5070th Air Defense Wing
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| 5070th Air Defense Wing | |
|---|---|
 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-102As[a] | |
| Active | 1960-1961 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Interceptor |
| Role | Air defense |
The 5070th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. It was assigned to the Alaskan Air Command at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, where it was active from August 1960 until October 1961 as the headquarters for air defense units in Alaska.
The 5070th Air Defense Wing was established at Elmendorf Air Force Base in August 1960.[1] In August 1960, Alaskan Air Command inactivated the 10th and 11th Air Divisions.[2][3] The wing assumed most of the divisions' subordinate units and the mission of the air defense of Alaska.
The wing was assigned a single interceptor aircraft squadron, the 317th, equipped with Convair F-102 Delta Daggers.[4] In addition to standing alert at its home base at Elmendorf, the squadron deployed fighters to King Salmon Airport and Galena Air Force Base. Although the squadron launched aircraft to intercept Soviet aircraft penetrating the Alaskan air defense identification zone, none were successful.[5][b]
It was also assigned a number of aircraft control and warning squadrons, located throughout Alaska. Its 5070th Radar Evaluation Squadron provided target aircraft for fighter aircraft operating under Alaskan Air Command control and electronic countermeasure training for both fighter and ground radar units. It calibrated and evaluated the performance of radar sites.[6]
The wing was discontinued on 1 October 1961, and most of its components were reassigned directly to Alaskan Air Command.
