4729th Air Defense Group
324th FIS F-86D Sabres at Westover AFB
Active1957–1958
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeFighter Interceptor
RoleAir Defense
Part ofAir Defense Command

The 4729th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Boston Air Defense Sector at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was discontinued in 1958.

The group was formed to provide a single command and support organization for the two fighter interceptor squadrons of Air Defense Command, that were tenants at Westover, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. It was also assigned a maintenance squadron to perform aircraft maintenance. It was discontinued after the 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron moved in 1958, leaving only a single fighter squadron at Westover.

History

The 4729th Air Defense Group was established to provide a headquarters for the two Air Defense Command (ADC) Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons (FIS) stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts,[1] a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. SAC's 814th Air Base Group acted as host organization for the base.[2]

The group was assigned the 324th FIS and 337th FIS, flying radar equipped and rocket armed North American F-86D Sabre aircraft[3][4] as its operational components,[5][6] to provide air defense of New England. These squadrons were already stationed at Westover and had been assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector.[5][6] In August, maintenance for the two fighter squadrons was combined in the 603rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS), which was activated at Westover.[7] The 324th FIS and 337th FIS upgraded to newer model Sabres with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system in the fall of 1957.[3][4] In the spring of 1958, the 337th FIS converted to Lockheed F-104 Starfighter aircraft.[3]

The group was discontinued when the 324th FIS departed for Morocco, leaving only a single operational ADC squadron at Westover.[1][5] The 603rd CAMS was also inactivated, while the 337th FIS was then assigned directly to the Boston Air Defense Sector.[6][7]

Lineage

Discontinued on 25 June 1958

Assignments

Stations

Components

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 89
  2. ^ Mueller, pp. 578, 582–583
  3. ^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 125
  4. ^ a b Cornett & Johnson, p. 127
  5. ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 399
  6. ^ a b c Maurer, p.417
  7. ^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p.142

Bibliography

Further reading

Categories