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The 4728th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the New York Air Defense Sector at Dover Air Force Base.

The group was formed to provide a single command and support organization for the two fighter interceptor squadrons of Air Defense Command (ADC), that were tenants at Dover, a Military Air Transport Service (MATS) base. It was also assigned a maintenance squadron to perform aircraft maintenance. It was discontinued after the 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron inactivated in 1958, leaving only a single fighter squadron at Griffiss.

History

The 4728th Air Defense Group was organized in early 1957. The group was established to provide a headquarters for Air Defense Command (ADC) Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons (FIS) stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware,^[1] a Military Air Transport Service base,^[2] whose 1607th Air Base Group acted as the host base organization.^[3] It was assigned the 46th FIS, flying Lockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft,^[4] armed with Mighty Mouse rockets. and the 98th FIS, flying Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft,^[5] armed with both Mighty Mouse rockets and AIM-4 Falcons as its operational squadrons.^[6]^[7] Both aircraft had a radar officer to operate the aircraft airborne intercept radar. The group mission was air defense of the Middle Atlantic Area of the United States.^{[citation needed]} These squadrons were already stationed at Dover and had been assigned to the New York Air Defense Sector.^[6]^[7]

In August, maintenance for the two squadrons was combined in the 604th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS), which was activated at Dover.^[8] The 98th FIS converted to newer model F-89s, which could carry nuclear armed AIR-2 Genies, in the fall of 1957.^[5] The group was discontinued when the 46th FIS was inactivated,^[6] leaving only a single operational ADC squadron at Dover.^[1] The 604th CAMS was also inactivated, while the 98th FIS was then assigned directly to the New York Air Defense Sector.^[7]

Lineage

Designated and organized as the 4728th Air Defense Group on 8 February 1957

Discontinued on 1 July 1958

Assignments

New York Air Defense Sector, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958

Stations

Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958

Components

46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958
98th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958
604th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 8 August 1957 – 1 July 1958

Aircraft

Northrop F-89H Scorpion, 1957
Northrop F-89J Scorpion, 1957–1958
Lockheed F-94C Starfire, 1957–1958

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b Cornett & Johnson, p. 89
^ Mueller, p. 114
^ Mueller, p. 111
^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 115
^ ^a ^b Cornett & Johnson, p.121
^ ^a ^b ^c Maurer, p. 204
^ ^a ^b ^c Maurer, p.327
^ Cornett & Johnson, p.142

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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. (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.
Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.