| 514th Air Defense Group | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1944-1946, 1953–1955 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Interceptor |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Air Defense Command |
The 514th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force (USAF) organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955
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The group was activated as the 514th Air Service Group in late 1944[1] as part of a reorganization of Army Air Forces (AAF) 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. The group drew its personnel and equipment from the disbanded 306th Service Group[1] It was designed to support a single combat group.[2] Its 940th Air Engineering Squadron provided maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 764th Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[2] Supported 319th Bombardment Group in Italy, then returned to the United States for transfer to the Pacific Theater.[1] The group sailed from Naples, Italy to Boston, MA and Staged through Fort Lawton, WA and the Caroline Islands before arriving on Okinawa.[1] Performed same mission on Okinawa. Awarded credit for participation in the Ryukus Campaign.[3] Disbanded in 1948.[4]
The unit was redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport in 1953.[5] with responsibility for air defense for Upper Midwestern United States.[citation needed] Assigned the 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), which was already stationed at Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, and flying [[World War II] era F-51 Mustangs[6] as its operational component.[7] The 18th FIS had been assigned directly to the 31st Air Division. The 18th FIS upgraded to F-86 Sabres in July[6] then to a later model F-86 in December.[6] It finally replaced its F-86s with Northrop F-89 Scorpions in January 1954.[6] In September 1954, the 18th FIS moved to Alaska and was reassigned.[7] A second operational squadron, the 337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, was activated and assigned to the group in 1954.[8] The 337th FIS flew F-89s while assigned to the group.[9] The group replaced the 72nd Air Base Squadron as host active duty USAF unit at Minneapolis-St Paul Airport. It was assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[10] The group inactivated[5] with its personnel and equipment being transferred to 475th Fighter Group (Defense) in 1955[11] as part of Air Defense Command'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.[12] The group was disbanded once again in 1984.[13]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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