4734th Air Defense Group


The 4734th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 64th Air Division at Thule Air Base, Greenland, where it was discontinued in 1958. The group was formed in 1957 when ADC assumed responsibility for air defense of Greenland from Northeast Air Command. It controlled a fighter-interceptor squadron at Thule and a squadron operating a radar at nearby Pingarsuak Mountain. It was discontinued in 1958 and its mission transferred to the 64th AD in Newfoundland.

History

The group was organized in 1957 as a command and control organization at Thule Air Base by Air Defense Command when ADC took over the atmospheric defense assets of the inactivating Northeast Air Command at the base in 1957. It was assigned to the 64th AD to manage ADC fighter and radar units at Thule. Its squadrons had both been assigned to the 64th AD when the division was a NEAC unit. Its 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron flew Northrop F-89 Scorpion aircraft. The group was a tenant organization at Thule AB, a Strategic Air Command base, whose 4083d Air Base Group was the host organization for the base. The 4734th was discontinued due to funding cutbacks in 1958, and its assets were assumed directly by the 64th AD, with the establishment of Detachment 1, 64th AD at Thule.

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