518th Air Defense Group explained

Unit Name:518th Air Defense Group
Dates:1945, 1953–1955
Role:Air Defense
Notable Commanders:Lt Gen Donavon F. Smith[1]

The 518th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4707th Air Defense Wing, stationed at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, where it was inactivated in 1955.

The group was originally activated the 518th Air Service Group, a support unit for the 465th Bombardment Group at the end of World War II in Italy and then redeployed to the Caribbean, where it supported redeploying units until it was inactivated in 1945.

The group was activated once again in 1953, when Air Defense Command (ADC) established it as the headquarters for a dispersed fighter-interceptor squadron and the medical, aircraft maintenance, and administrative squadrons supporting it. It was replaced in 1955 when ADC transferred its mission, equipment, and personnel to the 15th 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 group was activated shortly as the 518th Air Service Group in Italy in early 1945.[2] It was split from the all-branch 323rd Service Group as part of the Army Air Forces creating Air Service Groups to service Air Corps units only. It was designed to support a single combat group.[3] Its 944th Air Engineering Squadron provided aircraft maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 768th Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[3] The unit supported the 465th Bombardment Group in Italy.[4] The group moved to the Caribbean and provided support for flying units redeploying from Europe to the United States. It was disbanded in 1948.[5]

Cold War

During the Cold War, the 518th group was reconstituted, redesignated as an air defense group, and activated at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport in 1953[6] with responsibility for air defense of Niagara Falls, Toronto, Western and upper New York area. It was assigned the 47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Niagara Falls, and flying World War II era Republic F-47 Thunderbolts[7] as its operational component.[8] The 47th had been assigned to the 4708th Defense Wing.[8] The group was assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[9] [10] It converted the same month to jet propelled North American F-86 Sabre aircraft.[7]

The 47th upgraded to a later airborne intercept radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed version of the Sabre in September 1953,[7] but its replacement aircraft were not delivered until early 1954.[7] The group replaced the 76th Air Base Squadron as the active duty USAF host unit at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport. The group was replaced by the 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) in 1955[6] [11] [12] as part of 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.[13] The 518th group was disbanded once again in 1984.[14]

Lineage

Activated on 25 January 1945[15]

Inactivated on 31 July 1945

Disbanded on 8 October 1948[5]

Activated on 16 February 1953[6]

Inactivated on 18 August 1955[6]

Disbanded on 27 September 1984[14]

Assignments

Stations

Components

Operational Squadron

Support Units

Aircraft

Commanders

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
Citations

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USAF Biography, Lieutenant General Donavon Francis Smith. https://web.archive.org/web/20130331142630/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7170. 2013-03-31. (retrieved 17 January 2013)
  2. see Web site: Abstract, History 518 Air Service Group Jan-Jul 1945. Air Force History Index. live . 6 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131104003620/http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/102/896.xml . 2013-11-04.
  3. Coleman, p. 208
  4. Web site: Abstract, History 323 Service Group and 517, 518, 519 Air Service Groups, Jan 1945. Air Force History Index. live . 21 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029220915/http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/101/712.xml . 2013-10-29.
  5. Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
  6. Cornett & Johnson, p. 82
  7. Cornett & Johnson, p. 115
  8. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 206
  9. Cornett & Johnson, p.147
  10. See Web site: Abstract, History 518 Infirmary, Jan-Jun 1955. Air Force History Index. live . 21 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140423052720/http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/407/110.xml. 2014-04-23.
  11. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 59
  12. Web site: Factsheet 15 Wing (PACAF) . Robertson . Patsy . 2 December 2010 . Air Force Historical Research Agency . dead . 3 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140422232650/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16902 . 22 April 2014 .
  13. Buss, Sturm, Volan & McMullen, p.6
  14. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
  15. Web site: Abstract, History 518 Air Service Group, Jan-May 1945. Air Force History Index. 21 June 2012.
  16. Web site: Factsheet 47 Fighter Squadron (AFRC) . Endicott. Judy G.. 2 July 2001. Air Force Historical Research Agency. April 10, 2023.

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