| Unit Name: | 4711th Air Defense Wing |
| Dates: | 1952–1956 |
| Type: | Fighter interceptor and radar headquarters |
| Role: | Air defense |
| Motto: | la|Tigris in Caelo|Tiger in the Sky |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 4711th Air Defense Wing emblem |
The 4711th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC) at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, where it was discontinued in 1956. It was established in 1952 at Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine as the 4711th Defense Wing in a general reorganization of ADC, which replaced wings responsible for a base with wings responsible for a geographical area.
It assumed control of several fighter interceptor squadrons that had been assigned to the 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing, including two Air National Guard squadrons mobilized for the Korean War. In early 1953 it also was assigned six radar squadrons in Maine, Vermont, and New York and its dispersed fighter squadrons combined with colocated air base squadrons into air defense groups. The wing was redesignated as an air defense wing in 1954. In 1956, as ADC prepared to implement the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system, the wing lost its combat components and moved to Selfridge, where it was discontinued.
The wing was organized as the 4711th Defense Wing at the beginning of February 1952 at Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine[1] as part of a major reorganization of ADC responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage.[2] The wing assumed operational control and the air defense mission of fighter squadrons formerly assigned to the inactivating 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing.[3] The 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), flying North American F-86 Sabre aircraft[4] were at Presque Isle, while the 101st Fighter-Interceptor Wing's 132d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars[5] was at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, and the 134th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying World War II era North American F-51 Mustangs[5] was at Burlington Municipal Airport, Vermont.[5] [6] The two dispersed squadrons were federalized Air National Guard (ANG) squadrons that had been attached to the 23rd FIW.[5] The 27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Griffiss Air Force Base, another F-86 squadron,[7] was transferred to the wing from direct assignment to Eastern Air Defense Force.[8] The support elements of the 23rd FIW's 23rd Air Base Group and 23rd Maintenance & Supply Group were replaced at Presque Isle by an air base squadron and air base squadrons were activated at Presque Isle and Burlington to support the fighter squadrons at those bases. The wing's mission was to train and maintain tactical units in a state of readiness to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft attempting to penetrate the air defense system in the Northeastern United States.
In June, the 74th FIS converted to Northrop F-89 Scorpion interceptor aircraft, but by fall its F-89Cs had been grounded and the squadron was forced to convert to Lockheed F-94 Starfires.[4] In November 1952, the wing's two ANG fighter squadrons were returned to the control of their states and replaced by the 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Ethan Allen and the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Dow.[5] [9]
In February 1953, another major reorganization of ADC activated air defense groups at ADC bases with dispersed fighter squadrons. Two groups were assigned to the wing and assumed direct control of the fighter squadrons, as well as support squadrons to carry out their role as the USAF host organizations at their bases. As a result of this reorganization, the 528th Air Defense Group activated at Presque Isle and assumed control of the fighter squadrons there, while the 517th Air Defense Group activated to command the squadron at Ethan Allen AFB.[10] The reorganization also resulted in the wing adding the radar detection, control and warning mission, and it was assigned six aircraft control & warning squadrons (AC&W Sq) to perform this mission.[11] [12] [13] The 49th FIS traded in its F-80s for F-86s in the same month.[14] Meanwhile, the 75th FIS moved to Suffolk County Air Force Base in October and was reassigned to another wing.[6]
In 1954, two of the wing's squadrons upgraded to radar equipped and rocket armed fighters. The 49th FIS received later model F-86D Sabres, while the 27th FIS converted to F-94C Starfires.[7] [14]
In 1955, ADC implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units that had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[15] As a result of Project Arrow, the 23d Fighter Group (Air Defense), replaced the 528th Air Defense Group at Presque Isle, while the 14th Fighter Group replaced the 517th Air Defense Group at Ethan Allen.[10] [16] In October, a second F-89 squadron, the 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, activated at Griffiss AFB.[17]
In preparation for the implementation of the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system, the 4711th Wing lost its operational units in March 1956[13] [18] and moved to Selfridge Air Force Base, where it was discontinued shortly thereafter.[1]
Redesignated as the 4711th Air Defense Wing on 1 September 1954
Discontinued on 8 July 1956[1]
Fighter Groups
Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont, 18 August 1955 – 1 March 1956[19]
Air Defense Groups
Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Fighter Squadrons
Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, 6 February 1952 – 1 March 1956
Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont, 1 November 1952 – 16 February 1953
Dow Air Force Base, Maine, 1 November 1952 – 5 November 1955
Dow Air Force Base, Maine, 6 February 1952 – 1 November 1952
Burlington Municipal Airport (later Ethan Allen Air Force Base), Vermont, 6 February 1952 – 1 November 1952
Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, 8 October 1955 – 1 March 1956
Support Squadrons
Burlington Municipal Airport (later Ethan Allen Air Force Base), 1 February 1952 – 16 February 1953
Radar Squadrons
Fort Williams, Maine, 16 February 1953 – 1 September 1953[11]
Dow Air Force Base, Maine, 16 February 1953 – 1 September 1953[11]
Watertown Air Force Station, New York, 16 February 1953 – 1 March 1956[13]
Fort Williams Air Force Station, Maine, 1 September 1953 – May 1954
Dow Air Force Base, Maine, 1 September 1953 – December 1953
Bellevue Hill (later Saint Albans Air Force Station), Vermont, 16 February 1953 – 1 March 1956[12]
Charleston Air Force Station, Maine, 16 February 1953 – 1 March 1956[12]
Caswell Air Force Station, Maine, 16 February 1953 – 1 March 1956[12]
Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont, 1 November 1953 – December 1953
Syracuse Air Force Station, New York, November 1954 – February 1955, Bucks Harbor AFS, Maine – 1 March 1956
Syracuse Air Force Station, New York, June 1955 – 1 March 1956