517th Air Defense Group
| 517th Air Defense Group
Air Defense Command |
|---|
The 517th Air Defense Group is a disbanded
Ethan Allen Air Force Base
, Vermont. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.
The
group was originally activated as a support unit for a bombardment group at the end of World War II
in Italy and then redeployed to the Caribbean, where it supported units redeploying from Europe until it was inactivated in 1945.
The group was activated once again in 1953, when ADC established it as the headquarters for a dispersed
14th Fighter Group
in a project that replaced air defense groups commanding fighter squadrons with fighter groups with distinguished records during World War II.
History
World War II
The
Pantanella Airfield[1] (the unit histories are contradictory concerning whether the 517th supported the 464th or 465th group). The group relocated to Trinidad[1] and provided support to combat units redeploying from Europe to the United States. It was disbanded in 1948.[4]
Cold War
During the
F-51 Mustangs[6] as its operational component.[7] The 37th FIS had been assigned directly to the 4711th Defense Wing.[7] The group replaced the 75th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at the base. It was assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[8][9]
The 37th FIS converted to airborne intercept
Air Defense Command's Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[12] The group was disbanded once again in 1984.[13]
Lineage
- Constituted as 517th Air Service Group
- Activated on 13 January 1945
- Inactivated on 31 July 1945
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated 517th Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1953
- Inactivated on 18 August 1955
- Disbanded on 27 September 1984
Assignments
- XII Air Force Service Command, 13 January 1945 – c.. 27 May 1945
- Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command c. 6 June 1945 – 31 July 1945
- 4711th Defense Wing, (later 4711th Air Defense Wing), 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Stations
- Caserta, Italy 13 January 1945 – 1945
- Pantanella Airfield, Italy 1945 -27 May 1945
- Waller Field, Trinidad 16 June 1945 – 31 July 1945
- Ethan Allen AFB, Vermont, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Components
Operational Squadron
- 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[14]
Support Units
- 517th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- 517th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[8]
- 517th Medical Squadron (later 517th USAF Infirmary),[9] 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- 767th Air Materiel Squadron 13 January 1945 – 31 July 1945
- 943rd Air Engineering Squadron 13 January 1945 – 31 July 1945
Aircraft
- F-51D, 1953
- F-86D, 1953–1955
Commanders
- Maj. William C. Richardson, c.. 13 Jan 1945 – c.. Feb 1945[15]
- Lt Col. Lloyd L. Connell, c.. Feb 1945 – after 15 Jun 1945[1]
- Unknown 16 Feb 1953–18 Aug 1955
See also
- List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons
- List of F-86 Sabre units
References
Notes
Explanatory notes
- ^ The F-51s of the 134th FIS were transferred to the 37th FIS when the 134th was returned to the control of the Air National Guard on 1 November 1952. The 37th FIS continued to fly them until it equipped with Sabres in 1953.
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d "History 517 Air Service Group, Jan–May 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ a b Coleman, p. 208
- ^ "GROUP/0323/SERVICE".
- ^ Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
- ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p. 82
- ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p.114
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 176
- ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p.147
- ^ a b See "History 517 Infirmary Jan–Jun 1955". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 58
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (6 November 2007). "Factsheet 14 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ Buss, Sturm, Volan & McMullen, p.6
- ^ Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (11 December 2007). "Factsheet 37 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "History 517 Air Service Group Jan–Feb 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956)
- Coleman, John M (1950). The Development of Tactical Services in the Army Air Forces. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
- 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. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979.
- 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.
Further reading
- Grant, C.L., (1961) The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126
- Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. I. 1945–1955. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived from the original(PDF) on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
