The wing was organized at Larson AFB, Washington on 1 February 1952[1] in a major reorganization of ADC responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage.[2] It absorbed the personnel and equipment of the operational elements of the 101st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (FIW) (Maine ANG) which inactivated at Larson AFB five days later and was returned to the ANG.[1][3] The 82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) of the inactivating 78th Fighter-Interceptor Wing moved from Hamilton AFB to Larson AFB on 6 February 1952[4] to replace the 319th FIS, which deployed from Larson AFB to Suwon Air Base, Korea the day after the 4703rd Defense Wing was organized, although it remained assigned to the wing on paper.[5] Both Squadrons were equipped with F-94 Starfireinterceptor aircraft.[6] The wing's 569th Air Base Group (ABG) absorbed the support elements of the 101st FIW's 101st ABG.[7] However, the wing was short-lived because Larson AFB was transferred from ADC to Tactical Air Command (TAC) in April 1952.[1] The 82nd FIS was reassigned to the 4704th Defense Wing in March,[8] while the 569th ABG was transferred Western Air Defense Force days later,[1][7] The 569th ABG was replaced by the 62nd ABG at the beginning of April, while TAC's 62nd Troop Carrier Wing moved to Larson AFB from McChord AFB the same month.[9] The 4703rd Air Defense Wing was discontinued and remaining the ADC squadron at Larson AFB was eventually reassigned to the 4702nd Defense Wing,[4] which moved to nearby Geiger Field later in 1952.[1]
Lineage
Designated as the 4703d Defense Wing and organized on 1 February 1952
Discontinued on 7 April 1952
Assignments
Western Air Defense Force, 1 February 1952 - 7 April 1952[1]
Components
569th Air Base Group, 1 February 1952 – 17 March 1952
82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 6 February - 13 March 1952[10]
319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 6 February - 7 April 1952 (attached to Fifth Air Force after 1 March 1952)[5]
Stations
Larson AFB, Washington, 1 February 1952 – 7 April 1952
Aircraft
F-94B, 1952
Commander
Col. Thomas W. Steed, 1 February 1952 - 7 April 1952[11]