Lineage. Established as 308 Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 4 Oct 1951. Activated on 10 Oct 1951. Inactivated 25 Jun 1961. Redesignated 308 Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Titan), and activated, on 29 Nov 1961. Organized on 1 Apr 1962. Inactivated 18 Aug 1987. Consolidated (3 May 2006) with Air to Ground Munitions Systems Wing, which was established 23 Nov 2004. Activated 27 Jan 2005. Redesignated 308 Armament Systems Wing on 15 May 2006.
Assignments. 38 Air Division, 10 Oct 1951 (attached to 21 Air Division, 10 Oct 1951-17 Apr 1952; 5 Air Division, 21 Aug-c. 26 Oct 1956); 820 Air Division, 15 Jul 1959-25 Jun 1961. Strategic Air Command, 29 Nov 1961; 825 Air (later, 825 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 Apr 1962; 42 Air Division, 1 Jan 1970; 17 Strategic Aerospace Division, 31 Mar 1970; 12 Strategic Missile (later, 12 Air) Division, 30 Jun 1971; 42 Air Division, 1 Apr 1973; 19 Air Division, 1 Dec 1982-18 Aug 1987. Air Armament Center, 27 Jan 2005-.
Components. Groups. 308 Bombardment: 10 Oct 1951-16 Jun 1952 (not operational).
Squadrons. 303 Air Refueling: attached 1 Feb 1956-15 Jul 1959. 308 Air Refueling: 8 Jul 1953-15 Jun 1959 (detached 1-21 Jun 1954, 5 Jan-4 Mar 1956, and 2 Apr-2 Jul 1958). 373 Bombardment (later, 373 Strategic Missile): attached 10 Oct 1951-15 Jun 1952 (not operational, 10 Oct-5 Nov 1951), assigned 16 Jun 1952-25 Jun 1961 (not operational, 15 Jul 1959-25 Jun 1961); assigned 1 Apr 1962-18 Aug 1987. 374 Bombardment (later, 374 Strategic Missile): attached 10 Oct 1951-15 Jun 1952 (not operational, 10 Oct-5 Nov 1951), assigned 16 Jun 1952-25 Jun 1961 (not operational, 15 Jul 1959-25 Jun 1961); assigned 1 Sep 1962-15 Aug 1986. 375 Bombardment: attached 10 Oct 1951-15 Jun 1952 (not operational, 10 Oct-13 Nov 1951), assigned 16 Jun 1952-25 Jun 1961 (not operational, 15 Jul 1959-25 Jun 1961). 425 Bombardment: 1 Oct 1958-25 Jun 1961 (not operational, 15 Jul 1959-25 Jun 1961).
Stations. Forbes AFB, KS, 10 Oct 1951; Hunter AFB, GA, 17 Apr 1952; Plattsburgh AFB, NY, 15 Jul 1959-25 Jun 1961. Little Rock AFB, AR, 1 Apr 1962-18 Aug 1987. Eglin AFB, FL, 27 Jan 2005-.
Commanders. None (not manned), 10 Oct-4 Nov 1951; Col George L. Newton Jr., 5 Nov 1951; Col Charles B. Dougher, 5 Feb 1952; Col George L. Newton Jr., 15 Mar 1952; Col Maurice A. Preston, 7 May 1952; Lt Col Perry P. Menzies, 20 Feb 1953; Col Maurice A. Preston, 28 Mar 1953; Col John F. Batjer, 5 Aug 1953; Col James H. Thompson, 15 Aug 1953; Col John F. Batjer, 24 Aug 1953; Col James H. Thompson, 27 Aug 1953; Col Ralph C. Jenkins, 29 Sep 1953; Col James H. Thompson, 1 Oct 1953; Brig Gen Maurice A. Preston, 23 Oct 1953; Col John F. Batjer, 12 Jan 1954; Lt Col John O. Vick, 21 Sep 1954; Col John F. Batjer, 12 Nov 1954; Col Paul W. Tibbetts Jr., 9 Jun 1956; Col William L. Gray, 7 Jan 1958-14 Jul 1959; none (not manned), 15 Jul 1959-25 Jun 1961. None (not manned), 29 Nov 1961-31 Mar 1962; Col Charles P. Sullivan, 1 Apr 1962; Col Collier H. Davidson, 11 Jun 1962; Col Charles P. Sullivan, 1 Jul 1965; Col Edward A. Vivian, 28 Aug 1966; Col Don C. La Moine, 22 Aug 1969; Col William E. Bifford, 6 Jul 1971; Col Max M. Axelsen, 1 Sep 1972; Col Edward D. Bailey, 27 Apr 1973; Col William E. O'Neil, 15 Jul 1974; Col Joe P. Morgan, 17 Nov 1975; Col Gary E. Marsh, 17 Mar 1978; Col John T. Moser, 10 Jun 1980; Col Ronald J. Bishop Jr., 3 Dec l980; Col Jack A. Leach, 14 Jul 1982; Col John E. Chambers, 3 Aug 1984; Col Albert R. Greene Jr., 9 Jun 1986-18 Aug 1987. Mr. Gerry L. Freisthler, 27 Jan 2005; Mr. Thomas J. Robillard, 4 May 2006-.
Aircraft. B-29, 1951-1952, 1952-1953; B-47, 1953-1954; 1954-1959; KC-97, 1953-1959. Titan II, 1963-1987.
Operations. Strategic bombardment, 1951-1959, and air refueling, 1953-1959, to meet SAC's global commitments. Deployed to bases in North Africa three times, twice in detachment form and once (Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 21 Aug-c. 26 Oct 1956) as a unit. From Nov 1956 to Mar 1957, tested SAC alert plan by maintaining one-third of its bomber and tanker force in continuous alert. Not operational, Jul 1959-Jun 1961. Organized in Apr 1962 as a strategic missile wing. Gained control over first missile complex in Aug 1962 and became fully operational with 18 sites in Dec 1963. From 1963-1987, maintained missiles on 24-hour alert, ready to launch within minutes after receipt of authenticated orders from National Command Authorities. On 1 May 1985, tasked to comply with a presidential directive and inactivate its entire ICBM fleet, one at a time, in a safe and orderly fashion, by 30 Sep 1987. Activated in 2004 to design, develop, field and maintain a family of air-to-ground munitions that enhanced warfighter strike capabilities.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1956-1 Apr 1957; 1 Jul 1967-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1972-30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1975-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1984-30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 308 Bombardment Group prior to 10 Oct 1951. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: China Defensive; China Offensive; India-Burma; Western Pacific; New Guinea. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: China, 21 Aug 1943; East and South China Seas, Straits of Formosa, and Gulf of Tonkin, 24 May 1944-28 Apr 1945.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 22 Jan 2007.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 4 May 2006.
Supersedes statement of 26 Mar 1984.
Emblem. Approved 22 Aug 2006.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.