564th Air Defense Group

The group was activated during World War II at Stinson Field, Texas as the 564th Air Service Group in 1944[1] and trained to support a single combat group in an overseas theater.[2] Its 995th Air Engineering Squadron would provide maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 1002nd Air Materiel Squadron would handle all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron would provide other support.[2] The group was inactivated before it could be deployed overseas.[3] It was disbanded in 1948.[4]

437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-94s over Cape Cod 1953[lower-alpha 2]

During the Cold War the group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 564th Air Base Group, and activated at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts in 1952[5] in a major reorganization of Air Defense Command (ADC) responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage.[6] It replaced the 33rd Air Base Group as USAF host unit for Otis. The group was assigned eight squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[7][8][9][10][11] It also assumed aircraft maintenance responsibility from the 33d Maintenance & Supply Group for units stationed at Otis.[12] The operational elements of the inactivating 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing were assigned to the 4707th Defense Wing.[13][14]

In 1953 the group was redesignated the 564th Air Defense Group[5] and assumed responsibility for air defense of the Boston area. It was assigned the 58th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), flying Lockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft equipped with air intercept radar and armed with cannon,[15] from the 4707th Defense Wing as its operational element.[14] The 58th FIS was already stationed at Otis.[14] In April 1953, the 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying a newer model of the F-94 aircraft armed with Mighty Mouse rockets,[16] was activated as a second operational squadron.[17] The 58th FIS upgraded to the newer F-94s by June 1953[15] and both squadrons converted to Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft in June 1955.[15][16] The group was inactivated[5] and replaced by the 33d Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 18 August 1955[18][19] as result of ADC'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.[20] The group was disbanded once again in 1984.[21]

• San Antonio Air Technical Service Command, 5 December 1944 – 30 June 1945
• 4707th Defense Wing (later 4707th Air Defense Wing), 1 February 1952 – 18 August 1955[5]

• Stinson Field, Texas, 5 December 1944 – 30 June 1945
• Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 1 February 1952 – 18 August 1955[5]

• 58th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955[22]
• 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 27 April 1953 – 18 August 1955[23]

• Northrop F-89D Scorpion, 1955[15][16]
• Lockheed F-94B Starfighter, 1953[15]
• Lockheed F-94C Starfighter, 1953–1955[15][16]

• Unknown, 5 December 1944 – 9 December 1944
• Maj. Joseph D. Clemens, 9 December 1944 – 11 December 1944
• Lt Col. Lawrence L. Martin, 11 December 1944 – 12 December 1944
• Lt Col. Clifford R. Rassmussen, 12 December 1944 – 6 March 1945
• Lt Col. Hugh H. Master, 6 March 1945 – 30 June 1945
• Unknown, 1952 – 1953
• Col. Luther H. Richmond, 1953 – 18 August 1955

Explanatory notes

Citations

 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 23 November 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
• Grant, C.L., (1961) The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126
• 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.