4728th Air Defense Group
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| 4728th Air Defense Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1957–1958 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter interceptor |
| Role | Air defense |
The 4728th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. It was assigned to the New York Air Defense Sector and stationed 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.
Lineage
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 Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying Lockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft,[4] armed with Mighty Mouse rockets. and the 98th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft,[5] armed with both folding fin 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 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 Squadron was inactivated,[6] leaving only a single operational ADC squadron at Dover.[1] The 604th CAMS was also inactivated, while the 98th was then assigned directly to the New York Air Defense Sector.[7]
- Designated and organized as the 4728th Air Defense Group on 8 February 1957
- Discontinued on 1 July 1958[1]
Assignments
- New York Air Defense Sector, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958[1]
Stations
- Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958[1]
Components
- 46th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958[6]
- 98th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 8 February 1957 – 1 July 1958[7]
- 604th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 8 August 1957 – 1 July 1958[8]
