521st Air Defense Group

521st Air Defense Group
Active 1945, 1953–1955
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role Air Defense
Part of Air Defense Command

The 521st Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 31st Air Division, being stationed at Sioux City Municipal Airport, Iowa. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.

Contents

History

Activated in 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. Designed to support a single combat group.[1] 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.[2] Supported 310th Bombardment Group in Italy. Returned to the US in 1945 and was inactivated. It was disbanded in 1948.[3]

Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Sioux City Municipal Airport in 1953 [4] with responsibility for air defense of central Midwestern United States. Assigned the 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), which was already stationed at Sioux City Airport, and flying F-51 "Mustangs"[5] as its operational component.[6] The 87th FIS had been assigned directly to the 31st Air Division.[7] In the fall of 1953 the 87th FIS upgraded to F-86 "Sabre" aircraft[8] and the 14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, also flying "Sabres", [9] was activated as the group's second operational squadron.[10] In November 1954 the 87th FIS moved to England and was reassigned.[11] The 87th FIS was replaced the next month by the 519th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, another "Sabre" squadron.[12] Replaced 79th Air Base Squadron as the host USAF unit at Sioux City Municipal Airport. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[13] Replaced by 53d Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 1955 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.[14] Disbanded once again in 1984.[15]

Lineage

Activated on 1 January 1945
Inactivated on or about 7 November 1945
Disbanded on 8 October 1948
Activated on 16 February 1953
Inactivated on 18 August 1955
Disbanded on 27 September 1984

Assignments

Stations

Components

Operations

Provided administrative, supply and maintenance supportfor one combat group in Italy in 1945. Returned to the US in 1945 and was inactivated.

Provided air defense of central Midwest and served as active duty USAF host unit at Sioux City Municipal Airport 1953-1955.

Aircraft

References

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

  1. ^ Coleman, The Development of Tactical Services in the Army Air Forces, p. 208
  2. ^ Ibid.
  3. ^ Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
  4. ^ Cornett & Johnson, A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, p.82
  5. ^ Ibid. p.120
  6. ^ Maurer (ed.), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, p.300
  7. ^ Ibid. p.299
  8. ^ Cornett & Johnson, p.120
  9. ^ Ibid. p.114
  10. ^ Maurer, p.78
  11. ^ Ibid. p.300
  12. ^ Cornett & Johnson, p.130; Maurer, pp.623-624
  13. ^ Cornett & Johnson, p.147
  14. ^ Buss, (ed.), Sturm, Volan, & McMullen, History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, p.6
  15. ^ Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units

External links

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal