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 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.
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.
The 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]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency