4731st Air Defense Group


The 4731st Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 64th Air Division of Air Defense Command at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland, Canada, where it was inactivated in 1960. The group was formed in 1957 when ADC assumed responsibility for air defense of Newfoundland from Northeast Air Command and controlled a fighter-interceptor squadron at Harmon and two squadron operating radars at dispersed locations. It was discontinued when Goose Air Defense Sector assumed responsibility for air defense of Newfoundland.

History

The group was formed in 1957 when Air Defense Command assumed responsibility for air defense of Newfoundland from Northeast Air Command. It was a tenant organization at Ernest Harmon AFB, a Strategic Air Command base, and whose 4081st Air Base Group assumed host base duties from NEAC. The group controlled both radar and fighter squadrons in Canada. Assigned the 61st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft, which was already stationed at Harmon, and two remote Aircraft Control & Warning Squadrons as its operational elements. These units were transferred from NEAC. In October 1957, the 61st FIS moved to Wisconsin to replace the 323d FIS, which moved from Wisconsin in a swap of stations. The 323d FIS, however, flew newer F-102 Delta Daggers, rather than Scorpions. The 4731st provided air defense of northeast North America. The group was discontinued in 1960 and subordinate units assigned to Goose Air Defense Sector.

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