517th Air Defense Group
Encyclopedia
The 517th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 4711th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont
. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955
Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Ethan Allan AFB in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of upper New England. Assigned the 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Ethan Allan AFB, and flying F-51 "Mustangs" as its operational component. The 37th FIS had been assigned directly to the 4711th Defense Wing. The 37th FIS converted to F-86 "Sabres" in June 1953. Replaced the 75th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at the base. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Inactivated 18 August 1955 and replaced by the 14th Fighter Group (Air Defense) as result of ADC 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.
Air defense of upper New England. Was also host unit at the base. 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 4711th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955
History
Activated in Italy as part of 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 was to provide maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its Air Materiel Squadron to handle all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron to provide other support. Apparently only served as a depot maintance unit. Relocated to Trinidad and provided support to combat units redeploying from Europe to the United States. It was disbanded in 1948.Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Ethan Allan AFB in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of upper New England. Assigned the 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Ethan Allan AFB, and flying F-51 "Mustangs" as its operational component. The 37th FIS had been assigned directly to the 4711th Defense Wing. The 37th FIS converted to F-86 "Sabres" in June 1953. Replaced the 75th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at the base. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Inactivated 18 August 1955 and replaced by the 14th Fighter Group (Air Defense) as result of ADC 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: 517th Air Service Group on 13 January 1945
- Inactivated on 31 July 1945
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated 517th Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1953
- Inactivated on 18 August 1955
- Disbanded on 27 September 1984
Assignments
- Unknown, 13 January 1945 - 1945
- Caribbean Wing, Air Transport CommandAir Transport CommandAir Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
1945 - 31 July 1945 - 4711th Defense Wing, (later 4711th Air Defense Wing), 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Stations
- CasertaCasertaCaserta is the capital of the province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. It is an important agricultural, commercial and industrial comune and city. Caserta is located on the edge of the Campanian plain at the foot of the Campanian Subapennine mountain range...
, Italy 13 January 1945 - 1945 - Pantanella Airfield, Italy 1945 -1945
- Waller Field, Trinidad 1945 - 31 July 1945
- Ethan Allen AFB, Vermont, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Components
- 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- 517th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 517th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 517th Medical Squadron (later 517th USAF Infirmary), 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 767th Air Materiel Squadron 13 January 1945 - 31 July 1945
- 943rd Air Engineering Squadron 13 January 1945 - 31 July 1945
Operations
Provided logistics and base support in Italy. Relocated to Trinidad and provided support to combat units redeploying from Europe to the United States. 1945Air defense of upper New England. Was also host unit at the base. 1953-1955