568th Air Defense Group
| 568th Air Defense Group | |
|---|---|
Air defense |
The 568th Air Defense Group is a disbanded
group was originally activated as the 568th Air Service Group, a support unit for a combat group at the end of World War II on Guam
, but was soon inactivated.
The group was activated once again in 1952 at
Air Defense Command ADC established it as an operational headquarters for fighter-interceptor squadrons as well. It was replaced in 1954 when ADC transferred host fundctions at McGuire to Military Air Transport Service and its operational squadrons
were transferred to other ADC units.
History
World War II
The group was activated on
combat groups with air service groups including only Air Corps units, designed to support a single combat group.[1] Its 1031st Air Engineering Squadron provided maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 1032nd Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[1] The unit provided support for one combat group in the Pacific Theater. It was disbanded in 1948.[2]
Cold War
During the
Air Defense Command (ADC) responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to the best tactical advantage.[4] It replaced the 52nd Air Base Group as host unit for McGuire.[5] The group was assigned seven squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[6][7] It also maintained aircraft stationed at McGuire.[8]
The group was redesignated as the 568th Air Defense Group in 19534709th Defense Wing as its operational elements.[10] The 2nd and 5th FIS were already stationed at McGuire.[10] The same month that it transferred to the 568th, the 2nd FIS briefly traded its F-94s for Republic F-84 Thunderjet Aircraft.[9] Both the 2nd and 5th FIS converted to radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed North American F-86 Sabres in July 1953.[9]
In 1954, McGuire AFB transferred from ADC to Military Air Transport Service,[5] and the group was inactivated.[3] The group's support components were replaced by elements of the 1611th Air Transport Wing[5] Its operational flying squadrons were assigned back to the 4709th Air Defense Wing.[10] The group was disbanded once again in 1984.[11]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 568th Air Service Group
- Activated c. 5 June 1945
- Inactivated c. 31 May 1946
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948[2]
- Reconstituted and redesignated as 568th Air Base Group on 1 January 1952
- Activated on 1 February 1952[3]
- Redesignated 568th Air Defense Group on 16 February 1953[3]
Assignments
- Twentieth Air Force, 1945–1946
- 4709th Air Defense Wing, 1 February 1952 – 8 July 1954[3]
Components
Operational Squadrons
- 2d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 8 July 1954[12]
- 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 8 July 1954[13]
Support Squadrons
|
|
Stations
- Guam, Mariana Islands, 1945 – 1946
- McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 1 February 1952 – 8 July 1954[3]
Aircraft
- Republic F-84G Thunderjet, 1953[9]
- North American F-86D Sabre, 1953–1954[9]
- Lockheed F-94A Starfighter, 1953[9]
See also
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
- List of F-86 Sabre units
- F-94 Starfire units of the United States Air Force
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Morro Bay. California. Baugher, Joe (7 April 2023). "1952 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- Dow AFB, Maine on 4 August 1955 due to engine failure. Baugher, Joe (7 April 2023). "1949 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- Citations
- ^ a b Coleman, p. 208
- ^ a b Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
- ^ a b c d e f g h Cornett & Johnson, p. 85
- ^ Grant, p. 33
- ^ a b c Mueller, pp. 411–415
- ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p. 134
- ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p. 152
- ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p. 142
- ^ a b c d e f Cornett & Johnson, p.113
- ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 14, 34
- ^ a b Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 September 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (1 April 2008). "Factsheet 2 Fighter Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ Haulman, Daniel L. (1 August 2008). "Factsheet 5 Flying Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e See Mueller, p. 413
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 23 November 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- Grant, C.L., (1961) The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126
- 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
- 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 8 December 2012.
- 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.
External links
- Abstract, History of 568th Air Service Group, Feb-May 1946 (accessed 17 June 2012)
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