Jet Squadron At Willow Run To Be Removed

Jet Squadron At Willow Run To Be Removed
Economy Wave To Eliminate 472nd Reserve Unit
Special to The News) SELFRIDGE FIELD - As part of a large-scale economy wave in the Air Force's reserve program, the 472nd reserve fighter-bomber squadron based at Willow Run Airport for nearly two years is being eliminated, Maj. Gen. Robert E. L. Eaton, 10th AF commander, announced today.
Deactivation of the reserve unit will be effective before Jan. 1, Gen. Eaton said, and will affect nearly 90 reserve officers and airmen who have been training at Willow Run since early 1956.
The reservists, however, will be given an opportunity to join other reserve flying units at 10th AF headquarters here, or a non-flying air reserve training center in Detroit. Most From This Area
Most of the reservists in the 472nd are from Washtenaw or western Wayne county. The squadron is part of the 439th Fighter-Bomber Wing, which will become the 403rd Troop Carrier Wing based at Selfridge Air Force Base and with a detachment at Niagara Falls, New York.
A Willow Run detachment of the 2242nd Air Reserve Flying Center, which provides administrative and logistical operation of the 472nd, is also being eliminated.
Willow Run Airport officials, meanwhile, said today the dropping of the jet squadron there would have no noticeable effect on the scheduled operation of commercial aircraft. Flying activity of the reserve unit never became great enough to hamper or interfere with commercial operations, they commented.
In addition to the Willow Run operation, Gen. Eaton said, three reserve wings and another reserve flying unit under 10th Air Force command will be affected by the economy measure. Across the country, about 4,000 air reservists and Air National Guardsmen in 25 units are directly affected. The ANG squadrons at Detroit-Wayne County Airport are not included. Other Effects Told
Also, the officer said, the reorganization will result in abandoning plans for seven proposed flying training sites in the Midwest, elimination of a non-flying reserve unit and dropping of plans for four proposed reserve medical units, one of which had been scheduled for activation in the Detroit area.
Lt. Gen. William E. Hall, head of the nation's Air Reserve Forces, said today that "under no circumstances will any reservist be forced to lose retirement credits and others privileges he has amassed."
Willow Run reservists not joining the new 403rd Troop Carrier Wing here, which will be equipped with C-119 transports, will be able to join other reserve units or wait until next spring when an Air Rescue Squadron will be activated at Selfridge.
The 472nd unit has been fly. ing T-33 jet trainers and F-80 and F-84 jet fighter-bombers out of Willow Run. All planes are currently being transferred to the Military Air Transport division, Gen. Eaton said.
In addition to the reservists and regular AF personnel affected by the military cutback, some 57 civilian workers employed at the Willow Run base are involved.
The units have been located on the east side of the Willow Run airfield, and have used the former Packard Hangar as headquarters. The building is also utilized by the headquarters detachment of the 30th Air Division (Defense), which is based nearby.