4731st Air Defense Group

4731st Air Defense Group
F-89 Scorpions in flight over Labrador
Active	1957-1960
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter interceptor and warning and control
Role	Air defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

The 4731st Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 64th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC) at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland, Canada, where it was inactivated in 1960. The group was formed in 1957 when ADC assumed responsibility for air defense of Newfoundland from Northeast Air Command and controlled a fighter-interceptor squadron at Harmon and two squadrons operating radars at dispersed locations. It was discontinued when Goose Air Defense Sector assumed responsibility for air defense of Newfoundland.

History

F-102A Delta Dagger as flown by the group

The group was formed in 1957 when Air Defense Command (ADC) assumed responsibility for air defense of Newfoundland from Northeast Air Command (NEAC). ^[1] It was a tenant organization at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command base, and whose 4081st Air Base Group assumed host base duties from NEAC. ^[2] The group controlled both radar and fighter squadrons in Canada. It was assigned the 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), flying Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft, ^[3] which was already stationed at Harmon, and two remote aircraft control & warning squadrons as its operational elements. ^{[4] [5]} These units were transferred from NEAC. ^{[4] [5]}

In October 1957, the 61st FIS moved to Wisconsin to replace the 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which moved from Wisconsin in a swap of stations. ^{[4] [6]} The 323d FIS, however, flew newer F-102 Delta Daggers, ^[7] rather than Scorpions. The 4731st provided air defense of northeast North America.^{[ citation needed ]} The group was discontinued in 1960 ^[1] and its subordinate units were assigned to the Goose Air Defense Sector. ^{[8] [5]}

Lineage

• Organized as the 4731st Air Defense Group on 1 April 1957

Discontinued on 1 July 1960 ^[1]

Assignments

• 64th Air Division, 1 April 1957 – 1 July 1960 ^[1]

Components

• 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 April-15 October 1957 ^[8]
• 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 15 October 1957 – 6 June 1960 ^[9]
• 640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 April 1957 – 6 June 1960, Stephenville Air Station ^[5]
• 642d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 April 1957 – 6 June 1960, Red Cliff Air Station ^[5]

Stations

• Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland, Canada, 1 April 1957 – 1 July 1960 ^[1]

Aircraft

• Northrop F-89D Scorpion: 1957 ^[3]
• Convair F-102A Delta Dagger: 1957-1959 ^[7]

Commanders

• Col. John F. Daye, Jr., 1958 - c. 31 Dec 1959 ^[10]
• Maj. Ray E. Arnold, c. 1 Jan 1960 - 1960 ^[11]

See also

• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
• Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
• List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons

References

Notes

1. Cornett & Johnson, p.89
2. No byline. "Abstract, History of 64th Air Division, Apr 1957-Dec 1957". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
3. Cornett & Johnson, p.117
4. Maurer, p. 237
5. Cornett & Johnson, p. 97
6. Maurer, p.398
7. Cornett & Johnson, p. 125
8. Robertson, Patsy (7 May 2009). "Factsheet 61 Fighter Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
9. Maurer, p.398
10. No byline. "Abstract, History of 4731st Air Defense Group Jan 1958-Dec 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
11. No byline. "Abstract, History of 4731st Air Defense Group Jan-Mar 1960". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 January 2012.

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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2023.

Further Reading

• Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN   978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
• Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies: The legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN   97020912.^{[ dead link ]}