500th Air Defense Group
Encyclopedia
The 500th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 4708th Air Defense Wing
, being stationed at Pittsburgh Airport, Pennsylvania
. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.
Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Greater Pittsburgh Airport 18 February 1953 with responsibility for air defense of Western Pennsylvania. Assigned the 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Greater Pittsburgh Airport, and flying F-86 "Sabres" as its operational component. The 71st FIS had been assigned directly to the 4708th Defense Wing. Replaced 81st Air Base Squadron as host organization for USAF portion of Greater Pittsburgh Airport. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Replaced by 54th Fighter-Interceptor Group
, in 1955 as part of ADC'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. Disbanded once again in 1984.
Responsible for air defense of Western Pennsylvania and operated Air Force portion of Pittsburgh Airport 1953-1955.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
organization. Its last assignment was with the 4708th Air Defense Wing
4708th Air Defense Wing
The 4708th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
, being stationed at Pittsburgh Airport, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.
History
Activated shortly after V-E Day in a reorganization of Army Air Forces 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. Designed to support a single combat group. Its Air Engineering Squadron provided maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support. Supported 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Germany and then returned to the US, where the group was inactivated. When the 67th was reactivated in 1947, once again activated to support it. Inactivated and replaced by 67th Airdrome Group, 67th Station Medical Group, and 67th Maintenance & Supply Group in experimental Wing/Base reorganization of 1947 (Hobson Plan). It was disbanded in 1948.Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Greater Pittsburgh Airport 18 February 1953 with responsibility for air defense of Western Pennsylvania. Assigned the 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Greater Pittsburgh Airport, and flying F-86 "Sabres" as its operational component. The 71st FIS had been assigned directly to the 4708th Defense Wing. Replaced 81st Air Base Squadron as host organization for USAF portion of Greater Pittsburgh Airport. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Replaced by 54th Fighter-Interceptor Group
54th Fighter-Interceptor Group
The 54th Fighter-Interceptor Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the Air Defense Command, being stationed at Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Pennsylvania...
, in 1955 as part of ADC'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. Disbanded once again in 1984.
Lineage
- Established as: 500th Air Service Group on 16 December 1944
- Activated on 1 June 1945
- Inactivated on 31 March 1946
- Activated on 25 July 1947
- Inactivated on 25 November 1947
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated 500th Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1953
- Inactivated on 18 August 1955
- Disbanded on 27 September 1984
Assignments
- Unknown 1945 - March 1946
- Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
March 1946 - 31 March 1946 - Twelfth Air Force, 25 July 1947 - 15 November 1947
- 4708th Defense Wing (later 4708th Air Defense Wing)4708th Air Defense WingThe 4708th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Stations
- Haguenau Airfield, Germany 1 June 1945 - September 1945
- Drew Field, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
16 September 1945 - 21 December 1945 - MacDill Field, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
21 December 1945 - February 1946 - Shaw Field, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
February 1946 - 31 March 1946 - March Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
25 July 1947 - 15 November 1947 - Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Pennsylvania, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Components
- 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- 500th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 500th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 500th Medical Squadron (later 500th USAF Infirmary, 500th USAF Dispensary), 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 742nd Air Materiel Squadron 1 June 1945 - 31 March 1946, 25 July 1947 - 15 November 1947
- 918th Air Engineering Squadron 1 June 1945 - 31 March 1946, 25 July 1947 -15 November 1957
Operations
Support one tactical group 1945-1946 and 1947.Responsible for air defense of Western Pennsylvania and operated Air Force portion of Pittsburgh Airport 1953-1955.