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NARRATIVE HISTORY
On 3 September, 1944, the 306th Fighter Wing was divided into the XVth Fighter Command (Prov), the 305th Fighter Wing (Prov), and the 306th Fighter Wing. For this purpose, the Table of Organization of the 305th Fighter Wing was combined with that of the 306th Fighter Wing. The Fighter Command chose Torre Maggiore as its location, and assigned the 305th Fighter Wing to a station close to one of its groups near Foggia, and the 306th Fighter Wing to a location adjacent to the 325th Fighter Group near Lesina.
Colonel Y. H. Taylor assumed command of the 306th Fighter Wing on 3 September, 1944, and appointed his Staff as follows:
Col. Felix L. Vidal, Deputy Commanding Officer and Executive Officer.
Lt. Col. James C. Barlow, A-1 Officer and Adjutant.
Lt. Col. A. H. Baker, A-2 Officer.
Capt. P. W. Crookham, A-3 Officer.
Major N. D. Hagins, A-4 Officer.
Capt. M. A. Kilian, Headquarters Squadron Commanding Officer.
On 4 September, 1944, Headquarters XVth Fighter Command published Special Order No. 1, assigning the following organizations to the 306th Fighter Wing, effective 3 September, 1944:
31st Fighter Group 52nd Fighter Group
307th Fighter Squadron 2nd Fighter Squadron
308th Fighter Squadron 4th Fighter Squadron
309th Fighter Squadron 5th Fighter Squadron
325th Fighter Group 332nd Fighter Group
317th Fighter Squadron 99th Fighter Squadron
318th Fighter Squadron 100th Fighter Squadron
319th Fighter Squadron 301st Fighter Squadron
302nd Fighter Squadron
Headquarters XVth Fighter Command Special Order No. 4, 9 September, 1944, placed 1st Lt. E. L. Moorehead and 30 Enlisted Men of Headquarters 328th Signal Company (Wing) on detached service to the 306th Fighter Wing.
On 30 September, the status of personnel was as follows:
Assigned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Officers 130 Enlisted Men
DS to XV FC & 305th Wg . . . 20 Officers 88 Enlisted Men
Attached (Present) . . . . . . . 1 Officer 39 Enlisted Men
Attached (Further DS) . . . . . 10 Officer 2 Enlisted Men
The A-1 section was organized by 10 September, and began handling the problems attendant upon the reorganization of the unit.
The Wing’s first day of functioning operationally was on 15 September, when mission reports were handled by A-2 Section. On the following day this section commenced handling all distribution to S-2 sections of Groups. A-3 Section commenced functioning operationally on 18 September. Field Orders and Intelligence Annexes are not being prepared by this Wing for distribution to Groups, because in the opinion of the Commanding Officer this would, under present circumstances, serve no practical purpose and would only delay materially and unduly the receipt by the Groups of the information needed by them for the next day’s mission. The Command continues to send its Field Order and Intelligence Annex covering each mission direct to Groups, at the same time they are sent to the Wings. The primary consideration which prompted this arrangement is the close proximity and central location of the Command with respect to all Groups, as well as to the Wings, permitting better communication (by courier especially), from Command direct to Groups. Both A-2 and A-3 sections of this Wing are prepared to function fully, including the preparation and sending to Groups of Field Orders and Intelligence Annexes, when circumstances change so as to make this desirable. A-3 sends to Groups a brief Operations Order covering each day’s mission. A-2 makes up a 306th Fighter Wing Composite Report after each day’s missions, for the information of the Commanding Officer.
The A-4 section of the Wing began functioning fully on 14 September, coordinating Engineering and Supply for the Groups and between the Groups and Command. Major Hagins, A-4, with the assistance of Captain Kilian, Headquarters Squadron Commanding Officer, was in direct charge of “making camp” and succeeded in converting into a liveable camp, by 30 September, what was a ploughed field in August when they commenced this work.
The Wing is stationed in the countryside on a rise overlooking the Adriatic. The offices of A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and the Officers’ Mess and Enlisted Men’s Mess are in temporary buildings. Virtually all personnel live in tents. A great portion of the time this month was given to setting up the camp. Showers were improvised, gravel paths were laid in preparation for expected muddy weather, and some rain-proofing of buildings and winterization of tents were accomplished.
A program providing for roll call for Headquarters Squadron was initiated on 21 September, to be held each morning at 0845 hours, and to be followed by a 15 minute period of calisthenics.
Four movies are shown each week at a “Theater” operated by the 325th Fighter Group stationed nearby, which the Wing personnel may attend. When weather permitted, baseball games were organized between the officers and enlisted men.
The health record of this unit was superior during September, with no men hospitalized, no accidents, no venereal cases reported, and no intestinal or respiratory cases.
The Commanding General of the XVth Fighter Command, Brigadier General Dean C. Strother, visited the Wing during the month, and was apparently favorably impressed by the progress being made. Other members of his staff also made inspection visits this month.
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