575th Air Defense Group

The 575th Air Defense Group was a short-lived United States Air Force organization associated with Selfridge in Michigan and with the postwar development of the American continental air-defense system. Although it existed under three designations, its history is best understood as a succession of support and operational headquarters roles rather than as a commercial brand. It was first activated as the 575th Air Service Group in September 1946, after the 4th Fighter Group returned to the United States at the end of the Second World War. Its initial purpose was to provide the specialized maintenance, supply, and base-services functions that a fighter group could not efficiently perform on its own. The organization included an engineering squadron for higher-level aircraft maintenance, a materiel squadron for supply administration, and a headquarters and base-services squadron for other installation support. The group moved from Selfridge Field to Andrews Field, Maryland, in March 1947. It was inactivated there in August of that year, with its personnel and equipment transferred to the 4th Airdrome Group during the experimental postwar wing-and-base reorganization. The 575th Air Service Group was subsequently disbanded in October 1948. The organization returned during a major Air Defense Command reorganization. Reconstituted and redesignated the 575th Air Base Group, it was activated at Selfridge in February 1952 to replace the 56th Air Base Group as the United States Air Force host organization at the installation. The change reflected Air Defense Command's effort to make fighter-interceptor forces easier to deploy and administer than under the existing wing-base structure. In addition to providing the installation's support functions, the group maintained aircraft stationed at Selfridge and supervised a number of subordinate support squadrons. On 16 February 1953, the unit became the 575th Air Defense Group and acquired an operational air-defense role. It was assigned to the 4708th Defense Wing, later the 4708th Air Defense Wing, and was responsible for the upper Great Lakes area. Its fighter-interceptor components included the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, the 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, and, initially, the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. These squadrons operated different generations of North American F-86 Sabres, Lockheed F-94 Starfires, and North American F-51 Mustangs. A fourth squadron, the 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, was activated in April 1953 with a radar-equipped, rocket-armed F-86 variant. The composition of the group changed quickly as its squadrons converted aircraft or moved to other assignments. The 431st converted from the F-51 to the F-86 in May 1953 and soon relocated to Libya. The 56th later adopted a radar-equipped Sabre, while the 61st transferred to Newfoundland in August 1953. By that point, the remaining fighter elements were increasingly standardized on the F-86D. The group's medical responsibilities also expanded after the nearby Percy Jones Army Hospital closed in September 1953. The 575th Air Defense Group was inactivated on 18 August 1955 at Selfridge as part of Air Defense Command's Project Arrow. That program replaced certain air-defense groups with fighter groups that had distinguished records in the two world wars. The 1st Fighter Group (Air Defense) assumed the group's mission, equipment, and personnel. The 575th organization was finally disbanded in September 1984. Its historical significance lies in illustrating the transition from postwar base support structures to an integrated Cold War fighter-interceptor command system.

The 575th organization's lineage began in the immediate postwar period. It was constituted as the 575th Air Service Group and activated at Selfridge Field, Michigan, around 5 September 1946. The unit supported the 4th Fighter Group, which had returned to the United States after the Second World War. Its 1044th Air Engineering Squadron performed maintenance beyond the fighter group's normal capability; the 1054th Air Materiel Squadron managed supply activities; and the Headquarters and Base Services Squadron handled broader administrative and installation functions. This arrangement reflected the United States Army Air Forces' attempt to separate specialized support from combat units while adapting to postwar force reductions and organizational experimentation. On 26 March 1947, the group moved to Andrews Field, Maryland, and came under Strategic Air Command. It was inactivated on 15 August 1947. Its personnel and equipment passed to the 4th Airdrome Group, which assumed the support mission under the experimental wing-base system. The 575th Air Service Group was disbanded on 8 October 1948. The organization was reconstituted on 1 January 1952 and redesignated the 575th Air Base Group. It was activated at Selfridge Air Force Base on 1 February 1952 during a broad Air Defense Command reorganization. The new group replaced the 56th Air Base Group as Selfridge's host organization and assumed responsibility for the base's support infrastructure. Seven squadrons were associated with its support duties, and the group also maintained aircraft stationed at the base. The reorganization was intended to address difficulties Air Defense Command experienced in deploying and administering fighter squadrons under the existing wing-base arrangement. On 16 February 1953, the group was redesignated the 575th Air Defense Group. It retained its base-support responsibilities but also became an operational headquarters for fighter-interceptor squadrons assigned to the air defense of the upper Great Lakes. The group operated under the 4708th Defense Wing, subsequently renamed the 4708th Air Defense Wing. Its initial operational elements included the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron with single-seat F-86 Sabres, the 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron with two-seat F-94 Starfires, and the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron with F-51 Mustangs. The group's operational structure changed during 1953. The 431st converted to F-86 aircraft in May and moved to Libya in June, leaving the group. The 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was activated in April with a radar-equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket-armed F-86 variant. The 56th converted to a newer radar-equipped Sabre in July. The 61st moved to Newfoundland and transferred out of the group in August. These changes meant that the group's remaining fighter squadrons were eventually equipped with the F-86D, giving it a more standardized interceptor capability. In September, after Percy Jones Army Hospital closed, the group's medical responsibilities expanded to serve additional requirements at Selfridge. The organization was inactivated at Selfridge on 18 August 1955. Its replacement, the 1st Fighter Group (Air Defense), was selected under Project Arrow, an Air Defense Command initiative intended to restore historically distinguished fighter-group designations to active service. The successor received the 575th group's mission, equipment, and personnel. Although the 575th Air Defense Group had ceased to operate, its lineage remained subject to Air Force administrative treatment until the organization was disbanded on 27 September 1984. The unit's history documents the evolution of United States air-defense administration from postwar logistical support to a Cold War command structure built around radar-equipped fighter interceptors.

• 1984

  Final disbandment

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was disbanded on 27 September 1984.

• 1955

  Inactivated under Project Arrow

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 18 August and replaced by the 1st Fighter Group (Air Defense), which assumed its mission, equipment, and personnel.

• 1953

  Redesignated as the 575th Air Defense Group

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 16 February, the group gained an operational headquarters role for fighter-interceptor squadrons defending the upper Great Lakes region.

• 1953

  Fighter-interceptor force reorganized

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  During the year, the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron moved to Libya, the 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron joined the group, and the 56th and 61st squadrons changed aircraft or transferred to other assignments.

• 1952

  Reconstituted as the 575th Air Base Group

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was reconstituted on 1 January and activated at Selfridge Air Force Base on 1 February to replace the 56th Air Base Group as the installation's host unit.

• 1948

  Disbanded after its first period of service

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 575th Air Service Group was formally disbanded on 8 October 1948.

• 1947

  Moved to Andrews Field and was inactivated

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to Andrews Field, Maryland, in March and was inactivated on 15 August; its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 4th Airdrome Group.

• 1946

  Activated as the 575th Air Service Group

  [1]575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was activated at Selfridge Field, Michigan, around 5 September to provide engineering, materiel, and base-services support for the 4th Fighter Group.

A United States Air Force support and air-defense organization, not a commercial product brand. Its principal functions were installation support, aircraft maintenance and supply coordination, and operational control of fighter-interceptor squadrons defending the upper Great Lakes.

• 1955

  Replacement under Project ArrowStrategy

  Background

  Air Defense Command sought to replace air-defense groups commanding fighter squadrons with fighter groups that had distinguished records in the two world wars.

  Action taken

  The 575th Air Defense Group was inactivated at Selfridge and its mission, equipment, and personnel were transferred to the 1st Fighter Group (Air Defense).

  Aftermath

  The successor organization continued the air-defense mission at Selfridge, while the 575th group ceased active operations and was later disbanded in 1984.

  Source

1. 1575th Air Defense Groupen.wikipedia.org