520th Air Defense Group
Encyclopedia
The 520th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 4706th Air Defense Wing
, being stationed at Truax Field
, Wisconsin
. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.
Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Truax Field in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of of Great Lakes area. Assigned the 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
and 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which were already stationed at Truax Field. as its operational components. The 432d FIS was flying F-86 "Sabres", while the 433d FIS was flying F-89 "Scorpions." Both squadrons had been assigned directly to the 31st Air Division. In March 1953, the 432d FIS Converted to a later model of the "Sabre". In July 1954, the 433d FIS moved to Alaska and was reassigned. In August 1954, the 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
was activated to replace the 433d FIS.. The 456th FIS was also equipped with "Sabres". Replaced the 78th Air Base Squadron as the USAF host unit for Truax Field. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Inactivated and replaced by the 327th Fighter Group
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.
Provided air defense of Great Lakes area and served as USAF host unit for Truax Field 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 4706th Air Defense Wing
4706th Air Defense Wing
The 4706th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Kincheloe Air Force Base, Michigan...
, being stationed at Truax Field
Dane County Regional Airport
-Statistics:-External links:* Dane County Regional Airport: * Wisconsin Airport Directory: * * - Listen live to Madison's Air Traffic Control...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. 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 340th Bombardment Group in Italy. Returned to the US and was inactivated in late 1945. It was disbanded in 1948.Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Truax Field in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of of Great Lakes area. Assigned the 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 475th Fighter Group stationed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota. It was inactivated on January 2, 1958.-History:Combat in Southwest...
and 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which were already stationed at Truax Field. as its operational components. The 432d FIS was flying F-86 "Sabres", while the 433d FIS was flying F-89 "Scorpions." Both squadrons had been assigned directly to the 31st Air Division. In March 1953, the 432d FIS Converted to a later model of the "Sabre". In July 1954, the 433d FIS moved to Alaska and was reassigned. In August 1954, the 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command San Francisco Air Defense Sector stationed at Oxnard AFB, California. It was inactivated on July 18, 1968.-History:...
was activated to replace the 433d FIS.. The 456th FIS was also equipped with "Sabres". Replaced the 78th Air Base Squadron as the USAF host unit for Truax Field. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Inactivated and replaced by the 327th Fighter Group
327th Fighter Group
The 327th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin...
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 520th Air Service Group on 27 December 1944
- Inactivated on or about 7 November 1945
- Disbanded 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated as 520th Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1953
- Inactivated on 18 August 1955
- Disbanded on 27 September 1984
Assignments
- Unknown, 27 December 1944 - 7 November 1945
- 4706th Defense Wing (later 4706th Air Defense Wing)4706th Air Defense WingThe 4706th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Kincheloe Air Force Base, Michigan...
, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Stations
- Cervioni, Italy, 27 December 1944 - 15 April 1945
- RiminiRiminiRimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
, Italy, 15 April 1945 - 15 July 1945 - Naples, Italy, 15 July 1945 - July 1945
- Camp Patrick HenryCamp Patrick HenryCamp Patrick Henry is a decommissioned United States Army base which was located in Warwick County, Virginia. After World War II, the site was redeveloped as a commercial airport, and became part of City of Newport News in 1958 when the former City of Warwick and Newport News were politically...
, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 18 July 1945 - August 1945 - Seymour Johnson Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
August 1945 - 15 September 1945 - Columbia Army Air Base, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 15 September 1945 - about 7 November 1945 - Truax Field, Wisconsin, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Components
- 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron432d Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 432d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 475th Fighter Group stationed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota. It was inactivated on January 2, 1958.-History:Combat in Southwest...
, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 - 433d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 14 July 1954
- 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron456th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command San Francisco Air Defense Sector stationed at Oxnard AFB, California. It was inactivated on July 18, 1968.-History:...
, 8 August 1954 – 18 August 1955
- Deployed to: George AFB and detached to Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense ForceThe Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
- 520th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 520th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 520th Medical Squadron (later 520th USAF Infirmary), 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 770th Air Materiel Squadron, 25 January 1945 - 7 November 1945
- 946th Air Engineering Squadron, 25 January 1945 - 7 November 1945
Operations
Supported a combat group in Italy. Returned to the US and was inactivated. 1945Provided air defense of Great Lakes area and served as USAF host unit for Truax Field 1953-1955.
Aircraft
- F-86F 1953
- F-86D Sabre Interceptor, 1953-1955
- F-89C Scorpion, 1953-1954
- F-94 StarfireF-94 StarfireThe Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
, 1953