519th Air Defense Group
Encyclopedia
The 519th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 4709th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on 18 February 1955.
Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Suffolk County AFB in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of the Northeastern United States. Assigned the 45th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which were already stationed at Suffolk County AFB, flying F-86 "Sabres" as its operational components. The 45th FIS and 75th FIS had been assigned directly to the 4709th Defense Wing. Eight days later, the 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
, equipped with an improved model of the "Sabre" was activated and assigned to the group. In May 1953, the 45th FIS moved to Morocco and was reassigned away from the group. Later in 1953, the 75th FIS upgraded to improved "Sabres". Replaced 77th Air Base Squadron as USAF host unit at Suffolk County AFB. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.. Inactivated and replaced by 52d Fighter Group (Air Defense) 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. Disbanded once again in 1984.
Provided air defense for the Northeastern United Statese and was USAF host unit at Suffolk County AFB. 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 4709th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on 18 February 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 the 485th Bombardment Group in Italy. Returned to the US, where it continued to support bombardment groups. Deployed to Alaska with the 97th Bombardment Group. Replaced by 97th Airdrome Group, 97th Maintenance & Supply Group, and 97th Station Medical Group as part of the Air Force Wing/Base reorganization (Hobson Plan) in 1947. It was disbanded in 1948.Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Suffolk County AFB in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of the Northeastern United States. Assigned the 45th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which were already stationed at Suffolk County AFB, flying F-86 "Sabres" as its operational components. The 45th FIS and 75th FIS had been assigned directly to the 4709th Defense Wing. Eight days later, the 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Webb Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on March 1, 1967-History:...
, equipped with an improved model of the "Sabre" was activated and assigned to the group. In May 1953, the 45th FIS moved to Morocco and was reassigned away from the group. Later in 1953, the 75th FIS upgraded to improved "Sabres". Replaced 77th Air Base Squadron as USAF host unit at Suffolk County AFB. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.. Inactivated and replaced by 52d Fighter Group (Air Defense) 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. Disbanded once again in 1984.
Lineage
- Activated as: 519th Air Service Group on 20 January 1945
- Inactivated 1 December 1947
- Disbanded 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted and redesignated as: 519th Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1953
- Inactivated on 18 August 1955
- Disbanded on 27 September 1984
Assignments
- Unknown, 20 January 1945 - 1945
- 20th Bombardment Wing (later VIII Bomber Command), 1945 - March 1946
- Fifteenth Air ForceFifteenth Air ForceThe Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, March 1946 - 1947 - 4709th Defense Wing (later 4709th Air Defense Wing), 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
Stations
- Venosa Airfield, Italy, 20 January 1945 - 8 May 1945
- Capodichino Airport , Naples, Italy, 8 May 1945 - 15 May 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...
, May 1945 - May 1945 - Sioux City Army Air Base, IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, 1945 - 8 September 1945 - Salina Army Airfield, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 8 September 1945 - 4 October 1947 - Mile 26 Field, AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, 4 October 1947 - 1 December 1947 - Suffolk County AFB, New York, 6 February 1952 – 18 August 1955
Components
- 45th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 28 May 1953
- 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
- 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron331st Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command stationed at Webb Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on March 1, 1967-History:...
, 24 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 - 519th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 519th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 519th Medical Squadron (later 519th USAF Infirmary), 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955
- 769th Air Materiel Squadron, 20 January 1945 - 1 December 1947
- 945th Air Engineering Squadron, 20 January 1945 - 1 December 1947
Operations
Supported one combat group in Italy. Returned to the US, where it continued to support bombardment groups. 1945-1947Provided air defense for the Northeastern United Statese and was USAF host unit at Suffolk County AFB. 1953-1955