527th Air Defense Group
Encyclopedia
The 527th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 4708th Air Defense Wing
, being stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base
, Michigan
. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.
Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Wurtsmith AFB in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of of the Great Lakes area. Assigned the 63d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Oscoda AFB (renamed Wurtsmith AFB the day before the 527th was activated), and flying F-86 "Sabres" as its operational component. The 63rd FIS had been assigned directly to the 4706th Defense Wing. The 63d FIS upgraded to later model "Sabres" in May 1954 and to F-89 "Scorpions" in early 1955. Replaced 84th Air Base Squadron as USAF Host unit at Wurtsmith. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Replaced by 412th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 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.
Served as USAF Host unit at Oscoda AFB and assumed responsibility for air defense of the Great Lakes Area. 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 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 Wurtsmith Air Force Base
Wurtsmith Air Force Base
Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The former base includes located approximately two miles west of Lake Huron in the Charter Township of Oscoda, bordered by Van Ettan Lake, the Au Sable State...
, 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 shortly after VE Day 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 the 461st Bombardment Group in Italy. Returned to the US and was inactivated. It was disbanded in 1948.Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Wurtsmith AFB in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of of the Great Lakes area. Assigned the 63d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Oscoda AFB (renamed Wurtsmith AFB the day before the 527th was activated), and flying F-86 "Sabres" as its operational component. The 63rd FIS had been assigned directly to the 4706th Defense Wing. The 63d FIS upgraded to later model "Sabres" in May 1954 and to F-89 "Scorpions" in early 1955. Replaced 84th Air Base Squadron as USAF Host unit at Wurtsmith. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Replaced by 412th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 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 527th Air Service Group on 27 May 1945
- Disbanded on 28 August 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated as 527th 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 May 1945 - 28 August 1945
- 4708th Defense Wing (later 4708th Air Defense Wing), 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Stations
- Santuario dell' Incoronata, Italy, 27 May 1945 - 1945
- Torretto, Italy, 1945 - 1945
- Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, 1945 - 28 August 1945 - Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Components
- 63d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- 527th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 527th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 527th Medical Squadron (later 527th USAF Infirmary), 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 777th Air Materiel Squadron, 27 May 1945 - 28 August 1945
- 953rd Air Engineering Squadron, 27 May 1945 - 28 August 1945
Operations
Provided support for combat group in Italy. Returned to the US and was inactivated. 1945Served as USAF Host unit at Oscoda AFB and assumed responsibility for air defense of the Great Lakes Area. 1953-1955