Military unit
The 4721st Air Defense Group is a discontinued group of the United States Air Force . Its last assignment was with the 4700th Air Defense Wing at Larson 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 two fighter interceptor squadrons of Air Defense Command (ADC), that were tenants at Larson, a Tactical Air Command (TAC) base. It was discontinued after the 322d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron moved in 1959, leaving only a single fighter squadron at Larson.
History
The 4721st Air Defense Group was organized in December 1956 at Larson Air Force Base , Washington[1] 322d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS) and the 538th FIS .[2] squadrons were already stationed at Larson, flying radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed North American F-86D Sabre interceptor aircraft,[3] [4] 9th Air Division .[5] [6] Tactical Air Command (TAC)'s 62d Air Base Group (ABG), the host organization at Larson.
In July 1957, the base transferred from TAC to Military Air Transport Service , although the 62d ABG remained the host unit.[7] data link to tie them directly into the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment command and control system.[3] [4] Lockheed F-104 Starfighters , armed with the M61 Vulcan 20mm rotary cannon and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.[4]
In April 1959, the 322nd FIS moved to Kingsley Field , Oregon and was reassigned out of the group as part of ADC's drawdown at Larson.[5] [1] [6]
Lineage
Designated as the 4721st Air Defense Group and organized on 1 December 1956 Discontinued on 1 May 1959 Assignments [1]
9th Air Division, 1 December 1956
25th Air Division , 15 August 19584700th 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
F-86D 1956–1957
F-86L 1957–1959
F-104A 1958–1959
Commanders
Col. Louis W. Ford, unknown – ca . 30 June 1958[8]
Lt Col. John E. Gaffnery, ca . 1 July 1958 – unknown[9]
Notes
^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 89
^ "Abstract, History 9 Joint Defense Division, Jul–Dec 1958" . Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 January 2012 .^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p. 125
^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 130
^ a b Maurer, p. 396
^ a b Maurer, p.645
^ Ravenstein, p. 99
^ "Abstract, History 4721 Air Defense Group, Jan–Jun 1958" . Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 January 2012 .^ "Abstract, History 4721 Air Defense Group, Jul–Dec 1958" . Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 January 2012 .
Bibliography
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 Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977 ISBN 0-912799-12-9 
United States
United States Air Force
