Thegroup was originally activated as a support unit for the460th Bombardment Group at the end ofWorld War II in Italy and then redeployed to the Caribbean, where it supported units redeploying from the European Theater until it was inactivated in 1945.
The group was activated once again in 1953, when ADC established it as the headquarters for a dispersedfighter-interceptor squadron and the medical, maintenance, and administrativesquadrons supporting it. It was replaced in 1955 when ADC transferred its mission, equipment, and personnel to the355th 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 first activated shortly before the end ofWorld War II as the516th Air Service Group in Italy in early 1945[1] as part of 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. The unit was designed to support a single combat group.[2] Its 942d Air Engineering Squadron provided maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 766th Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[2] Supported the460th Bombardment Group in Italy,[3] then moved to Trinidad and supported flying units redeploying from Europe to the United States until the group was inactivated in the Caribbean. It was disbanded in 1948.[4]
During theCold War, the group was reconstituted, redesignated as the516th Air Defense Group, and activated atMcGhee Tyson Airport in February 1953[5] with responsibility for air defense ofOak Ridge National Laboratory, Alcoa Aluminum Facilities.[6] The group was assigned the469th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was already stationed at McGhee-Tyson Airport, flyingWorld War II eraRepublic F-47 Thunderbolts[7] as its operational component.[7] The 469th had been assigned directly to the 35th Air Division.[7] The group replaced the74th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at McGhee Tyson Airport. It was assigned threesquadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[8][9]
The 469th Squadron replaced its Thunderbolts withNorth American F-86 Sabre jet aircraft in July 1953[7] In March 1954, the 469th was joined by the460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flyingMighty Mouse rocket armed and airborne interceptradar equipped Sabres.[7][10] The group was inactivated[5] and replaced by the355th Fighter Group (Air Defense) in 1955[11][12] 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.[13] The group was disbanded again in 1984.[14]
^When the 105th FIS was returned to the control of theAir National Guard on 1 December 1952, its F-47s were transferred to the 469th FIS, which continued to fly them until equipping with F-86s.
^See"355th Wing History". 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. 28 November 2007. Archived fromthe original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved24 August 2015. (mission statement for 355th Fighter Group, replacement for 516th
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.
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