4780th Air Defense Wing
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4780th Air Defense Wing
| 4780th Air Defense Wing
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 Emblem of the 4780th Air Defense Wing |
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| Active | 1962-1971 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Air Defense Fighter Training |
| Part of | Air Defense Command |
| Decorations |  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
The 4780th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force (USAF) organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Weapons Center, and it was stationed at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas. It was discontinued on 30 June 1971.
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Contents
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History
In 1958, Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command took responsibility from Air Training Command (ATC) for the conduct of their combat crew training,[citation needed] However, ATC's 3555th Flying Training Wing (Advanced Interceptor), which had trained all-weather interceptor pilots for all USAF commands, including Air Defense Command (ADC) since 1953, continued interceptor crew training.[1] In March 1962, ADC decided it wanted to merge Perrin AFB's interceptor school with other air defense resources.[citation needed] Most interceptor pilots trained at Perrin were assigned to ADC.[2] ADC acquired Perrin from ATC on 1 July 1962 and with it the 3555th Wing and its three Flying Training Squadrons.[3][4] On that date, ADC discontinued the 3555th wing and formed the 4780th Air Defense Wing (Training) with the 3555th's personnel and equipment.[5] In addition to its operational units, the wing was assigned a number of support and maintenance organizations to fulfill its role as USAF host organization for Perrin.
The 4780th trained qualified pilots to operate the F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptor aircraft as combat weapons. In addition, it conducted lead-in training with the F-102 for F-106 Delta Dart and B-58 Hustler.[6][7] From 1962 to 1971 Perrin had the largest fleet of F-102 Delta Dagger's in the US Air Force.[8] Perrin AFB was the only F-102 training base within the Air Defense Command. The wing conducted a water survival school on nearby Lake Texoma, whose graduates included seventeen astronauts.[9]
In October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis the wing suspended its training mission and placed all interceptor aircraft on five minute alert, some flying missions to Florida.[10]
The wing was awarded two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for its performance from 1965 through 1969.[11] In addition, elements of the wing earned a third award for the period from January 1969 through May 1970,[12] In 1969 the 4780th won the United States Air Force Flying Safety Plaque for flying 38,551 hours without a major accident.[8] 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 discontinued.[5]
Lineage
- Designated as the 4780th Air Defense Wing (Training) and organized on 1 July 1962
- Discontinued on 30 June 1971
Assignments
- 73d Air Division, 1 July 1962
- Fourteenth Air Force, 1 April 1966
- Tenth Air Force, 1 July 1968
- Air Defense Weapons Center, 15 November 1969 - 30 June 1971[5]
Stations
- Perrin AFB, Texas, 1 July 1962-30 June 1971
Operational Components
- 4780th Flying Training Squadron (later 4780th Air Defense Squadron), 1 July 1962 - 30 June 1971[13]
- 4781st Flying Training Squadron (later 4781st Combat Crew Training Squadron), 1 July 1962 - 31 Dec 1969[4]
- 4782nd Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 July 1962 - 30 June 1971[4]
Aircraft
- F-102A, 1962-1971
- TF-102A, 1962-1971
- T-33A, 1962-1971
Commanders
- Col. Raymond K. Gallagher, 1 July 1962 - unknown[14]
- Col. John R. Kullman, 7 August 1964 - unknown[7]
- Col. R. H. Dettre, unknown - 30 June 1967[15]
- Col. Walter R, Hardee, Jr., 30 June 1967 - 15 June 1969[15]
- Col. Vermont Garrison, 16 June 1969 - 30 Jun 1971[9]
Awards
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1 July 1965 - 30 June 1967
- 1 July 1967 - 15 January 1969
See also
References
- ^ Abstract, History of 3555th Fly Tng Wg, CY 1953 (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ Abstract, History of 3555th Fly Tng Wg, Jan 1958-Jun 1958 (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 64
- ^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 175
- ^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 68
- ^ Abstract, History of 73rd Air Div, Jul 1962-Dec 1962 (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ a b Abstract, History of 4780th Air Def Wg, CY 1964 (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ a b Brief History of Perrin AFB, Perrin AFB Research Foundation (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ a b Abstract, History of 4780th Air Def Wg, Apr 1969-Jun 1969 (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ Abstract, History of 4780th Air Def Wg, Oct 1962-Dec 1962 (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. I, p.550
- ^ AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. II, p. 120
- ^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 107
- ^ Abstract, Final Historical Report, 3555th Fly Tng Wg (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- ^ a b Abstract, History of 4780th Air Def Wg, Apr 1967-Jun 1967 (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980. Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. pp. `78. http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf.
- AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 Jun 71 [1] (Part 1) [2] (Part 2)
- AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 Sep 76 [3]
External links
- Brief History of Perrin AFB, Perrin Field Historical Society (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
- Brief History of Perrin AFB, Perrin AFB Research Foundation (accessed 15 Mar 2012)
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