4734th Air Defense Group

4734th Air Defense Group
F-89 Scorpions of the 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Thule
Active	1957–1958
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter Interceptor, Warning & Control
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command
Equipment	Northrop F-89 Scorpion

The 4734th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 64th Air Division (AD) at Thule Air Base, Greenland, where it was discontinued in 1958. The group was formed in 1957 when ADC assumed responsibility for air defense of Greenland from Northeast Air Command. It controlled a fighter-interceptor squadron at Thule and a squadron operating a radar at nearby Pingarsuak Mountain. It was discontinued in 1958 and its mission transferred to the 64th AD in Newfoundland.

History

The group was organized in 1957 as a command and control organization at Thule Air Base by Air Defense Command (ADC) when ADC took over the atmospheric defense assets of the inactivating Northeast Air Command (NEAC) at the base in 1957. ^[1] It was assigned to the 64th AD ^[1] to manage ADC fighter and radar units at Thule. Its squadrons had both been assigned to the 64th AD when the division was a NEAC unit. ^{[2] [3]} Its 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS) flew Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft. ^[4] The group was a tenant organization at Thule AB, a Strategic Air Command base, whose 4083d Air Base Group was the host organization for the base. ^[5] The 4734th was discontinued ^[1] due to funding cutbacks^{[ citation needed ]} in 1958, and its assets were assumed directly by the 64th AD, ^{[2] [3]} with the establishment of Detachment 1, 64th AD at Thule. ^[6]

Lineage

• Organized as 4734th Air Defense Group on 1 April 1957

Discontinued on 1 May 1958

Assignments

• 64th Air Division, 1 April 1957 – 1 May 1958

Components

• 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron ^[7]

Thule AB, Greenland, 1 April 1957 – 1 May 1958

• 931st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron ^[3]

Thule AB, Greenland, 1 April 1957 – 1 May 1958 (located on Pingarsuak Mountain)

Stations

• Thule AB, Greenland, 1 April 1957 – 1 May 1958

Aircraft

• F-89C, 1957–1958

Commander

• Col James T. Jarman, 1 April 1957 – 1 May 1958 ^[8]

See also

• United States general surveillance radar stations
• List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons
• List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons

References

Notes

1. 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. p. 89. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
2. Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 272. ISBN   0-912799-02-1.
3. Cornett & Johnson, p.105
4. Cornett & Johnson, p. 118
5. Fletcher, Harry R (1993). Air Force Bases, Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America (PDF). Washington, DC: Center for Air Force History. p. 184.
6. Abstract, History of 4083 Strat Wg, May 1958 (retrieved 20 Jan, )
7. Robertson, Patsy (6 May 2013). "74 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
8. Abstract, History of 4734th Air Def Gp, Apr 1957 – May 1958 (retrieved 20 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.
• 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 27 September 2012.
• Winkler, David F; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program (PDF). Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN   97020912. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013.