The 4704th Defense Wing is a discontinued

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

organization. Its last assignment was with the

25th Air Division The 25th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force intermediate echelon command and control organization. It was last assigned to First Air Force, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). It was inactivated on 30 September 1990 at McChord Air ...

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was est ...

(ADC) at

McChord Air Force Base McChord Field is a United States Air Force base in the northwest United States, in Pierce County, Washington. South of Tacoma, McChord Field is the home of the 62d Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command, the field's primary mission being world ...

, Washington, where it was discontinued in 1954. It was established in 1952 at McChord in a general reorganization of ADC, which replaced

wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expresse ...

responsible for a base with wings responsible for a geographical area. It commanded three fighter interceptor squadrons initially, and added three more squadrons before the end of the year. In early 1953 it added several

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

squadrons in the Pacific Northwest, one of which was an

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...

squadron mobilized for the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

. When it was discontinued in the fall of 1954 its units transferred to the

History

The

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expres ...

was organized as the 4704th Defense Wing at the beginning of February 1952, in a major reorganization of ADC responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter

squadron Squadron may refer to: * Squadron (army), a military unit of cavalry, tanks, or equivalent subdivided into troops or tank companies * Squadron (aviation), a military unit that consists of three or four flights with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, ...

s to best advantage. Five days later, the

325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing The 325th Fighter Wing (325 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based in Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Mission The 325th Fighter Wing's primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance per ...

(FIW) was inactivated and its operational elements, including the 123rd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), 317th FIS and 318th FIS, transferred to the 4704th Defense Wing.Cornett & Johnson, p. 122 The support elements of the 325th FIW were transferred from that wing's 325th Air Base Group (ABG) and 325th Maintenance & Supply Group to the 4704th Wing's 567th ABG,Cornett & Johnson, p. 85 which assumed host responsibility for USAF units at McChord. The 317th and 318th FIS at McChord flew

Lockheed F-94 Starfire The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was a first-generation jet powered all-weather, day/night interceptor of the United States Air Force. A twin-seat craft, it was developed from the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star trainer in the late 1940s. It reached o ...

fighter

interceptor aircraft An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are cap ...

, while the 123rd FIS, a Federalized Oregon Air National Guard (ANG) unit, at

Portland AFB Portland Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Portland International Airport, in Portland, Oregon. Overview The base is the home of the 142nd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard. The 142nd FW participates aro ...

, flew

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

era

F-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter aircraft, fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team ...

aircraft. By June, the 123rd had converted to

F-86 Sabre The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing So ...

aircraft. The Wing's mission was to train and maintain tactical flying units in state of readiness to destroy enemy aircraft in order to defend Northwest United States. It also oversaw the transfer of Air Force facilities at Portland AFB from

Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 J ...

(TAC) to ADC in March 1952.Abstract, History of 4704th Def Wg, Feb–Mar 1952
(accessed 17 February 2012) It managed supporting units at McChord AFB for the 25th Air Division,Abstract, history of 4704th Def Wg, Jan–Jun 1953
(accessed 17 February 2012) and controlled host support squadrons at dispersed fighter bases. Additional fighter squadrons were assigned to the wing during 1952. In March, the 82nd FIS, flying F-94sCornett & Johnson, p. 119 at

Larson AFB Larson Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located five miles (8 km) northwest of the central business district (CBD) of Moses Lake, in Grant County, Washington. After its closure in 1966, the airport facility became G ...

, Washington was transferred from the 4703rd Defense Wing in preparation for the transfer of Larson from ADC to TAC. In August, the 83rd FIS, flying

F-89 Scorpion The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an American all-weather, twin-engined interceptor aircraft built during the 1950s, the first jet-powered aircraft designed for that role from the outset to enter service. Though its straight wings limited its per ...

aircraft moved to Paine AFB, WA and was assigned to the wing.Maurer, p. 290 At the beginning of November, the 123rd FIS was released back to the ANG and its personnel, mission and equipment were absorbed by the newly activating 357th FIS.Maurer, p. 445 A final fighter squadron, the 323d FIS at Larson AFB, which was assigned to the 25th Air Division, was briefly attached to the wing at the end of 1952. At the beginning of 1953, the wing added the aircraft detection, warning and control mission, when six

squadrons were assigned to it.Cornett & Johnson, p. 155Cornett & Johnson. p. 95Cornett & Johnson. pp. 164–65 ADC again made major organizational changes in February 1953 that affected the wing. The 567th ABG redesignated as the 567th Air Defense Group and assumed responsibility for command of the 317th and 318th FIS. The 503rd Air Defense Group activated at Portland AFBCornett & Johnson, p. 81 and the 357th FIS was assigned to it, while the

529th Air Defense Group The 529th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division at Paine Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 18 August 1955. The group was originally activated as a support ...

activated at Paine AFBCornett & Johnson, p. 83 and the 83rd FIS was assigned to it. Responsibility for ADC units at Larson AFB transferred to the

4702nd Defense Wing The 4702nd Defense Wing (Def Wg) is a discontinued wing of the United States Air Force, last assigned to the 25th Air Division at Geiger Field, Washington. It was established in 1952 at Hamilton AFB, California in a general reorganization of Air D ...

. In October 1953, the Federalized 136th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (AC&W Sq) of the ANG was returned to the control of the State of Texas and its personnel and equipment transferred to the newly activated 689th AC&W Sq.Cornett & Johnson, p. 161 The wing was discontinued in 1954 and its equipment and personnel were transferred to other ADC units at McChord. Its subordinate air defense groups were then assigned directly to the 25th Air Division.

Lineage

* Designated as the 4704th Defense Wing and organized on 1 February 1952 : Discontinued on 8 October 1954

Assignments

Western Air Defense Force The Western Air Defense Force (WADF) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960. History WADF ...

, 1 February 1952 * 25th Air Division, 10 December 1952 – 8 October 1954

Components

Groups

* 503rd Air Defense Group : Portland International Airport (formerly Portland AFB), 16 February 1953 – 8 October 1954 * 529th Air Defense Group : Paine Field (formerly Paine AFB), 16 February 1953 – 8 October 1954 * 567th Air Base Group (later 567th Air Defense Group), 1 February 1952 – 8 October 1954

Squadrons

Fighter Squadrons * 82d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron : Larson AFB, WA, 13 March 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron : Paine AFB, WA, 1 August 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 123rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron : Portland AFB, OR, 6 February 1952 – 1 November 52 * 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 6 February 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (attached) : Larson AFB, WA, 26 November 1952 – 19 January 1953 * 357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Factsheet, 357th Fighter Squadron
(accessed 9 March 2012) : Portland AFB, OR, 1 November 1952 – 16 February 1953 Support Squadrons * 86th Air Base Squadron : Paine AFB, WA, 1 February 1952 – 16 February 1953 * 89th Air Base Squadron : Portland AFB, WA, ''ca''. 1 April 1952 – 16 February 1953 Radar Squadrons * 136th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron : Portland AFB, OR, 16 February 1953 – 1 October 1953 * 635th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 January 1953 – 8 October 1954 * 689th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron : Portland International Airport, OR, 1 October 1953 – 8 October 1954 *

757th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Blaine Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located south of Blaine, Washington. It was closed in 1979. History Blaine Air Force Station was one of twenty-eight stations built as pa ...

: Birch Bay (renamed Blaine AFS), WA, 1 January 1953 – 8 October 1954 * 758th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron :

Neah Bay Neah Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) on the Makah Reservation in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 865 at the 2010 census. It is across the Canada–US border from British Columbia. Originally called "Scarboro ...

, OR, 1 January 1953 – 8 October 1954 * 759th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron :

Naselle AFS Naselle Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-57, NORAD ID: Z-57) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located north of Naselle, Washington. It was decommissioned by the Air Force in 1966 and later used for com ...

, OR, 1 January 1953 – 8 October 1954 * 761st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron : Reedsport (renamed North Bend AFS), OR, 1 January 1953 – 8 October 1954

Stations

* McChord AFB, Washington, 1 February 1952 – 8 October 1954

Commanders

* Col. Alan T. Bennett, 1 February 1952 – ''ca''. 1 January 1953 * Col. Loring F. Stetson, Jr., ''ca''. 1 January 1953 – unknown

Aircraft

* F-84G, 1953 * F-86D, 1953–1954 * F-86F, 1952–1953 * F-89B, 1952–1953 * F-94A, 1952–1954 * F-94B, 1952–1953

References

Notes

Bibliography

* * * *

External links

{{Aerospace Defense Command, state=collapsed 4704 Aerospace Defense Command units Air defense wings of the United States Air Force Military units and formations established in 1952 Military history of Washington (state) 1952 establishments in Washington (state) 1954 disestablishments in Washington (state)