The 521st Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force

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 31st Air Division, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.

History

Activated 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 310th Bombardment Group in Italy. Returned to the US in 1945 and was inactivated. It was disbanded in 1948.

Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Sioux City Municipal Airport in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of central Midwestern United States. Assigned the 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Sioux City Airport, and flying F-51 "Mustangs" as its operational component. The 87th FIS had been assigned directly to the 31st Air Division. In the fall of 1953 the 87th FIS upgraded to F-86 "Sabre" aircraft and the 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

The 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 53d Fighter Group, stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa. It was inactivated on 1 April 1960.-History:...

, also flying "Sabres", was activated as the group's second operational squadron. In November 1954 the 87th FIS moved to England and was reassigned. The 87th FIS was replaced the next month by the 519th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

519th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

The 519th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 521st Air Defense Group, stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.-History:...

, another "Sabre" squadron. Replaced 79th Air Base Squadron as the host USAF unit at Sioux City Municipal Airport. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Replaced by 53d Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 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

• Activated as 521st Air Service Group on 1 January 1945

Inactivated on or about 7 November 1945

Disbanded on 8 October 1948

• Reconstituted and redesignated as 521st Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953

Activated on 16 February 1953

Inactivated on 18 August 1955

Disbanded on 27 September 1984

Assignments

• Unknown, 1 January 1945 - 7 November 1945
• 31st Air Division, 1 January 1953 – 18 August 1955

Stations

• Ghisonaccia Airfield, Italy 1 January 1945 - 7 April 1945
• Fano Airfield, Italy 7 April 1945 - 1945
• Unknown , 1945 - 7 Nov 1945
• Sioux City Municipal Airport
  Sioux City Air National Guard Base
  Sioux City Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Sioux Gateway Airport It is located south-southeast of Sioux City, Iowa...
  
  , Iowa, 1 January 1953 – 18 August 1955

Components

• 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  The 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 53d Fighter Group, stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa. It was inactivated on 1 April 1960.-History:...
  
  , 18 November 1953 - 18 August 1955
• 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 21 December 1954
• 519th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 December 1954 – 18 August 1955
• 521st Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
• 521st Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
• 521st Medical Squadron (later 521st USAF Infirmary), 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
• 771st Air Materiel Squadron, 1 January 1945 - 1945
• 947th Air Engineering Squadron, 1 January 1945 - 1945

Operations

Supported a combat group in Italy in 1945. Returned to the US in 1945 and was inactivated.

Provided air defense of central Midwest and served as host unit at Sioux City Municipal Airport 1953-1955.

External links