4713th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 4713th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 21st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command
at Westover AFB, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 15 April 1974.
In order to provide the necessary training, the squadron was initially assigned TB-29 Superfortress
es, and some TB-25 Mitchell
s. The B-29s and B-25s contained an assortment of Radar jamming devices to provide the required ECM and a C-47 was used as a support aircraft to ferry personnel and equipment. During the period that the 4713th operated these aircraft, they provided the operators radar squadrons with thousands of hours of ECM training. Effective 8 July 1958, the ADC re-designated the unit as the 4713th Radar Evaluation Squadron (ECM).
By 1959 the World War II aircraft were very expensive to operate, needing excessive amounts of maintenance to remain airworthy and not supportable due to a lack of spare parts. (Note: The last USAF B-29 (a TB-29 radar evaluation aircraft, B-29-15-MO serial number 42-65234) was retired from the USAF inventory at 2010 hours on 21 June 1960, when Major Clarence C. Rarick of the 6023d Radar Evaluation Squadron landed at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, bringing the era of B-29 Superfortress military service to an end.)
The Martin B-57 Canberra
, originally developed as a medium bomber for Tactical Air Command
was being phased out in favor of the F-100 Super Sabre
. Some of these B-57s were reassigned to the squadron to replace the B-29s and B-25s. Also the squadron was moved to Stewart AFB, New York as Griffiss was being turned over to Strategic Air Command
.
In addition to the ECM training for Radar Sites, the B-57s could operate at altitudes over 40,000 feet and train interceptor squadrons with exercises being carried out with F-86D Sabre, F-94C Starfire, and F-89D Scorpions. Later, the B-57Es were adapted to electronic countermeasures and faker target aircraft against F-102 and F-106 interceptors. Following a new electronics fit in the 1960s, the B-57Es were redesignated EB-57E. These specially-equipped EB-57Es were operated until 1974 when the squadron was inactivated as part of the phase-down of ADCOM.
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...
unit. It was last assigned to the 21st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
at Westover AFB, Massachusetts. It was inactivated on 15 April 1974.
History
Activated at Griffiss AFB, New York in 1954, the mission of the squadron was to provide Electronic Counter-Measure (ECM) training and evaluation services to the various Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons.In order to provide the necessary training, the squadron was initially assigned TB-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
es, and some TB-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
s. The B-29s and B-25s contained an assortment of Radar jamming devices to provide the required ECM and a C-47 was used as a support aircraft to ferry personnel and equipment. During the period that the 4713th operated these aircraft, they provided the operators radar squadrons with thousands of hours of ECM training. Effective 8 July 1958, the ADC re-designated the unit as the 4713th Radar Evaluation Squadron (ECM).
By 1959 the World War II aircraft were very expensive to operate, needing excessive amounts of maintenance to remain airworthy and not supportable due to a lack of spare parts. (Note: The last USAF B-29 (a TB-29 radar evaluation aircraft, B-29-15-MO serial number 42-65234) was retired from the USAF inventory at 2010 hours on 21 June 1960, when Major Clarence C. Rarick of the 6023d Radar Evaluation Squadron landed at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, bringing the era of B-29 Superfortress military service to an end.)
The Martin B-57 Canberra
B-57 Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
, originally developed as a medium bomber for Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical 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...
was being phased out in favor of the F-100 Super Sabre
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
. Some of these B-57s were reassigned to the squadron to replace the B-29s and B-25s. Also the squadron was moved to Stewart AFB, New York as Griffiss was being turned over to 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...
.
In addition to the ECM training for Radar Sites, the B-57s could operate at altitudes over 40,000 feet and train interceptor squadrons with exercises being carried out with F-86D Sabre, F-94C Starfire, and F-89D Scorpions. Later, the B-57Es were adapted to electronic countermeasures and faker target aircraft against F-102 and F-106 interceptors. Following a new electronics fit in the 1960s, the B-57Es were redesignated EB-57E. These specially-equipped EB-57Es were operated until 1974 when the squadron was inactivated as part of the phase-down of ADCOM.
Lineage
- Activated as 4713th Radar Evaluation Flight, 18 March 1954
- Re-designated 4713th Radar Evaluation Squadron (ECM), 8 July 1958
- Re-designated 4713th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, 1 January 1960
- Inactivated 15 April 1974
Assignments
- Eastern Air Defense ForceEastern Air Defense ForceThe Eastern Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 18 March 1954 - 26th Air Division, 1 July 1959
- 4063d Air Base Group, 20 October 1959
- Aerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense CommandAerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
, 1 December 1969 - 21st Air Division, 2 October 19972-15 April 1974
Stations
- Griffiss AFB, New York, 18 March 1954
- Stewart AFB, New York, 1 August 1959
- Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1 December 1969
- Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 15 September 1972-15 April 1974
Aircraft
- TB-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1954-1959 - TB-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, 1954-1959 - B-57B (later EB-57E) CanberraB-57 CanberraThe Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
, 1959-1974