It assumed control of several
fighter Interceptor squadrons that had been assigned to the
23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing, including two
Air National Guard squadrons mobilized for the
Korean War. In early 1953 it also was assigned six
radar squadrons in Maine, Vermont, and New York and its dispersed fighter
squadrons combined with colocated air base squadrons into air defense groups. The wing was redesignated as an air defense wing in 1954. In 1956, as ADC prepared to implement the
Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system, the wing lost its combat components and moved to Selfridge, where it was discontinued.
In June, the 74th FIS converted to
Northrop F-89 Scorpioninterceptor aircraft, but by fall its F-89Cs had been grounded and the squadron was forced to convert to
F-94 Starfires.[4] In November 1952, the two ANG fighter squadrons were returned to the control of their states and replaced by the
37th FIS at Ethan Allen and the
49th FIS at Dow.[5][9]
In February 1953, another major reorganization of ADC activated Air Defense Groups at ADC bases with dispersed fighter squadrons. Two
groups were assigned to the wing and assumed direct control of the fighter squadrons, as well as support squadrons to carry out their role as the USAF host organizations at their bases. As a result of this reorganization, the
528th Air Defense Group activated at Presque Isle and assumed control of the fighter squadrons there, while the
517th Air Defense Group activated to command the squadron at Ethan Allen AFB.[10] The reorganization also resulted in the wing adding the
radar detection, control and warning mission, and it was assigned six Aircraft Control & Warning Squadrons (AC&W Sq) to perform this mission.[11][12][13] The 49th FIS traded in its F-80s for F-86s in the same month.[14] Meanwhile, the 75th FIS moved to
Suffolk County AFB in October and was reassigned to another wing.[6]
In 1954, two of the wing's squadrons upgraded to radar equipped and
rocket armed fighters. The 49th FIS received later model F-86D Sabres, while the 27th FIS converted to F-94C Starfires.[7][14]
In 1955, ADC implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units that had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[15] As a result of Project Arrow, the
23d Fighter Group (Air Defense), replaced the 528th Air Defense Group at Presque Isle, while the
14th Fighter Group replaced the 517th Air Defense Group at Ethan Allen.[10][16] In October, a second F-89 squadron, the
465th FIS, activated at Griffiss AFB[17]
In preparation for the implementation of the
Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system, the 4711th wing lost its operational units in March 1956[13][18] and moved to Selfridge AFB where it was discontinued shortly thereafter.[1]
Lineage
Designated as the 4711th Defense Wing and organized on 1 February 1952
Redesignated as the 4711th Air Defense Wing on 1 September 1954
Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956)
Redmond, Kent C.; Smith, Thomas M. (2000). From Whirlwind to MITRE: The R&D Story of The SAGE Air Defense Computer. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
ISBN978-0-262-18201-0.