529th Air Defense Group

The 529th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division at Paine Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955. The group was originally activated as a support unit for the 2d Bombardment Group at the end of World War II in Italy and then acted as a depot organization until inactivating in 1946.

529th Air Defense Group
North American F-86 of the 83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron[a 1]
Active1945–1946, 1946–1947, 1953–1955
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeFighter Interceptor
RoleAir Defense
Part ofAir Defense Command

The group was activated once again in 1953, when ADC established it as the headquarters for a dispersed fighter-interceptor squadron and the medical, maintenance, and administrative squadrons supporting it. It was replaced in 1955 when ADC transferred its mission, equipment, and personnel to the 326th Fighter Group in a project that replaced air defense groups commanding fighter squadrons with fighter groups with distinguished records during World War II.

History

World War II

The group was activated at Amendola Airfield, Italy as the 529th Air Service Group shortly after V-E Day[1][2] as part of a reorganization of Army Air Forces (AAF) support groups in which the AAF replaced Service Groups that included personnel from other branches of the Army and supported two combat groups with Air Service Groups including only Air Corps units. The group was designed to support a single combat group.[3] Its 955th Air Engineering Squadron[1] provided maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 779th Air Materiel Squadron[1] handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[3] The 529th supported the 2d Bombardment Group (Bomb Gp).[1] The group moved with the 2d Bomb Gp to Foggia, Italy where it added support responsibility for all military installations in the Foggia Airfield Complex.[4] After the 2nd Bomb Gp returned to the United States, the group was apparently used as a depot unit until it was inactivated in 1946.[4][5]

Cold War

The group was again activated later that year and moved to Dow Field, Maine,[6] where it provided support for the 14th Fighter Group.[7] The group was inactivated and replaced by 14th Airdrome Group,[8][9] 14th Station Medical Group, and 14th Maintenance & Supply Group[10] in the experimental Wing/Base reorganization of 1947, designed to unify control at air bases.[11] The group was disbanded in 1948.[12]

F-84G as flown briefly by the 83d FIS

The group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 529th Air Defense Group and activated at Paine Field on 18 February 1953[13] with responsibility for air defense of the Northwestern United States. The 529th was assigned the 83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), which was already stationed at Paine Field, flying Republic F-84 Thunderjets,[14] as its operational component.[15] The 83d FIS had been assigned directly to the 4704th Defense Wing.[15] The group also replaced the 86th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at Paine Field. It was assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[16][17] It was also assigned the 17th Crash Rescue Boat Flight for water rescue duties.

By December 1953, the 83d FIS converted to radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed North American F-86D Sabres.[14] When the 4704th Defense Wing was discontinued in 1954, the group was reassigned directly to the 25th Air Division.[13] The group was inactivated[13] and replaced by 326th Fighter Group (Air Defense)[18] in 1955 as part of Air Defense Command's Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[19] The group was disbanded again in 1984.[20]

Lineage
  • Constituted as 529th Air Service Group ca. 16 December 1944
Activated on 18 May 1945[1]
Inactivated on 15 September 1946[5]
Activated ca. 1 October 1946
Inactivated on 15 August 1947
Disbanded on 8 October 1948[12]
  • Reconstituted and redesignated 529th Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953
Activated on 16 February 1953[13]
Inactivated on 18 August 1955[13]
Disbanded on 27 September 1984[20]

Assignments

Stations
  • Amendola Airfield, Italy 18 May 1945[1]
  • Foggia, Italy c. July 1945 – unknown[4]
  • Mitchel Field, New York, c. 1 October 1946
  • Dow Field, Maine, ca. 20 November 1946 – 15 August 1947[6]
  • Paine Field, Washington, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[13]

Components

Operational Squadron

  • 83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[15]

Support Units

  • 529th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
  • 529th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[16]
  • 529th Medical Squadron (later 529th USAF Infirmary),[17] 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
  • 779th Air Materiel Squadron, 18 May 1945 – 15 August 1947[21]
  • 955th Air Engineering Squadron, 18 May 1945 – 15 August 1947[21]
  • 17th Crash Rescue Boat Flight, ca. 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955

Aircraft
  • Republic F-84G Thunderjet, 1953
  • North American F-86D Sabre, 1953–1955

Commanders
  • Lt Col. James J. Groves, 18 May 1945 – unknown[1]
  • Unknown 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955

See also

References

Explanatory Note
  1. This aircraft is an F-86L, an improved version of the F-86D the 83d flew while assigned to the 529th

Notes
  1. "Abstract, History 529 Air Service Group May–Jun 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  2. "Abstract, History 529 Air Service Group Aug–Sep 1946". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  3. Coleman, p. 208
  4. "Abstract, History 529 Air Service Group Nov 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  5. "Abstract, History 529 Air Service Group Nov 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  6. "Abstract, History 529 Air Service Group May–Jun 1947". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012.(erroneously marked as history of 529th Air Service Squadron)
  7. "Abstract, History 14 Fighter Group Nov 45 – Jun 1947 (erroneously marked as history of 529th Air Service Squadron)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  8. "Abstract, History 14 Airdrome Group Aug–Sep 1947". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  9. "Abstract, History 529 Air Service Group Nov 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  10. "Abstract, History 14 Maintenance & Supply Group Aug–Sep 1947". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  11. Craven & Cate, Vol. VI, p. 75
  12. Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
  13. Cornett& Johnson, p. 83
  14. Cornett & Johnson, p.119
  15. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 290
  16. Cornett & Johnson, p. 147
  17. See "Abstract, History 529 Infirmary Jan–Jun 1955". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  18. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 208
  19. Buss, Sturm, Volan, & McMullen, p.6
  20. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
  21. See "Abstract, History 529 Air Service Group May–Jun 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2012. (listing assigned units)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • 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)
  • Coleman, John M (1950). The Development of Tactical Services in the Army Air Forces. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
  • 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.
  • Goss, William A (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
  • 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.

Further reading

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