The 575th 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 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 Selfridge Air Force Base, 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"....

. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.

History

Activated in 1946 to provide support for 4th Fighter Group at Selfridge Field. 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. Transferred on paper to Andrews Field

Andrews Field

Andrews Field may refer to*Joint Base Andrews in the United States*RAF Andrews Field in England...

, where it was inactivated in 1947. It was disbanded in 1948.

Redesignated as an air base group, reconstituted, and activated at Selfridge AFB in 1952. It replaced the 56th Air Base Group as host unit for Selfridge. Assigned seven squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Also maintained aircraft stationed at Selfridge.
Redesignated as an air defense group in 1953 and assumed responsibility for air defense of the upper Great Lakes area. Assigned the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

The 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Detroit Air Defense Sector, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...

, flying F-86 "Sabre" aircraft 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying F-94 "Starfire" aircraft and 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying F-51 "Mustang" aircraft from the 4708th Defense Wing as its operational elements. The three squadrons were already stationed at Selfridge. In May 1953, the 431st FIS converted to Sabres and the next month moved to Libya and was assigned away from the group. Meanwhile, in April 1953, the 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

The 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Minot Air Defense Sector, stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana. It was inactivated on 30 June 1968-History:...

, flying a newer model of the F-86 aircraft was activated as a fourth operational squadron. In July the 56th FIS upgraded to newer "Sabres," so that when the 61st FIS moved to Newfoundland and was transferred out of the group in August, all squadrons of the 575th were flying the same aircraft, the F-86D, for the first time. Replaced by 1st Fighter Group(Air 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 again in 1984.

Lineage

• Established as: 575th Air Service Group on or about 5 September 1946

Inactivated on 15 August 1947

Disbanded on 8 October 1948

• Reconstituted and redesignated 575th Air Base Group on 1 January 1952

Activated on 1 February 1952

• Redesignated as 575th Air Defense Group on 16 February 1953

Inactivated on 18 August 1955

Disbanded on 27 September 1984

Assignments

• Fifteenth Air Force
  Fifteenth Air Force
  The 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....
  
  , 1946 - 26 March 1947
• Strategic Air Command
  Strategic Air Command
  The 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...
  
  , 26 March 1947 - 15 August 1947
• 4708th Defense Wing (later 4708th Air Defense Wing), 7 February 1952 – 18 August 1955

Stations

• Selfridge Field, Michigan, 5 September 1946 - 26 March 1947
• Andrews Field, Maryland, 26 March 1947 - 15 August 1947
• Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 7 February 1952 – 18 August 1955

Components

• 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 27 April 1953 – 18 August 1955
• 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
• 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 6 August 1953
• 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 23 June 1953
• 575th Air Police Squadron, 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 575th Food Service Squadron, 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 575th Field Maintenance Squadron, 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 575th Installations Squadron, 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 575th Medical Squadron (later 575th USAF Hospital), 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 575th Motor Vehicle Squadron, 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 575th Operations Squadron, 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 575th Supply Squadron, 1 February 1952 - 18 August 1955
• 1044th Air Engineering Squadron, 1946 - 15 August 1947
• 1054th Air Materiel Squadron, 1946 - 15 August 1947

Operations

Provided support for one combat group until mid 1947, nonoperational for remainder of year. 1946-1947

Served as USAF host base unit for Selfridge AFB, 1952-1955. Provided air defense of upper Great Lakes area. 1953-1955

External links