page_title: Hamilton Army Airfield
section_title: 566th Air Defense Group
hierarchical_section_title: Hamilton Army Airfield / Postwar use / 566th Air Defense Group
caption_attribution_description: English: F-104As of the 84th FIS, Hamilton AFB CA. F-104A Starfighters fly in formation near Edwards AFB in early 1958. One airplane has the markings of the Air Force Flight Test Center on its vertical tail. Other three aircraft could be pre-delivery aircraft for Hamilton's 83rd FIS, the first USAF squadron to fly the Starfighter in operational service.
context_page_description: Hamilton Field was a United States Air Force base, which was inactivated in 1973, decommissioned in 1974, and put into a caretaker status with the Air Force Reserves until 1976. It was transferred to the United States Army in 1983 and was designated an Army Airfield until its BRAC closure in 1988. It is located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay in the southern portion of Novato, in Marin County, California.
context_section_description: As part of a reorganization of Air Defense Command, on February 6, 1952 the 78th FIW was inactivated and in its place, the 4702d Defense Wing stood up at Hamilton. The 4702d was a placeholder unit until the 566th Air Defense Group of the 28th Air Division assumed control of the base on November 7, 1952. Units of the 566th ADG at Hamilton were:
  83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (February 6, 1952 – August 18, 1955) (F-86F)
  84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (February 6, 1952 – August 18, 1955) (F-86F)
  325th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (April 1954 – August 18, 1955) (F-86D)
  Reassigned from Travis AFB, California
  496th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (March 20, 1953 –  August 1954) (F-86D)
  When the 78th FIW was inactivated, the 82d FIS was transferred to the 4703d Defense Wing at Larson AFB, Washington.
  During its time at Hamilton, the 325th FIS sponsored the "Sabre Knights" aerial demonstration team. In August 1955 the 325th unit designation was transferred to Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin.
  The 496th FIS was activated on March 20, 1953, as a fighter-interceptor squadron at Hamilton as part of the west coast air defense forces. Partially equipped at first with six F-51Ds, the squadron soon transitioned to F-86D aircraft and prepared to move to Europe. In August 1954 the 496th FIS was transferred to Hahn Air Base West Germany to stand air defense alert. Although based at Hahn, the 496th FIS was assigned to the USAFE 86th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Ramstein Air Base.
  On August 18, 1955 the 78th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was reactivated at Hamilton under the 28th AD with the 83d and 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons flying F-86D Sabres.
caption: The 83d FIS showing off their brand-new Starfighters in 1958. Lockheed F-104A-15-LO Starfighters, AF Ser. No. 56-0772 and AF Ser. No. 56-0776 are identifiable
exif: {}