4721st Air Defense Group
4721st Air Defense Group
 | |
|---|---|
 538th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronLockheed F-104A-25-LO Starfighter56-841Larson Air Force Base,Washington, 1958 | |
| Active | 1956–1959 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Interceptor |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Aerospace Defense Command |
The4721st Air Defense Groupis a discontinuedgroupof theUnited States Air Force.Its last assignment was with the4700th Air Defense WingatLarson Air Force Base,Washington, where it was last active in 1959.
The group was formed to provide a single command and support organization for the twofighter interceptorsquadrons ofAir Defense Command(ADC), that were tenants at Larson, aTactical Air Command(TAC) base. It was discontinued after the322d Fighter-Interceptor Squadronmoved in 1959, leaving only a single fightersquadronat Larson.
History[edit]
The 4721st Air Defense Group was organized in December 1956 atLarson Air Force Base,Washington[1]to centralize supervision and support of the322d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron(FIS) and the538th FIS.[2]Bothsquadronswere already stationed at Larson, flyingradarequipped andMighty Mouse rocketarmedNorth American F-86D Sabreinterceptor aircraft,[3][4]and assigned directly to the9th Air Division.[5][6]The 4721st was a tenant ofTactical Air Command(TAC)'s 62d Air Base Group (ABG), the host organization at Larson.
In July 1957, the base transferred from TAC toMilitary Air Transport Service,although the 62d ABG remained the host unit.[7]In the summer of 1957, both the 322d FIS and the 538th FIS upgraded to later model Sabres equipped withdata linkto tie them directly into theSemi-Automatic Ground Environmentcommand and control system.[3][4]About June 1958, the 538th FIS converted toLockheed F-104 Starfighters,armed with theM61 Vulcan20mm rotary cannon andAIM-9 Sidewindermissiles.[4]
In April 1959, the 322nd FIS moved toKingsley Field,Oregon and was reassigned out of the group as part of ADC's drawdown at Larson.[5]The following month, the 4721st was discontinued[1]and its remaining squadron, the 538th FIS, was assigned directly to the 4700th Air Defense Wing.[6]
Lineage[edit]
- Designated as the4721st Air Defense Groupand organized on 1 December 1956
- Discontinued on 1 May 1959
Assignments[1]
- 9th Air Division, 1 December 1956
- 25th Air Division,15 August 1958
- 4700th Air Defense Wing, 1 September 1958 – 1 May 1959
Components
- 322d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 December 1956 – 1 April 1959
- 538th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 December 1956 – 1 May 1959
Stations
- Larson Air Force Base, Washington, 1 December 1956 – 1 May 59
Aircraft[edit]
- F-86D 1956–1957
- F-86L 1957–1959
- F-104A 1958–1959
Commanders[edit]
- Col. Louis W. Ford, unknown –ca.30 June 1958[8]
- Lt Col. John E. Gaffnery,ca.1 July 1958 – unknown[9]
See also[edit]
- List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons
- List of Sabre and Fury units in the US military
- List of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter operators
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^abcCornett & Johnson, p. 89
- ^"Abstract, History 9 Joint Defense Division, Jul–Dec 1958".Air Force History Index.Retrieved19 January2012.
- ^abCornett & Johnson, p. 125
- ^abcCornett & Johnson, p. 130
- ^abMaurer, p. 396
- ^abMaurer, p.645
- ^Ravenstein, p. 99
- ^"Abstract, History 4721 Air Defense Group, Jan–Jun 1958".Air Force History Index.Retrieved19 January2012.
- ^"Abstract, History 4721 Air Defense Group, Jul–Dec 1958".Air Force History Index.Retrieved19 January2012.
Bibliography[edit]
This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theAir Force Historical Research Agency
- 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 fromthe original(PDF)on 13 February 2016.Retrieved20 November2011.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969].Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF)(reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-405-12194-6.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984).Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977.Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN0-912799-12-9.
Further reading[edit]
- Leonard, Barry (2009).History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense(PDF).Vol. II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History.ISBN978-1-43792-131-1.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 16 December 2019.Retrieved10 December2012.
- Air defense groups of the United States Air Force
- Aerospace Defense Command units
- Four digit groups of the United States Air Force
- Military units and formations established in 1956
- Military history of Washington (state)
- Military units and formations disestablished in 1959
- 1956 establishments in Washington (state)
- 1959 disestablishments in Washington (state)