4750th Air Defense Wing

History

The wing was established at Yuma County Airport in September 1953 as the 4750th Training Wing (Air Defense) when the Air Defense Command fighter gunnery training program there expanded. The gunnery program had been established at Yuma when the 4750th Air Base Squadron (Gunnery Training) was organized in 1951. The squadron had expanded to group strength in 1952 and was assigned to the wing when the wing was organized The wing specialized in air-to-air weapons training and testing for Air Defense Command. The wing also acted as the USAF Host organization for Vincent Air Force Base.

After 1953, gunnery training at Yuma ended and the base concentrated on air-to-air rocketry, as it developed tactics to be employed in air-to-air rocket firing. The 4750th conducted a project on night rocket firing in 1955. The wing also participated in Exercise Checkpoint, a joint exercise with Strategic Air Command (SAC) in which wing aircraft attempted to intercept and "destroy" SAC bombers simulating an attack on the southwestern United States. In February 1955, the wing was assigned a second group, the 4756th Air Defense Group, which was stationed across the country at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Rocketry training for Northrop F-89 Scorpions and Lockheed F-94 Starfires moved to Moody, while that for North American F-86D Sabres remained at Yuma.

Beginning in 1955, the wing hosted the interceptor phase of the worldwide fighter aircraft gunnery and weapons meet (later called William Tell), which was designed to provide information to evaluate combat readiness, tactical capabilities of aircraft and weapons and effectiveness of interceptor techniques. The meet moved to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida in 1958.

In 1958, the wing conducted research testing for the use of special weapons by fighter aircraft. The wing moved from Arizona to Florida in 1959 and was discontinued a year later, with most of its functions being assumed by the 4756th Air Defense Wing.

Lineage

• Designated as the 4750th Training Wing (Air Defense) and organized on 1 September 1953 : Redesignated 4750th Air Defense Wing (Weapons) on 1 September 1954 : Discontinued 25 June 1960

Assignments

• Western Air Defense Force, September 1953
• Air Defense Command, 1 October 1953
• 73d Air Division, 1 July 1957 – 25 June 1960

Stations

• Yuma County Airport, Arizona (later Yuma Air Force Base, Vincent Air Force Base), 1 September 1953
• MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 1 June 1959 - 25 June 1960

Subordinate Units

Groups

• 4750th Air Defense Group (Weapons) : Designated as the 4750th Air Base Squadron (Gunnery Training), organized at Yuma County Airport, and assigned to the 1st Fighter-Interceptor Wing on 7 June 1951 : Redesignated as the 4750th Air Base Group (Weapons Training) on 2 June 1952 and reassigned to Western Air Defense Force : Redesignated as the 4750th Training Group (Air Defense) on 16 February 1953 : Redesignated as the 4750th Air Base Group and reassigned to the 4750th Training Wing on 1 September 1953 : Redesignated as the 4750th Air Defense Group (Weapons) on 1 September 1954 : Discontinued on 1 April 1959

• 4756th Air Defense Group (Weapons) : Organized at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia and assigned to the 4750th Air Defense Wing on 18 February 1955 : Reassigned to the 4756th Air Defense Wing on 1 July 1957

Squadrons

• 17th Tow Target Squadron : Activated 3 January 1955 with personnel and equipment from the 4750th Tow Target Squadron and assigned to the 4750th Air Defense Group : Reassigned to the 4750th Air Defense Wing on 1 October 1958 : Moved to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida on 11 June 1959 : Inactivated and discontinued on 15 June 1960

• 4750th Air Defense Squadron : Designated as the 4750th Training Squadron (Weapons) and assigned to the 4750th Air Base Group on 1 June 1952 : Redesignated as the 4750th Training Squadron (Air Defense), 1 September 1953 : Redesignated as the 4750th Air Defense Squadron (Weapons), 1 September 1954 : Reassigned to the 4750th Air Defense Wing on 1 October 1958 : Moved to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida on 11 June 1959 : Discontinued on 25 June 1960

• 4750th Drone Squadron : Designated, organized and assigned to the 4750th Air Defense Group on 1 January 1956 : Reassigned to the 4750th Air Defense Wing on 1 October 1958 : Moved to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida on 25 June 1959 : Discontinued on 1 October 1959

• 4750th Test Squadron : Designated as the 4750th Test Squadron (Tactical & Application Engineering), organized and assigned to the 4750th Air Defense Wing on 1 September 1956 : Reassigned to the 73rd Air Division and moved to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida on 7 July 1957

• 4750th Tow Target Squadron : Designated as the 4750th Support Squadron, organized and assigned to the 4750th Air Defense Group on 1 April 1954 : Redesignated as the 4750th Tow Target Squadron on 1 September 1954 : Discontinued on 8 January 1955 and personnel and equipment transferred to the 17th Tow Target Squadron

In addition to these operational squadrons, the 4750th Air Defense Wing had several maintenance and supply squadrons assigned.

Commanders

• Col. Robert F. Worley, 1 September 1953 – 1956
• Col. Milton H. Ashkins, 1956-after 30 June 1956
• Col. Robert P. Baldwin, by 1 July 1958 – 27 October 1958
• Col. Benjamin H. King, 27 October 1958-after 31 December 1958

Awards

References

Notes

Bibliography

Further Reading

• Grant, C.L., (1961) The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126

References

1. Cornett & Johnson, p. 67
2. Cornett & Johnson, p. 90
3. "Abstract, History 4750 Air Defense Wing, Jul-Dec 1958". Air Force History Index.
4. "Abstract, History 4750 Training Wing, Jul-Dec 1953". Air Force History Index.
5. "Abstract, History 4750 Air Defense Wing, Jan-Jun 1955". Air Force History Index.
6. (Fall 1999). "Yuma". F-86 Sabre Pilots Association.
7. "Abstract, History 4750 Air Defense Wing, Jul-Dec 1955". Air Force History Index.
8. "Abstract, History 4750 Air Defense Wing, Jan-Jun 1958". Air Force History Index.
9. Cornett & Johnson, p. 173
10. Cornett & Johnson, p. 175
11. Cornett & Johnson, p. 106
12. Cornett & Johnson, p. 112
13. Cornett & Johnson, p. 174
14. Cornett & Johnson, pp. 143-144
15. "Abstract, History 4750 Air Defense Wing, Jan-Jun 1956". Air Force History Index.
16. AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, p. 548