The 4728th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the New York Air Defense Sector at Dover Air Force Base.
4728th Air Defense Group
 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1957–1958 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Interceptor |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Air Defense Command |
The group was formed to provide a single command and support organization for the two fighter interceptor squadrons of Air Defense Command (ADC), that were tenants at Dover, a Military Air Transport Service (MATS) base. It was also assigned a maintenance squadron to perform aircraft maintenance. It was discontinued after the 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron inactivated in 1958, leaving only a single fighter squadron at Griffiss.
History
editThe 4728th Air Defense Group was organized in early 1957. The group was established to provide a headquarters for Air Defense Command (ADC) Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons (FIS) stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware,[1] a Military Air Transport Service base,[2] whose 1607th Air Base Group acted as the host base organization.[3] It was assigned the 46th FIS, flying Lockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft,[4] armed with Mighty Mouse rockets. and the 98th FIS, flying Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft,[5] armed with both Mighty Mouse rockets and AIM-4 Falcons as its operational squadrons.[6][7] Both aircraft had a radar officer to operate the aircraft airborne intercept radar. The group mission was air defense of the Middle Atlantic Area of the United States.[citation needed] These squadrons were already stationed at Dover and had been assigned to the New York Air Defense Sector.[6][7]
In August, maintenance for the two squadrons was combined in the 604th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS), which was activated at Dover.[8] The 98th FIS converted to newer model F-89s, which could carry nuclear armed AIR-2 Genies, in the fall of 1957.[5] The group was discontinued when the 46th FIS was inactivated,[6] leaving only a single operational ADC squadron at Dover.[1] The 604th CAMS was also inactivated, while the 98th FIS was then assigned directly to the New York Air Defense Sector.[7]
Lineage
edit- Designated and organized as the 4728th Air Defense Group on 8 February 1957
- Discontinued on 1 July 1958
Assignments
edit- New York Air Defense Sector, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958
Stations
edit- Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958
Components
edit- 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958
- 98th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958
- 604th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 8 August 1957 – 1 July 1958
Aircraft
edit- Northrop F-89H Scorpion, 1957
- Northrop F-89J Scorpion, 1957–1958
- Lockheed F-94C Starfire, 1957–1958
See also
editReferences
editNotes
editBibliography
editThis article incorporates public domain material from the Air 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 from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
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. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2012.