4710th Air Defense Wing

The 4710th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued unit of the United States Air Force. It was last stationed at O'Hare International Airport, Illinois, where it was assigned to the 37th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC). It was discontinued on 8 July 1956.

History

The 4710th Defense Wing was organized at the beginning of February 1952 at New Castle AFB, Delaware and assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force as part of a major reorganization of ADC^[1] to assume operational control and the air defense mission of fighter squadrons formerly assigned to the inactivating Air National Guard (ANG) 113th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (FIW).^[2] The 142d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was located at New Castle^[3] with the wing headquarters, the 148th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was a few miles away at Dover AFB, Delaware,^[3] and the 121st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was stationed at Andrews AFB, Maryland.^[4] All three squadrons flew F-94 Starfire aircraft.^[4][3] The 113th FIW had been called up and moved to New Castle to replace elements of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing which had deployed to Far East Air Force because of the Korean War.^[5][6] The wing's mission was to train and maintain tactical flying units in state of readiness in order to defend Northeast United States.^[7] The 82nd Air Base Squadron assumed base support duties at New Castle from inactivating elements of the 113th FIW. In November 1952, the 121st,^[4] 142nd,^[3] and 148th FIS^[3] were returned to the control of the ANG and replaced by the 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Dover,^[8] the 95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Andrews,^[9] and the 96th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at New Castle.^[10]

At the beginning of 1953, the 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was converting from World War II era F-47 Thunderbolts to F-84 Thunderjet aircraft^[11], moved from Grenier AFB, New Hampshire to Langley AFB, Virginia and was assigned to the wing.^[12] In February 1953, another major reorganization of ADC activated Air Defense Groups (Air Def Gp) at ADC bases with dispersed fighter squadrons. Air Def Gps were assigned to defense wings and assumed direct control of the fighter squadrons at those bases, as well as support squadrons to carry out their role as the USAF host organizations at the bases. As a result of this reorganization, the 525th Air Defense Group activated at New Castle.^[13] The reorganization also resulted in the wing adding the detection, control and warning mission, and it was assigned four Aircraft Control & Warning Squadrons (AC&W Sq) to perform this mission, although one was reassigned a few months later.^[14][15] In the same reorganization, the wing was reassigned to the 26th Air Division.^[1] Fighter squadrons of the wing converted to newer aircraft during the year, the 48th FIS joined the other squadrons of the wing in flying Starfires^[11], although the 95th FIS abandoned its Starfires for F-86 Sabres.^[16]

In 1955, ADC implemented 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. ^[17]. As a result of this project, the 82nd Fighter Group (Air Defense) replaced the 525th Air Def Gp at New Castle, but because of impending changes in air defense system boundaries, it was assigned directly to the 26th Air Division.^[18][13]

In March 1956, the wing's components were reassigned to the 26th and 85th Air Divisions and the a reduced strength wing moved to Illinois as ADC prepared for the imlementation of the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system.^{[8][9][12][1][14][15]} It was discontinued there in July.^[1]

Lineage

• Designated as the 4710th Defense Wing and organized on 1 February 1952

Redesignated as 4710th Air Defense Wing on 1 July 1954

Discontinued on 8 July 1956

Assignments

• Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 February 1952
• 26th Air Division, 16 February 1953
• 37th Air Division, 1 March 1956 - 8 July 1956

Components

Groups

• 82d Fighter Group (Air Defense), 18 August 1955 - 1 March 1956
• 525th Air Defense Group, 16 February 1953 - 18 August 1955

Squadrons

Stations

• New Castle Air Force Base (originally New Castle Airport), Delaware, 6 February 1952
• O'Hare International Airport, Illinois, 1 March 1956 - 8 July 1956

Aircraft

• F-47D, 1953
• F-84G, 1953
• F-86D, 1953-1956
• F-94B, 1952-1953
• F-94C, 1953-1956

Commanders

• Col. G. B. Greene, Jr., 6 February 1952 - 14 July 1952^[19]
• Col. Milton H. Askins, 14 July 1952 - 1956^[7]

See also

	Military of the United States portal
	United States Air Force portal

• List of MAJCOM wings of the United States Air Force
• Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
• List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• 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)
• Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980. Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf. 
• Endicott, Judy G., ed. The USAF in Korea, Campaigns, Units and Stations 1950-1953. Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency. ISBN 0-16-050901-7. http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100526-045.pdf. 
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/combat_sq_of_the_af_wwii.pdf. 
• Ravenstein, Charles A (1984). Air Force Combat Wings', Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/combat_wings.pdf. 
• Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 9720912. http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bn/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231. 

External links

• Factsheet, 48th Flying Training Squadron (accessed 12 Mar 2012)
• Factsheet, 95th Fighter Squadron (accessed 12 Mar 2012)
• Factsheet, 96th Flying Training Squadron (accessed 3 Mar 2012)

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