308th Armament Systems Wing

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.
Active	1951-1961, 1962-1987, 2006-2010
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Armament Test and Evaluation
Garrison/HQ	Eglin AFB, Florida
Engagements	World War II Cold War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
308th Armament Systems Wing emblem (Approved 22 August 2006

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 AFB, Florida. It was inactivated on 30 July 2010.

In 1951, the 308th was activated as a bombardment unit at Hunter Air Force Base]], Savannah Ga, 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 SAC'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 AFB, Georgia. The bulk of the wing moved to Plattsburgh AFB, 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.

The Wing was redesignated and activated on 20 November 1961 as the 308th Strategic Missile Wing. In early 1962 the Air Force established 18 Titan II launch sites at SAC'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.