4729th Air Defense Group
| 4729th Air Defense Group
Air Defense Command |
|---|
The 4729th Air Defense Group is a discontinued
Westover Air Force Base
, Massachusetts, where it was discontinued in 1958.
The group was formed to provide a single command and support organization for the two
Air Defense Command, that were tenants at Westover, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. It was also assigned a maintenance squadron to perform aircraft maintenance. It was discontinued after the 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron moved in 1958, leaving only a single fighter squadron
at Westover.
History
The 4729th Air Defense Group was established to provide a
Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts,[1] a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. SAC's 814th Air Base Group acted as host organization for the base.[2]
The
337th FIS, flying radar equipped and rocket armed North American F-86D Sabre aircraft[3][4] as its operational components,[5][6] to provide air defense of New England. These squadrons were already stationed at Westover and had been assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector.[5][6] In August, maintenance for the two fighter squadrons was combined in the 603rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS), which was activated at Westover.[7] The 324th FIS and 337th FIS upgraded to newer model Sabres with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system in the fall of 1957.[3][4] In the spring of 1958, the 337th FIS converted to Lockheed F-104 Starfighter aircraft.[3]
The group was discontinued when the 324th FIS departed for Morocco, leaving only a single operational ADC squadron at Westover.[1][5] The 603rd CAMS was also inactivated, while the 337th FIS was then assigned directly to the Boston Air Defense Sector.[6][7]
Lineage
- Designated and organized as: 4729th Air Defense Group on 8 July 1957
- Discontinued on 25 June 1958
Assignments
- Boston Air Defense Sector, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958[1]
Stations
- Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958
Components
- 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958
- 337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958
- 603rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 8 August 1957 – 8 February 1958[7]
Aircraft
- North American F-86D Sabre 1957
- North American F-86L Sabre 1957–1958
- Lockheed F-104A Starfighter 1958
See also
- List of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter operators
- List of Sabre and Fury units in the US military
- List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
Further reading
- Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived from the original(PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
