The battalion was last active as a Nike Hercules unit subordinate to the Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) at Chicago, Illinois until 1960.

It was reorganized and redesignated on 22 July 1917 as Battery D, 7th Provisional Regiment ([[Coast Artillery Corps), and then deployed to France for World War I.

With less need for coastal defense, the unit was converted and redesignated as Battery B, 539th Field Artillery Battalion on 30 August 1944.

The unit then deployed to France on 3 April 1945 and participated in the occupation of Germany from 2 May - 29 October 1945.

The still inactive unit was redesignated on 1 September 1971 as the 4th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment.