530th Air Defense Group

530th Air Defense Group
Active 1945, 1953–1955
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role Air Defense
Part of Air Defense Command

The 530th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 9th Air Division, being stationed at Geiger Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955.

Contents

History

Provided support for flying unit in Italy in 1945 as part of 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.[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 the 301st Bombardment Group at Foggia, Italy.[3] Returned to the United States and briefly supported 301st Bombardment Group again at Pyote Army Airfield before all units at Pyote were inactivated in late 1945.[4] Disbanded in 1948. [5]

Redesignated as an air defense group, reconstituted and activated at Geiger Field on 18 February 1953[6] with responsibility for air defense of the Northwestern United States. Its first operational squadron, the 440th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), was activated at Geiger two days later[7] flying F-86 "Sabre" aircraft. [8] In March 1953, a second F-86 squadron, the 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was activated at Geiger[9] In July 1954, thr 440th FIS moved overseas and was reassigned away from the group.[10] In December 1954, the 530th once again had two flying squadrons, when the 520th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, another F-86 unit[11], was activated. [12] Replaced the 87th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at Geiger Field. Assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities. Supported organizations included its headquarters, the 4702d Defense Wing, and later the 9th Air Division.[13] Replaced by 84th Fighter Group in 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 again in 1984.[15]

Lineage

Activated on 18 May 1945
Inactivated on 17 October 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 support for flying units in Italy. Returned to the United States and inactivated. 1945.

Provided air defense of Northwesern United States. Acted as host unit for USAF units at Geiger Field. 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. ^ Abstract History, 530th Air Service Group, Jun 1945[1]
  4. ^ Abstract History, 530th Air Service Group, Aug 1945-Sep 1945 [2]
  5. ^ Department of the Air Force Letter, 322 (AFOOR 887e), 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
  6. ^ Cornett, & Johnson, A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980 p.83
  7. ^ Maurer (ed.), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force in World War II, p.545
  8. ^ Cornett & Johnson, p.128
  9. ^ Maurer, p. 551
  10. ^ Ibid. p. 545
  11. ^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 130
  12. ^ Maurer, p. 624
  13. ^ Abstract History of 9th Air Div Oct 1954-Dec 54[3]
  14. ^ Buss, (ed.), Sturm, Volan, Denys, & 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
  16. ^ Foggia was a center for Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombardment units. A complex of airfields was located nearby, and station information for the period is inconsistent. Lucera Airfield was also Foggia Airfield No. 12. Units stationed there are sometimes shown as located at Foggia, rather than Lucera.
  17. ^ Mueller, Air Force Bases, Vol. I, p. 431 (showing subordinate units only)

External links

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal