Thegroup was originally activated as a support group at the end ofWorld War II and provided logistics and administrative support for the86th Fighter Group in Germany until 1946, when the group returned to the United States, where it supported the56th Fighter Group. It was discontinued when the USAF reorganized its combat and support units on its bases into a singlewing.
The group was activated once again in 1953, when ADC established it as the headquarters for two dispersedfighter-interceptor squadrons and the medical,aircraft maintenance, and administrativesquadrons supporting them. It was replaced in 1955 when ADC transferred its mission, equipment, and personnel to the337th Fighter Group in a project that replaced air defense groups commanding fighter squadrons with fighter groups with distinguished records during World War II.
Thegroup was activated as the503d Air Service Group toward the end ofWorld War II, shortly afterV-E Day[1] in a reorganization ofArmy Air Forces (AAF) support groups in which the AAF replaced service groups that included personnel from other branches of the Army and supported two combat groups with air service groups including only Air Corps units, designed to support a single combat group.[2] Its 921st Air Engineering Squadron provided maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 745th Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[2] it supported the86th Fighter Group,[3] as part of the occupation forces in Germany until 1946. The group returned to the US and supported the56th Fighter Group[4] atSelfridge Field, Michigan[5] In October 1946, the group deployed a detachment toLadd Field, Alaska for arctic training.[6][7] In 1947 the group and its squadrons were inactivated and replaced by the 56th Airdrome Group, 56th Maintenance & Supply Group, and 56th Station Medical Group as the Air Force began a service test of theWing/Base organization,[8] which was adopted to unify control at air bases.[9] The 503d Group was disbanded in 1948.[10]
During theCold War The group was reconstituted, redesignated as the503d Air Defense Group, and activated atPortland International Airport on 18 February 1953,[11] with the mission to train and maintaininterceptor squadrons in state of readiness in order to defend Northwest United States.[citation needed] The357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Portland and FlyingNorth American F-86 Sabres[12] was assigned as the operational component of the group.[13] The group replaced the 89th Air Base Squadron as host organization for active duty USAF units at Portland. It was assigned three squadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[14]
Two days later, the497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flyingLockheed F-94 Starfire aircraft equipped withairborne interceptradar and armed with 20 mm cannons,[15] was activated as the group's permanent operational squadron.[16] In May 1953, the 357th Squadron was transferred to French Morocco and was reassigned.[13] In 1954, the 497th converted toNorthrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft armed withMighty Mouse rockets.[15] The group was inactivated[11] and replaced by the337th Fighter Group (Defense) in 1955[17] as part of ADC's Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[18] The group was disbanded once again in 1984,[19] but reconstituted in 1985.[20] as a base support organization. It has not been active since.
^In the foreground is North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre, serial 51-8378. This plane was transferred to theRoyal Hellenic Air Force in 1958.Baugher, Joe (29 March 2023)."1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved9 April 2023.
^Aircraft is Northrop F-89D Scorpion, serial 49-2463. This aircraft was built as an F-89B, then modified to F-89D standard. It crashed atEdwards AFB, California in October 1953.Baugher, Joe (29 March 2023)."1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved9 April 2023.
^abDepartment of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
^abDepartment of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 Jul 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1956
Coleman, John M (1950).The Development of Tactical Services in the Army Air Forces. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
Goss, William A (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.).The Army Air Forces in World War II: Men & Planes. Vol. VI. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.LCCN79007244.OCLC704158.
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United States Air Force
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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