4780th Air Defense Wing
Encyclopedia
The 4780th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Tenth Air Force
, being stationed at Perrin Air Force Base
, Texas
. It was inactivated on 30 June 1971
and Tactical Air Command
took responsibility for conduct of their combat crew training, Air Defense Command (ADC) retained Air Training Command
(ATC) to train pilots as all-weather interceptor crews. However, in March 1962, ADC decided it wanted to merge Perrin AFB's interceptor school with other air defense resources. ADC acquired Perrin from ATC on 1 July 1962 and with it the 3555th Flying Training Wing. On that date, ADC discontinued the 3555th and using the wing's assets, formed the 4780th Air Defense Wing (Training).
From 1962 to 1971 Perrin had the largest fleet of F-102 Delta Dagger
's in the US Air Force. Perrin AFB became the only F-102 training base within the Air Defense Command.
The 4780th trained already jet-qualified pilots to operate interceptor-type aircraft as combat weapons. Perrin graduates of the F-102 were assigned to active duty units or went on for further instruction in the F-101 Voodoo
, F-106 Delta Dart
or B-58 Hustler
operations.
In October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis
a number of Perrin pilots and aircraft went on special alert, some flying missions to Florida
. Under the 4780th there were two flying squadrons, the 4781st and 4782nd CCTS. The 4780th was under the command jurisdiction of 73d Air Division
until April 1966.
In 1969 the 4780th won many honors for their accomplishments, which included three outstanding unit awards and the United States Air Force Flying Safety Plaque for flying 38,551 hours without a major accident. From its inception, pilots from Perrin trained in the BT-14, BT-13A, AT-6, T-28 trainers, B-25, B-26 bomber, T-33 & T-37 jet trainers, F-86D & F-86L Sabre jets and F102 & TF102 delta wing jet. Pilots trained at Perrin served in World War II
; the Korean War
and Vietnam War
. Perrin trained dozens of aces and forty-nine United States astronauts. On March 3, 1971, it was announced that Perrin would close. On May 13, 1971, the last graduating class flew its F102's in formation over Sherman
and Denison, Texas
as a farewell to its two host cities.
A few days later the last of the F-102 Delta Daggers left the base, and the 4780th Air Defense Wing was deactivated.
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 Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, being stationed at Perrin Air Force Base
Perrin Air Force Base
Perrin Air Force Base is an inactive United States Air Force base, approximately 7 miles northeast of Sherman, Texas. It was active during World War II as pilot training airfield and during the Cold War as a combat crew and flying training base...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It was inactivated on 30 June 1971
History
In 1958, Strategic Air CommandStrategic 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...
and 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...
took responsibility for conduct of their combat crew training, Air Defense Command (ADC) retained Air Training Command
Air Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
(ATC) to train pilots as all-weather interceptor crews. However, in March 1962, ADC decided it wanted to merge Perrin AFB's interceptor school with other air defense resources. ADC acquired Perrin from ATC on 1 July 1962 and with it the 3555th Flying Training Wing. On that date, ADC discontinued the 3555th and using the wing's assets, formed the 4780th Air Defense Wing (Training).
From 1962 to 1971 Perrin had the largest fleet of F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
's in the US Air Force. Perrin AFB became the only F-102 training base within the Air Defense Command.
The 4780th trained already jet-qualified pilots to operate interceptor-type aircraft as combat weapons. Perrin graduates of the F-102 were assigned to active duty units or went on for further instruction in the F-101 Voodoo
F-101 Voodoo
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military jet fighter which served the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
, F-106 Delta Dart
F-106 Delta Dart
The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it has proven to be the last dedicated interceptor in USAF service to date...
or B-58 Hustler
B-58 Hustler
The Convair B-58 Hustler was the first operational supersonic jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. The aircraft was designed by Convair engineer Robert H. Widmer and developed for the United States Air Force for service in the Strategic Air Command during the 1960s...
operations.
In October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
a number of Perrin pilots and aircraft went on special alert, some flying missions to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Under the 4780th there were two flying squadrons, the 4781st and 4782nd CCTS. The 4780th was under the command jurisdiction of 73d Air Division
73d Air Division
The 73d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.-World War II:...
until April 1966.
In 1969 the 4780th won many honors for their accomplishments, which included three outstanding unit awards and the United States Air Force Flying Safety Plaque for flying 38,551 hours without a major accident. From its inception, pilots from Perrin trained in the BT-14, BT-13A, AT-6, T-28 trainers, B-25, B-26 bomber, T-33 & T-37 jet trainers, F-86D & F-86L Sabre jets and F102 & TF102 delta wing jet. Pilots trained at Perrin served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Perrin trained dozens of aces and forty-nine United States astronauts. On March 3, 1971, it was announced that Perrin would close. On May 13, 1971, the last graduating class flew its F102's in formation over Sherman
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Denison, Texas
Denison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
as a farewell to its two host cities.
A few days later the last of the F-102 Delta Daggers left the base, and the 4780th Air Defense Wing was deactivated.
Lineage
- Established as: 4780th Air Defense Wing on 1 July 1962
- Activated by redesignation of 3555th Flying Training Wing, 1 July 1962
- Inactivated on 30 June 1971
Assignments
- 73d Air Division73d Air DivisionThe 73d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.-World War II:...
, 1 July 1962 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 1 April 1966-30 June 1971