 2010 at Eglin Air Force Base Florida Active1951 1961 1962 1987 2006 2010Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleArmament Test and EvaluationGarrison HQEglin AFB FloridaEngagementsWorld War IICold WarDecorationsDistinguished Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardInsignia308th Armament Systems Wing emblem Approved 22 August 2006 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Strategic Bombardment 1 2 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles 1 3 308th Armament Systems Wing 1 4 Lineage 1 5 Assignments 1 6 Components 1 7 Stations 1 8 Aircraft and Missiles 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory EditFor additional lineage and history see 308th Armament Systems GroupStrategic Bombardment Edit In 1951 the 308th was activated as a bombardment unit at Hunter Air Force Base Savannah Georgia and initially equipped with B 29s Those aircraft were then replaced with new B 47E Stratojet swept wing medium jet bombers in 1954 capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union Also received KC 97 tankers Over the next eight years tie 308th conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling to meet Strategic Air Command s global commitments Deployed to bases in North Africa three times twice in detachment form and once as a unit Sidi Slimane Air Base Morocco 21 August 26 October 1956 From November 1956 to March 1957 the wing tested the SAC alert plan by maintaining one third of its bomber and tanker force on continuous alert The wing was broken up in mid July 1959 for unclear reasons Part of the unit went to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Hunter Air Force Base Georgia The bulk of the wing moved to Plattsburgh Air Force Base New York on 15 July 1959 where its aircraft were placed under the control of the 380th Bomb Wing The wing was not operational as one formation from July 1959 to June 1961 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Edit The Wing was redesignated and activated on 20 November 1961 as the 308th Strategic Missile Wing with Charles Peter O Sullivan as the first commander 2 In early 1962 the Air Force established 18 Titan II launch sites at Strategic Air Command s Little Rock Air Force Base Arkansas The 308th was reactivated being organized on 1 April 1962 The wing became fully operational with eighteen sites in December 1963 It gained control over its first missile complex in August 1962 and became fully operational with 18 sites in December 1963 In October 1981 US President Ronald Reagan announced that all Titan II sites would be deactivated by 1 October 1987 as part of a strategic modernization program The wing completed deactivation on 18 August 1987 308th Armament Systems Wing Edit On 23 November 2004 the Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing was established at Eglin Air Force Base Florida It was tasked to design develop field and maintain a family of air to ground munitions that enhanced United States armed forces strike capabilities The wing was activated on 27 January 2005 On 3 May 2006 the AGMS Wing was consolidated with the 308th Wing and the resulting formation was redesignated the 308 Armament Systems Wing on 15 May 2006 The wing was activated in 2004 to design develop field and maintain a family of air to ground munitions that enhance warfighter strike capabilities The mission of the 308th Armament Systems Wing was to enhance worldwide Air Force combat capability effectiveness aircrew survivability and readiness through joint development procurement deployment and sustainment This mission is executed by air combat test and training systems expeditionary support equipment munitions handling equipment and armament subsystems Explosive Ordnance Disposal support equipment and realistic Electronic Warfare threat simulators The 308 ARSW designed develops produces fields and sustains a family of air to ground and air to air munitions enhancing warfighter capabilities both U S and allies in defeating a spectrum of enemy targets The 308 ARSW was a critical component of the Air Armament Center which covers the complete weapon system life cycle from concept through development acquisition experimental testing procurement operational testing and final employment in combat The wing consisted of over 400 highly qualified personnel trained in the development test acquisition fielding and operational support of systems such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition JDAM Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile JASSM Small Diameter Bomb SDB Sensor Fuzed Weapon SFW Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser WCMD and a host of other specialized programs The wing was inactivated on 30 June 2010 and became a directorate to comply with Air Force 2008 2010 Strategic Plan and the CSAF s directive to implement guidelines for new personnel strength standards for units across the Air Force Lineage Edit 308th Bomb Wing emblem 308th Strategic Missile Wing emblem Established as the 308th Bombardment Wing Medium on 4 October 1951Activated on 10 October 1951 Inactivated 25 June 1961Redesignated 308th Strategic Missile Wing ICBM Titan and activated on 29 November 1961Organized on 1 April 1962 Inactivated 18 August 1987 Consolidated with the Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing as the Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing on 3 May 2006 1 Established as Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing on 23 November 2004Activated on 27 January 2005 Consolidated with the 308th Strategic Missile Wing on 3 May 2006Redesignated 308th Armament Systems Wing on 15 May 2006 1 dd Inactivated on 30 June 2010Assignments Edit 38th Air Division 10 October 1951Attached to 21st Air Division 10 October 1951 17 April 1952 Attached to 5th Air Division 21 August c 26 October 1956820th Air Division 15 July 1959 25 June 1961 Strategic Air Command 29 November 1961 825th Air later 825th Strategic Aerospace Division 1 April 1962 42d Air Division 1 January 1970 17th Strategic Aerospace Division 31 March 1970 12th Strategic Missile later 12 Air Division 30 June 1971 42nd Air Division 1 April 1973 19th Air Division 1 December 1982 18 August 1987 Air Armament Center 27 January 2005 30 June 2010 1 Components Edit Groups 308th Bombardment Group 10 October 1951 16 June 1952 not operational 308th 328th 408th 708th 728th Armament Systems Groups present Squadrons 303d Air Refueling Squadron attached 1 February 1956 15 July 1959 308th Air Refueling Squadron 8 July 1953 15 June 1959 detached 1 21 June 1954 5 January 4 March 1956 and 2 April 2 July 1958 373d Bombardment later 373d Strategic Missile Squadron attached 10 October 1951 15 June 1952 not operational 10 October 5 November 1951 assigned 16 June 1952 25 June 1961 not operational 15 July 1959 25 June 1961 assigned 1 April 1962 18 August 1987 374th Bombardment later 374th Strategic Missile Squadron attached 10 October 1951 15 June 1952 not operational 10 October 5 November 1951 assigned 16 June 1952 25 June 1961 not operational 15 July 1959 25 June 1961 assigned 1 September 1962 15 August 1986 375th Bombardment Squadron attached 10 October 1951 15 June 1952 not operational 10 October 13 November 1951 assigned 16 June 1952 25 June 1961 not operational 15 July 1959 25 June 1961 425th Bombardment Squadron 1 October 1958 25 June 1961 not operational 15 July 1959 25 June 1961 Stations Edit 308th SMW Titan II Missile Sites Forbes Air Force Base Kansas 10 October 1951 Hunter Air Force Base Georgia 17 April 1952 Plattsburgh Air Force Base New York 15 July 1959 25 June 1961 Little Rock Air Force Base Arkansas 1 April 1962 18 August 1987 Eglin Air Force Base Florida 27 January 2005 30 June 2010 1 Aircraft and Missiles Edit Consolidated B 24 Liberator 1942 1945 Boeing B 29 Superfortress 1946 1951 1951 1952 1952 1953 Boeing B 47 Stratojet 1953 1954 1954 1959 Boeing KC 97 Stratofreighter 1953 1959 LGM 25C Titan II 1963 1987 1 See also Edit World War II portalList of B 47 units of the United States Air ForceReferences EditNotes Edit a b c d e f Robertson Patsy 27 August 2015 Factsheet 308 Armament Systems Wing AFMC Air Force Historical Research Agency Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 8 May 2016 Wolf Ron Charles Peter O Sullivan Arkansas Democrat Gazette November 1 1998 page 5D Bibliography Edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Further reading Schlosser Eric 2013 Command and Control Nuclear Weapons the Damascus Incident and the Illusion of Nuclear Safety New York NY The Penguin Press ISBN 978 1 59420 227 8 External links Edit308 Strategic Missile Wing Memorial Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 308th Armament Systems Wing amp oldid 1069114265, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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