564th Air Defense Group explained

Unit Name:564th Air Defense Group
Dates:1944–1945; 1952–1955
Type:Fighter interceptor
Role:Air defense
Notable Commanders:Major General Luther H. Richmond (1953–1955)

The 564th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4707th Air Defense Wing, at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was inactivated in 1955. The group was originally activated as the 564th Air Service Group, a support unit for a combat group at the end of World War II but never deployed before it was inactivated in 1945.

The group was activated once again in 1952 as the 564th Air Base Group to replace the support elements of the inactivating 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing. A year later Air Defense Command (ADC) established it as an operational headquarters for fighter-interceptor squadrons as well. It was replaced in 1955 when ADC transferred its mission, equipment, and personnel to the 33d 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 during World War II at Stinson Field, Texas as the 564th Air Service Group in 1944[1] and trained to support a single combat group in an overseas theater.[2] Its 995th Air Engineering Squadron would provide maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 1002nd Air Materiel Squadron would handle all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron would provide other support.[2] The group was inactivated before it could be deployed overseas.[3] It was disbanded in 1948.[4]

Cold War

During the Cold War the group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 564th Air Base Group, and activated at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts in 1952[5] in a major reorganization of Air Defense Command (ADC) responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage.[6] It replaced the 33rd Air Base Group as USAF host unit for Otis. The group was assigned eight squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] It also assumed aircraft maintenance responsibility from the 33d Maintenance & Supply Group for units stationed at Otis.[12] The operational elements of the inactivating 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing were assigned to the 4707th Defense Wing.[13] [14]

In 1953 the group was redesignated the 564th Air Defense Group[5] and assumed responsibility for air defense of the Boston area. It was assigned the 58th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), flying Lockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft equipped with air intercept radar and armed with cannon,[15] from the 4707th Defense Wing as its operational element.[14] The 58th FIS was already stationed at Otis.[14] In April 1953, the 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying a newer model of the F-94 aircraft armed with Mighty Mouse rockets,[16] was activated as a second operational squadron.[17] The 58th FIS upgraded to the newer F-94s by June 1953[15] and both squadrons converted to Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft in June 1955.[15] [16] The group was inactivated[5] and replaced by the 33d Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 1955[18] [19] as result of ADC'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.[20] The group was disbanded once again in 1984.[21]

Lineage

Activated on 5 December 1944[1]

Inactivated on 30 June 1945

Disbanded on 8 October 1948[4]

Activated on 1 February 1952[5]

Redesignated 564th Air Defense Group on 16 February 1953[5]

Inactivated on 18 August 1955[5]

Assignments

Stations

Components

Operational Squadrons

Support Squadrons

Aircraft

Commanders

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
Citations

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Abstract, History 564 Air Service Group Dec 1944 – Jun 1945. Air Force History Index. 10 January 2012.
  2. Coleman, p. 208
  3. Coleman p. 215
  4. Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
  5. Cornett & Johnson, p. 84
  6. Grant, p. 33
  7. Cornett & Johnson, p. 134
  8. Cornett & Johnson, p. 141
  9. Cornett & Johnson, p. 151
  10. Web site: Abstract, History 564 Air Base Group Feb–Jun 1952. Air Force History Index. 10 January 2012.
  11. Web site: Abstract, History 564 Air Base Group Jul–Dec 1952. Air Force History Index. 10 January 2012.
  12. Cornett & Johnson p.141
  13. Web site: Factsheet 33 Fighter Wing (ACC). Bailey. Carl E.. 28 November 2007. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 18 November 2016.
  14. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 230–231
  15. Cornett & Johnson, p.116
  16. Cornett and Johnson, p.128
  17. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p.543
  18. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 87
  19. Web site: Factsheet 33 Operations Group (ACC). 18 October 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. Dollman. TSG David. 18 November 2016.
  20. Buss, Sturm, Volan, & McMullen, p.6
  21. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 September 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
  22. Web site: Factsheet 58 Fighter Squadron (AETC). 13 October 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. Dollman. TSG David. 18 November 2016.
  23. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp.541-542

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