503d Air Defense Group
Encyclopedia
The 503d Air Defense Group is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division, being stationed at Portland International Airport
, Oregon
. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955
, Michigan
until inactivated and replaced in 1947 by the 56th Airdrome Group, 56th Maintenance & Supply Group, and 56th Station Medical Group under the experimental Wing/Base reorganization (Hobson Plan). It was disbanded in 1948.
Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Portland International Airport 18 February 1953, with mission to train and maintain interceptor squadrons in state of readiness in order to defend Northwest United States. 357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Portland International Airport and Flying F-86 "Sabres" was assigned as the operational component of the group. Two days later, the 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying F-94 "Starfire" aircraft, was activated as the group's permanent operational squadron. In May 1953, the 357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was transferred to French Morocco and reassigned. In 1954, the 497th converted to F-89 "Scorpion" aircraft. Replaced the 89th Air Base Squadron as host organization for active duty USAF units at Portland International Airport. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Replaced by the 337th Fighter Group
(Defense) 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, but reconstituted in 1985 as a base support organization. It has never been active since then.
Provided air defense for northwesten United States 1953 to 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 25th Air Division, being stationed at Portland International Airport
Portland International Airport
Portland International Airport is a joint civil-military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of passenger travel and more than 95% of air cargo of the state. It is located within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. 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 the 86th Fighter Group, as part of the occupation forces in Germany until 1946. Returned to the US and supported the 56th Fighter Group at Selfridge FieldSelfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
until inactivated and replaced in 1947 by the 56th Airdrome Group, 56th Maintenance & Supply Group, and 56th Station Medical Group under the experimental Wing/Base reorganization (Hobson Plan). It was disbanded in 1948.
Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Portland International Airport 18 February 1953, with mission to train and maintain interceptor squadrons in state of readiness in order to defend Northwest United States. 357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Portland International Airport and Flying F-86 "Sabres" was assigned as the operational component of the group. Two days later, the 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying F-94 "Starfire" aircraft, was activated as the group's permanent operational squadron. In May 1953, the 357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was transferred to French Morocco and reassigned. In 1954, the 497th converted to F-89 "Scorpion" aircraft. Replaced the 89th Air Base Squadron as host organization for active duty USAF units at Portland International Airport. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Replaced by the 337th Fighter Group
337th Fighter Group
The 337th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, Portland Air Defense Sector, stationed at Portland Airport, Oregon. It was inactivated on 30 March 1966.-History:...
(Defense) 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, but reconstituted in 1985 as a base support organization. It has never been active since then.
Lineage
- Established as 503rd Air Service Group on 16 December 1944
- Activated on 6 June 1945
- Inactivated on 15 August 1947
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated 503d Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1953
- Inactivated on 18 August 1955.
- Disbanded on 27 September 1984
- Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and redesignated 503rd Combat Support Group.
Assignments
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
6 Jun 1945 - Oct 1945 - IX Air Force Service Command Oct 1945 - February 1946
- Unknown February 1946 - March 1946
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
March 1946 - June 1946 - Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
June 1946 - 15 August 1947 - 4704th Air Defense Wing4704th Air Defense WingThe 4704th Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division, being stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It was inactivated on 8 October 1954-History:...
, 16 February 1953 - 8 October 1954 - 25th Air Division, 8 October 1954 – 18 Aug 1955
Components
- 497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18 Feb 1953 – 18 Aug 1955
- 357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 Feb 1953 – 25 May 1953
- 503rd Air Base Squadron, 16 Feb 1953 - 18 Aug 1955
- 503rd Materiel Squadron, 16 Feb 1953 - 18 Aug 1955
- 503rd Medical Squadron (later 503rd USAF Infirmary), 16 Feb 1953 - 18 Aug 1955
- 745th Air Materiel Squadron, 6 June 1945 - 15 Aug 1947
- 921st Air Engineering Squadron, 6 June 1945 - 15 Aug 1947
Stations
- Gross Gerau, Germany 6 June 1945 - Sep 1945
- AAF Station Schweinfurt, Germany Sep 1945 - Feb 1946
- Bolling Field, District of Columbia, Feb 1946 - April 1946
- Selfridge FieldSelfridge FieldSelfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
, Michigan, Apr 1946 - 15 Aug 1947 - Portland International Airport, Oregon, 1 Feb 1952 – 18 Aug 1955
Operations
Provided support for fighter groups in Germany and the US 1945 to 1947.Provided air defense for northwesten United States 1953 to 1955.
Aircraft
- F-86F Sabre, 1953
- F-89D Scorpion, 1954-1955
- F-94A Starfire, 1953-1954
- F-94B Starfire, 1953