Thegroup was originally activated the518th Air Service Group, a support unit for the465th Bombardment Group at the end ofWorld War II in Italy and then redeployed to the Caribbean, where it supported redeploying units until it was inactivated in 1945.
The group was activated once again in 1953, whenAir Defense Command (ADC) established it as theheadquarters for a dispersedfighter-interceptor squadron and the medical,aircraft maintenance, and administrativesquadrons supporting it. It was replaced in 1955 when ADC transferred its mission, equipment, and personnel to the15th 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 shortly as the518th Air Service Group in Italy in early 1945.[2] It was split from the all-branch323rd Service Group as part of theArmy Air Forces creating Air Service Groups to service Air Corps units only. It was designed to support a single combat group.[3] Its 944th Air Engineering Squadron providedaircraft maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 768th Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[3] The unit supported the465th Bombardment Group in Italy.[4] The group moved to the Caribbean and provided support for flying units redeploying from Europe to the United States. It was disbanded in 1948.[5]
During theCold War, the 518th group was reconstituted, redesignated as an air defense group, and activated at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport in 1953[6] with responsibility for air defense of Niagara Falls, Toronto, Western and upper New York area.[citation needed] It was assigned the47th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at Niagara Falls, and flyingWorld War II eraRepublic F-47 Thunderbolts[7] as its operational component.[8] The 47th had been assigned to the4708th Defense Wing.[8] The group was assigned threesquadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[9][10] It converted the same month to jet propelledNorth American F-86 Sabre aircraft.[7]
The 47th upgraded to a later airborne interceptradar equipped andMighty Mouse rocket armed version of the Sabre in September 1953,[7] but its replacement aircraft were not delivered until early 1954.[7] The group replaced the 76th Air Base Squadron as the active duty USAF host unit at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport. The group was replaced by the15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) in 1955[6][11][12] as part ofAir Defense Command'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.[13] The 518th group was disbanded once again in 1984.[14]
^Aircraft is Republic F-47D-40-RA Thunderbolt, serial 45-49431. This aircraft was destroyed in a mid-air collision with another F-47.Baugher, Joe (4 March 2023)."1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved10 April 2023.
^Robertson, Patsy (2 December 2010)."Factsheet 15 Wing (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived fromthe original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved3 March 2012.
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.
United States
United States Air Force
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