306th Bombardment Wing MacDill Air Force Base

b-47 era macdill afb postcard



three aircraft formation of b-47e stratojets of 306th bombardment wing af ser. no. 52-545 in foreground.

on 1 september 1950, 306th bombardment wing activated @ macdill afb , became sac s first operational b-47 jet bomber wing. upon activation, operational units of wing 367th, 368th , 369th bombardment squadrons under 306th bombardment group, transferred 307th bmw.

deliveries of new boeing b-47a stratojet air force , strategic air command began in december 1950 , aircraft entered service in may 1951 306th bombardment wing. 306th intended act training unit prepare future b-47 crews. such, b-47as training aircraft , not considered being combat ready. none of b-47as ever saw operational duty in front line sac combat squadrons.

on 19 november 1951, 306th received first operational boeing b-47b , christened real mccoy in honor of colonel michael n. w. mccoy, usaf, wing commander of 306th flew boeing wichita plant macdill. during 1952, 306th developed combat procedures , techniques new bomber , wing emerged leader in jet bombardment tactics , strategies.

the first boeing kc-97e stratofreighter assigned strategic air command delivered 306th air refueling squadron @ macdill on 14 july 1951. in-flight refueling operations started in may 1952 kc-97s refueling b-47s on operational training missions leading toward combat-ready status.

in 1953, 306th became first operational b-47 bombardment wing. wing became backbone of nuclear deterrence strategy maintaining high levels of ground alert in , @ overseas bases. wing awarded air force outstanding unit award role pioneer , leader in jet bombardment tactics. b-47bs 306th bomb wing began 90-day rotational training mission england in june 1953, marking first overseas deployment of b-47. captain (major selectee) glenn a. mcconnell led first 4 b-47s raf brize norton, uk. role in advancing jet bombardment tactics, wing again awarded air force outstanding unit award. additional deployments made raf fairford england, june – september 1953, , @ ben guerir ab, french morocco (later morocco), january – february 1955, october 1956 – january 1957 , october 1957.

in 1954, sac designated specific air refueling organizations , 306th air refueling squadron became ready support b-47 operations across command. during 1954, more advanced b-47es, equipped ejection seats, improved electronics , white reflective paint scheme on underside of fuselage, replaced 306th bmw b-47bs.

during 1954–55, macdill afb , wing served backdrop part of paramount pictures film strategic air command starring james stewart , june allyson, portion of filmed in , around both 305th bombardment wing , 306th bombardment wing areas , b-47 aircraft @ macdill afb.

as sac s b-47s being phased out of inventory, inactivation planning of 306th bmw began. phase down , transfer of b-47s started, , 15 february 1963 wing no longer capable of fulfilling part of strategic war plan. on 1 april 1963, sac inactivated 306th bmw @ macdill , reactivated same day @ mccoy afb, florida b-52d stratofortress , kc-135a stratotanker heavy bombardment wing. mccoy afb former pinecastle afb, having been renamed after colonel michael n. w. mccoy following death in b-47 mishap northwest of downtown orlando, florida in 1957 while in command of 321st bombardment wing @ pinecastle.