517th Air Defense Group

The group was activated as the 517th Air Service Group in Italy in early 1945, shortly before the end of World War II.[1] It was split from the 323rd Service Group when the Army Air Forces (AAF) replaced Service Groups that included personnel from other branches of the Army and supported two combat groups with Air Service Groups that included only Air Corps units. It was designed to support a single combat group - "scheduled to be" the 464th Bombardment Group.[2][3] Its 943rd Air Engineering Squadron was to provide maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 767th Air Materiel Squadron to handle all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron to provide other support.[2] Together with the 518th Air Service Group, it supported the 464th and 465th Bombardment Groups at Pantanella Airfield[1] (the unit histories are contradictory concerning whether the 517th supported the 464th or 465th group). The group relocated to Trinidad[1] and provided support to combat units redeploying from Europe to the United States. It was disbanded in 1948.[4]

134th Fighter Squadron F-51H Mustangs[note 1]

During the Cold War, the group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 517th Air Defense Group, and activated at Ethan Allan AFB in 1953[5] with responsibility for air defense of upper New England. It was assigned the 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), which was already stationed at Ethan Allan AFB, and flying World War II era F-51 Mustangs[6] as its operational component.[7] The 37th FIS had been assigned directly to the 4711th Defense Wing.[7] The group replaced the 75th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at the base. It was assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[8][9]

The 37th FIS converted to airborne intercept radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed North American F-86 Sabres in June 1953.[6] The group was inactivated in 1955[5] and replaced by the 14th Fighter Group (Air Defense)[10][11] as result 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]

• XII Air Force Service Command, 13 January 1945 – c.. 27 May 1945
• Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command c. 6 June 1945 – 31 July 1945
• 4711th Defense Wing, (later 4711th Air Defense Wing), 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955

• Caserta, Italy 13 January 1945 – 1945
• Pantanella Airfield, Italy 1945 -27 May 1945
• Waller Field, Trinidad 16 June 1945 – 31 July 1945
• Ethan Allen AFB, Vermont, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955

Operational Squadron

• 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[14]

Support Units

• 517th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
• 517th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[8]
• 517th Medical Squadron (later 517th USAF Infirmary),[9] 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955
• 767th Air Materiel Squadron 13 January 1945 – 31 July 1945
• 943rd Air Engineering Squadron 13 January 1945 – 31 July 1945

• F-51D, 1953
• F-86D, 1953–1955

• Maj. William C. Richardson, c.. 13 Jan 1945 – c.. Feb 1945[15]
• Lt Col. Lloyd L. Connell, c.. Feb 1945 – after 15 Jun 1945[1]
• Unknown 16 Feb 1953–18 Aug 1955

Explanatory notes

Footnotes

 This article incorporates public domain material from 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)
• Coleman, John M (1950). The Development of Tactical Services in the Army Air Forces. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
• Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.