517th Air Defense Group

World War II The group was activated as the 517th Air Service Group in Italy in early 1945, shortly before the end of World War II. It was split from the 323rd Service Group when the Army Air Forces (AAF) replaced Service Groups that included personnel from other branches of the Army and supported two combat groups with Air Service Groups that included only Air Corps units. It was designed to support a single combat group - "scheduled to be" the 464th Bombardment Group. Its 943rd Air Engineering Squadron was to provide maintenance that was beyond the capability of the combat group, its 767th Air Materiel Squadron to handle all supply matters, and its Headquarters & Base Services Squadron to provide other support. Cold War During the Cold War, the group was reconstituted, redesignated as the 517th Air Defense Group, and activated at Ethan Allan AFB in 1953 with responsibility for air defense of upper New England. It was assigned the 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), which was already stationed at Ethan Allan AFB, and flying World War II era F-51 Mustangs as its operational component. The 37th FIS had been assigned directly to the 4711th Defense Wing. The 37th FIS converted to airborne intercept radar equipped and Mighty Mouse rocket armed North American F-86 Sabres in June 1953. as result of Air 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. The group was disbanded once again in 1984. ==Lineage==

• Constituted as 517th Air Service Group : Activated on 13 January 1945 : Inactivated on 31 July 1945 : Disbanded on 8 October 1948 • Reconstituted and redesignated 517th Air Defense Group on 21 January 1953 : Activated on 16 February 1953 : Inactivated on 18 August 1955 : Disbanded on 27 September 1984 Assignments • XII Air Force Service Command, 13 January 1945 – c.. 27 May 1945 • Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command c. 6 June 1945 – 31 July 1945 • 4711th Defense Wing, (later 4711th Air Defense Wing), 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 Stations • Caserta, Italy 13 January 1945 – 1945 • Pantanella Airfield, Italy 1945 – 27 May 1945 • Waller Field, Trinidad 16 June 1945 – 31 July 1945 • Ethan Allen AFB, Vermont, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 Components Operational Squadron • 37th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 Support Units • 517th Air Base Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 • 517th Materiel Squadron, 16 February 1953 – 18 August 1955 • Lt Col. Lloyd L. Connell, c.. Feb 1945 – after 15 Jun 1945 • Unknown 16 Feb 1953–18 Aug 1955 ==See also==