4711th Air Defense Wing
F-86Ds of the wing's37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1955
Active	1952–1956
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter interceptor andradar headquarters
Role	Air defense
Motto	Tigris in Caelo (Latin for 'Tiger in the Sky')
Insignia
4711th Air Defense Wing emblem

The4711th Air Defense Wing is a discontinuedUnited States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the30th Air Division ofAir Defense Command (ADC) atSelfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, where it was discontinued in 1956. It was established in 1952 atPresque Isle Air Force Base, Maine as the4711th Defense Wing in a general reorganization of ADC, which replacedwings responsible for a base with wings responsible for a geographical area.

It assumed control of severalfighter interceptor squadrons that had been assigned to the23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing, including twoAir National Guard squadrons mobilized for theKorean War. In early 1953 it also was assigned sixradar squadrons in Maine, Vermont, and New York and its dispersed fightersquadrons combined with colocated air base squadrons into air defense groups. The wing was redesignated as an air defense wing in 1954. In 1956, as ADC prepared to implement theSemi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system, the wing lost its combat components and moved to Selfridge, where it was discontinued.

Thewing was organized as the4711th Defense Wing at the beginning of February 1952 atPresque Isle Air Force Base, Maine^[1] as part of a major reorganization of ADC responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deployingfighter squadrons to best advantage.^[2] The wing assumed operational control and theair defense mission of fightersquadrons formerly assigned to the inactivating23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing.^[3] The74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), flyingNorth American F-86 Sabre aircraft^[4] were at Presque Isle, while the101st Fighter-Interceptor Wing's132d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flyingLockheed F-80 Shooting Stars^[5] was atDow Air Force Base, Maine, and the134th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flyingWorld War II eraNorth American F-51 Mustangs^[5] was atBurlington Municipal Airport, Vermont.^[5][6] The two dispersed squadrons were federalizedAir National Guard (ANG) squadrons that had been attached to the 23rd FIW.^[5] The27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron atGriffiss Air Force Base, another F-86 squadron,^[7] was transferred to the wing from direct assignment toEastern Air Defense Force.^[8] The support elements of the 23rd FIW's 23rd Air Base Group and 23rd Maintenance & Supply Group were replaced at Presque Isle by an air base squadron and air base squadrons were activated at Presque Isle and Burlington to support the fighter squadrons at thosebases. The wing's mission was to train and maintain tactical units in a state ofreadiness to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft attempting to penetrate the air defense system in the Northeastern United States.^{[citation needed]}

In June, the 74th FIS converted toNorthrop F-89 Scorpion interceptor aircraft, but by fall its F-89Cs had been grounded and the squadron was forced to convert toLockheed F-94 Starfires.^[4] In November 1952, the wing's two ANG fighter squadrons were returned to the control of their states and replaced by the37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Ethan Allen and the49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Dow.^[5][9]

In February 1953, another major reorganization of ADC activated air defense groups at ADC bases with dispersed fighter squadrons. Twogroups were assigned to the wing and assumed direct control of the fighter squadrons, as well as support squadrons to carry out their role as the USAF host organizations at their bases. As a result of this reorganization, the528th Air Defense Group activated at Presque Isle and assumed control of the fighter squadrons there, while the517th Air Defense Group activated to command the squadron at Ethan Allen AFB.^[10] The reorganization also resulted in the wing adding theradar detection, control and warning mission, and it was assigned six aircraft control & warning squadrons (AC&W Sq) to perform this mission.^[11][12][13] The 49th FIS traded in its F-80s for F-86s in the same month.^[14] Meanwhile, the 75th FIS moved toSuffolk County Air Force Base in October and was reassigned to another wing.^[6]

In 1954, two of the wing's squadrons upgraded to radar equipped androcket armed fighters. The 49th FIS received later model F-86D Sabres, while the 27th FIS converted to F-94C Starfires.^[7][14]

In 1955, ADC implemented Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units that had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.^[15] As a result of Project Arrow, the23d Fighter Group (Air Defense), replaced the 528th Air Defense Group at Presque Isle, while the14th Fighter Group replaced the 517th Air Defense Group at Ethan Allen.^[10][16] In October, a second F-89 squadron, the465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, activated at Griffiss AFB.^[17]

In preparation for the implementation of theSemi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system, the 4711th Wing lost its operational units in March 1956^[13][18] and moved toSelfridge Air Force Base, where it was discontinued shortly thereafter.^[1]

• Designated as the4711th Defense Wing and organized on 1 February 1952

Redesignated as the4711th Air Defense Wing on 1 September 1954

Discontinued on 8 July 1956^[1]

• Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 February 1952^[1]
• 32nd Air Division, 16 February 1953^[1]
• 30th Air Division, 1 March 1956 – 18 October 1956^[1]

• Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine, 1 February 1952
• Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, 1 March 1956 – 8 July 1956

• Col. Charles H. McDonald, 1 February 1952 – after March 1952^[26]
• Col. Norvel K. Heath, by July 1952 – 1952^[27]
• Col. James O. Beckwith, 1952 – unknown^[27]

• List of MAJCOM wings of the United States Air Force
• List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons
• List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons

Explanatory notes

Citations

 This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• 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)
• Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980).A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980(PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved2 March 2012.
• Grant, C. L."The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126"(PDF). Research Studies Institute, USAF Historical Division, Air University. Retrieved26 June 2017.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961].Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN 0-912799-02-1. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 20 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969].Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN 0-405-12194-6. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 20 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984).Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History.ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

• Leonard, Barry (2009).History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense(PDF). Vol. I. 1945–1955. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History.ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 10 November 2013. Retrieved13 July 2012.
• Leonard, Barry (2009).History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense(PDF). Vol. II,1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History.ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved13 July 2012.
• Redmond, Kent C.; Smith, Thomas M. (2000).From Whirlwind to MITRE: The R&D Story of The SAGE Air Defense Computer. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.ISBN 978-0-262-18201-0.
• Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997).Searching the skies: The legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories.LCCN 97020912.^{[dead link]}

• Major command controlled wings of the United States Air Force
• Air defense wings of the United States Air Force
• Military units and formations disestablished in 1956
• Military units and formations in Maine
• Military units and formations established in 1952

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