The 4727th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Syracuse Air Defense Sector at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, where it was discontinued in 1959.
| 4727th Air Defense Group | |
|---|---|
 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-86D Sabre, Griffiss AFB, New York[a] | |
| Active | 1957–1959 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter interceptor |
| Role | Air defense |
| Insignia | |
| Patch with 4727th Air Defense Group emblem |  |
The group was formed to provide a single command and support organization for the two fighter interceptor squadrons of Air Defense Command, that were tenants at Griffiss, an Air Materiel Command base. It was also assigned a maintenance squadron to perform aircraft maintenance. It was discontinued after the 27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron moved in 1959, leaving only a single fighter squadron at Griffiss.
History
editThe group was established to provide a headquarters for Air Defense Command (ADC) fighter-interceptor squadrons stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base,[1] an Air Materiel Command base, whose Rome Air Force Depot (until February 1958) and 2856th Air Base Wing (after February 1958) acted as host base organizations for the group.[2] The 4727th was assigned the 27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying Lockheed F-94 Starfire[3] aircraft and the 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying Northrop F-89 Scorpions[4] as its operational components.[5][6] The interceptor aircraft assigned to these squadrons were armed with Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets. The F-89s were also armed with Falcon missiles or Genie rockets. All assigned aircraft were equipped with data link for interception control through the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment system
The 27th and 465th Squadrons were already stationed at Griffiss and had been assigned to the 4711th Air Defense Wing.[5][6] Group aircraft maintenance was centralized in the 606th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (CAMS), which was activated at Griffiss in August.[7] The 27th FIS converted to Convair F-102 Delta Daggers in the fall of 1957.[3]
In July 1959 The 465th and the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, swapped equipment, personnel, and stations.[6][8][9] The group was discontinued when the 27th moved to Loring Air Force Base, Maine in October 1959,[5] leaving only a single operational ADC squadron at Griffiss.[1] The 49th was then assigned directly to the Syracuse Air Defense Sector,[8] and the 606th CAMS was inactivated.[7]
Lineage
edit- Designated as 4727th Air Defense Group and organized on 8 February 1957
- Discontinued on 15 October 1959[1]
Assignments
edit- 32d Air Division, 8 February 1957 – 1 August 1958
- Syracuse Air Defense Sector, 1 August 1958 – 15 October 1959[1]
Stations
edit- Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, 8 February 1957 – 15 October 1959[1]
Components
editCommanders
edit- Col. Frank J. Keller, by 1 January 1958 - after 31 December 1958[13]
Aircraft
editSee also
editReferences
editNotes
edit- Explanatory notes
- ↑ Airplane is North American F-86D-25-NA Sabre, serial 51-3078. This plane was destroyed in a midair collision on 12 December 1954. Dirkx, Marco (20 July 2025). "1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher’s Serial Number List. Retrieved 18 October 2025..
- Citations
- 1 2 3 4 5 Cornett & Johnson, p. 89
- ↑ Mueller, pp. 205, 208
- 1 2 3 4 Cornett & Johnson, p. 114
- 1 2 3 Cornett & Johnson, p. 129
- 1 2 3 Maurer, p. 138
- 1 2 3 Maurer, p.572
- 1 2 3 Cornett & Johnson, p.142
- 1 2 Maurer, pp. 213-214
- ↑ Cornet & Johnson p.116
- ↑ Robertson, Patsy (22 July 2010). "Factsheet 27 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ↑ Robertson, Patsy (14 April 2014). "Factsheet 49 Fighter Training Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ↑ Robertson, Patsy (27 March 2012). "Factsheet 465 Air Refueling Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 13 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ↑ "Abstract, History 4727 Air Defense Group, CY 1958". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
Bibliography
edit- 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.
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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 978-1-43792-131-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2012.