4729th Air Defense Group

The 4729th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Boston Air Defense Sector at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was discontinued in 1958.

4729th Air Defense Group
324th FIS F-86D Sabres at Westover AFB
Active	1957–1958
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter Interceptor
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

The group was formed to provide a single command and support organization for the two fighter interceptor squadrons of Air Defense Command, that were tenants at Westover, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. It was also assigned a maintenance squadron to perform aircraft maintenance. It was discontinued after the 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron moved in 1958, leaving only a single fighter squadron at Westover.

History

The 4729th Air Defense Group was established to provide a headquarters for the two Air Defense Command (ADC) Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons (FIS) stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts,^[1] a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. SAC's 814th Air Base Group acted as host organization for the base.^[2]

The group was assigned the 324th FIS and 337th FIS, flying radar equipped and rocket armed North American F-86D Sabre aircraft^[3][4] as its operational components,^[5][6] to provide air defense of New England. These squadrons were already stationed at Westover and had been assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector.^[5][6] In August, maintenance for the two fighter squadrons was combined in the 603rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS), which was activated at Westover.^[7] The 324th FIS and 337th FIS upgraded to newer model Sabres with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system in the fall of 1957.^[3][4] In the spring of 1958, the 337th FIS converted to Lockheed F-104 Starfighter aircraft.^[3]

The group was discontinued when the 324th FIS departed for Morocco, leaving only a single operational ADC squadron at Westover.^[1][5] The 603rd CAMS was also inactivated, while the 337th FIS was then assigned directly to the Boston Air Defense Sector.^[6][7]

Lineage

• Designated and organized as: 4729th Air Defense Group on 8 July 1957

Discontinued on 25 June 1958

Assignments

• Boston Air Defense Sector, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958^[1]

Stations

• Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958

Components

• 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958
• 337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 July 1957 – 25 June 1958
• 603rd Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 8 August 1957 – 8 February 1958^[7]

Aircraft

• North American F-86D Sabre 1957
• North American F-86L Sabre 1957–1958
• Lockheed F-104A Starfighter 1958

See also

• List of Lockheed F-104 Starfighter operators
• List of Sabre and Fury units in the US military
• List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons

References

Notes

1. Cornett & Johnson, p. 89
2. Mueller, pp. 578, 582–583
3. Cornett & Johnson, p. 125
4. Cornett & Johnson, p. 127
5. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 399
6. Maurer, p.417
7. Cornett & Johnson, p.142

Bibliography

• 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
• 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.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.

Further reading

• Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2012.