567th Air Defense Group
567th Air Defense Group
 | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Active | 1944-1945, 1952–1955 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Branch |
 United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Interceptor |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Air Defense Command |
| Garrison/HQ | McChord Air Force Base |
The 567th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, where it was inactivated in 1955. The group was originally activated as a support unit for a combat group at the end of World War II but never deployed before it was inactivated in 1945.
The group was activated once again in 1952 to replace the support elements of the inactivating 325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing. A year later ADC established it as an operational headquarters for fighter-interceptor squadrons as well. It was replaced in 1955 when ADC transferred its mission, equipment, and personnel to the 325th Fighter Group in a project that replaced air defense groups commanding fighter squadrons with fighter groups with distinguished records during World War II.
History
World War II
The group was activated at Venice Army Air Field, Florida toward the end of World War II as the 567th Air Service Group and trained to support a single combat group in an overseas theater.[1] Its 985th Air Engineering Squadron would provide maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 1005th Air Materiel Squadron would handle all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron would provide other support.[1] It was inactivated before it could be deployed overseas.[2] The unit was disbanded in 1948.[3]
Cold War
During the Cold War the group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 567th Air Base Group, and activated at McChord Air Force Base, Washington in 1952[4] as part of a major reorganization of Air Defense Command (ADC) responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage.[5] It replaced the 325th Air Base Group[6] as the USAF host unit for McChord.[7] while the operational elements of the inactivating 325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing[8] transferred to the 4704th Defense Wing. The group was assigned seven squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[7][9][10][11][12] The group Also maintained aircraft stationed at McChord.[10]
The group was redesignated as the 567th Air Defense Group[4] and assumed responsibility for air defense of the Northwest United States. It was assigned the 317th and 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons (FIS), flying early model Lockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft armed with 20 mm cannon,[13] from the 4704th Defense Wing as its operational elements.[14][15] The same day, the 465th FIS, flying radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed North American F-86D Sabres[16] was activated as the group's third operational squadron.[17] In July 1953, the 318th FIS moved to Greenland and was transferred from the group.[15] In December 1953, the 317th FIS converted to F-86's.[13]
The group was inactivated in 1955[4] and replaced by the 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense)[18][19] as result 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.[20] The group was disbanded once again in 1984.[21]
Lineage
- Constituted as: 567th Air Service Group in 1944
- Activated on 7 December 1944[22]
- Inactivated ca. 15 August 1945
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated 567th Air Base Group, on 1 January 1952
- Activated on 1 February 1952
- Redesignated as 567th Air Defense Group on 16 February 1953
- Inactivated on 18 August 1955
- Disbanded on 27 September 1984
Assignments
- Warner Robins Air Technical Service Command, 7 December 1944 - 1945
- 4704th Defense Wing, 1 February 1952 - 8 October 1954[4]
- 25th Air Division, 8 October 1954 – 18 August 1955[4]
Components
|
Operational Squadrons
|
Support Squadrons
|
Stations
- Venice Army Air Field, Florida, 7 Dec 1944 - 1945[22]
- McChord Air Force Base, Washington, 1 Feb 1952 – 18 Aug 1955
Aircraft
- North American F-86D Sabre, 1953-1955
- Lockheed F-94A Starfighter, 1953
Commanders
- Unknown, 7 Dec 1944 - 19 December 1944
- Lt Col. William H. Worley, 19 December 1944 - 1945[22]
- Unknown 1 February 1952 -18 August 1955
See also
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
- List of F-86 Sabre units
- F-94 Starfire units of the United States Air Force
References
Notes
- 1 2 Coleman, p. 208
- ↑ Coleman, p. 215
- ↑ Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
- 1 2 3 4 5 Cornett & Johnson, p. 85
- ↑ Grant, p. 33
- ↑ Kane, Robert B. (2011-01-14). "Factsheet 325 Mission Support Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- 1 2 3 Mueller, pp. 391–395
- ↑ Kane, Robert B. (2011-01-14). "Factsheet 325 Fighter Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- 1 2 Cornett & Johnson, p. 134
- 1 2 3 Cornett & Johnson, p. 141
- 1 2 Cornett & Johnson, p. 152
- 1 2 See Abstract, History of 567th Medical Squadron, Apr 1952 (accessed 17 June 2012)
- 1 2 Cornett & Johnson p.116
- ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 387
- 1 2 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 389
- ↑ Cornett & Johnson, p.129
- ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp.571-572
- ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 207
- ↑ Kane, Robert B. (2011-01-14). "Factsheet 325 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ↑ Buss, Sturm, Volan, & McMullen, p.6
- ↑ Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
- 1 2 3 Abstract, History of 567th Air Service Group, Dec 1944 (accessed 17 June 2012)
- ↑ Robertson, Patsy (2012-07-03). "Factsheet 465 Air Refueling Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 See Mueller, p. 395
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956)
- Coleman, John M (1950). The Development of Tactical Services in the Army Air Forces. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center.
- Grant, C.L., (1961) The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Further Reading
- Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol I. 1945-1955. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1.
