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 the414th 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 atSterparone Airfield, Italy as the533d Air Service Group shortly afterVE Day 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. It was designed to support a single combat group.[1] Its 959th Air Engineering Squadron provided maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 783rd Air Materiel Squadron handled all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron provided other support.[1] The 533d supported the483d Bombardment Group in Italy in 1945 until it was inactivated in the fall.[2] The group was disbanded in 1948.[3]
The group was reconstituted, redesignated as the533d Air Defense Group, and activated atOxnard Air Force Base, California in 1953[4] with responsibility for air defense of Southern California.[citation needed] Assigned the354th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), which was already stationed at Oxnard, and flyingWorld War II eraNorth American F-51 Mustangs[5] as its operational component.[6] The 354th FIS had been assigned directly to the 27th Air Division.[6] The 354th upgraded toLockheed F-94 Starfires in July 1953.[5] The group also replaced the 90th Air Base Squadron as USAF host organization at Oxnard.[7] The group was assigned threesquadrons to perform its support responsibilities.[8][9]
The 533d was inactivated[4] and replaced by the414th Fighter Group (Air Defense) in 1955[10][11] 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.[12] the group was disbanded once again in 1984.[13]
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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