Boston Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Boston Air Defense Sector (BADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
Air Defense Command (ADC) organization. Its last assignment was with the ADC 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York
.
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-02) and Combat Center (CC-04) which became operational 15 September 1958. DC-02 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computer
s. On 1 May 1963, the Stewart Air Defense Sector (Manual) was merged into the BADS.
The mission of the BADS was to provide air defense over New England
initially in an area covering southern Maine
, southern New Hampshire
, southern Vermont
, Massachusetts
, and northern Rhode Island
. The day-to-day operations of the command was to train and maintain tactical flying units flying jet interceptor aircraft (F-94 Starfire
; F-102 Delta Dagger
; F-106 Delta Dart
) in a state of readiness with training missions and series of exercises with SAC and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft.
The sector was eliminated on 1 April 1966 due to a general reorganization of Air Defense Command, most of its assigned units being reassigned to the 34th or 35th Air Division
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Air Defense Command (ADC) organization. Its last assignment was with the ADC 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
History
BADS was established in 1956 at Otis AFB, Massachusetts. It was moved to Stewart AFB, New York in 1957 pending completion of the new Semi Automatic Ground EnvironmentSemi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-02) and Combat Center (CC-04) which became operational 15 September 1958. DC-02 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computer
AN/FSQ-7
The AN/FSQ-7 was a computer model developed and built in the 1950s by IBM in partnership with the US Air Force. Fifty-two were built and used for command and control functions for the Semi Automatic Ground Environment air-defense system...
s. On 1 May 1963, the Stewart Air Defense Sector (Manual) was merged into the BADS.
The mission of the BADS was to provide air defense over New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
initially in an area covering southern Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, southern New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, southern Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and northern Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. The day-to-day operations of the command was to train and maintain tactical flying units flying jet interceptor aircraft (F-94 Starfire
F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
; F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
; F-106 Delta Dart
F-106 Delta Dart
The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it has proven to be the last dedicated interceptor in USAF service to date...
) in a state of readiness with training missions and series of exercises with SAC and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft.
The sector was eliminated on 1 April 1966 due to a general reorganization of Air Defense Command, most of its assigned units being reassigned to the 34th or 35th Air Division
Lineage
- Established as 4622d Air Defense Wing on 1 April 1956
- Redesignated as Boston Air Defense Sector on 8 January 1957
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966
Stations
- Otis AFB, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, 1 April 1956 - Stewart AFB, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 8 January 1957-1 April 1966
Wings
- 33d Fighter Wing33d Fighter WingThe 33d Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida where it is a tenant unit....
(Air Defense)
- Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 8 January-18 August 1957
Groups
- 329th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Stewart AFB, New York, 8 January 1957-1 August 1959
- 4729th Air Defense Group4729th Air Defense GroupThe 4729th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Boston Air Defense Sector, being stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
- 4729th Air Defense Group
- Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 1 July 1957-30 April 1958
- 4735th Air Defense Group4735th Air Defense GroupThe 4735th Air Defense Group is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. It was assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector throughout its existence, being stationed at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
- 4735th Air Defense Group
- Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 18 August 1957-1 September 1959
Interceptor squadrons
- 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, 15 August 1958-1 August 1959; 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 60th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1 August 1959-1 April 1966
- 76th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 1 February 1961-1 July 1963
- 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron324th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 316th Air Division, stationed at Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco. It was inactivated on 8 March 1960.-History:...
- 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 8 January-1 July 1957
- 327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron327th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 327th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 64th Air Division stationed at Thule AB, Greenland. It was inactivated on March 25, 1960-History:...
- Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 8 January-1 July 1957
- 337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 1 April 1958-8 July 1960
- 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, 1 August 1959-15 March 1960
Missile squadron
- 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron26th Air Defense Missile SquadronThe 26th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 20th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed near Otis AFB, Massachusetts...
(BOMARC)
- Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1 March 1959-1 April 1966
Radar squadrons
- 644th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Rye AFS, New Hampshire, 8 January-30 October 1957
- 648th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Benton AFS, Pennsylvania, 8 January 1957-15 August 1958; 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 654th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Brunswick AFS, Maine, 1 August 1962-25 June 1965
- 655th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Watertown AFS, New York, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 656th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Saratoga Springs AFS, New York, 8 January 1957-1 April 1966
- 672d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron672d Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 672d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Barrington Air Force Station, Nova Scotia...
- Barrington AS, Nova Scotia, 1 July 1960-1 June 1962
- 762d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- North Truro AFS, Massachusetts, 8 January 1957-1 April 1966
- 764th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Saint Albans AFS, Vermont, 1 August 1962-1 April 1966
- 820th Radar Squadron820th Radar SquadronThe 820th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector, stationed at Fort Heath, Massachusetts...
(SAGE)
- 820th Radar Squadron
- Fort HeathFort HeathFort Heath was built in 1898 as a Coast Artillery fort, located on Grovers Cliff in Winthrop, Massachusetts, and was part of the defenses of Boston Harbor. It was named in honor of General William Heath, who served in the American Revolution...
, Massachusetts, 18 October 1959-1 December 1962- 911th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Lyndonville AFS, Vermont, 1 August 1962-1 August 1963
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsAerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsThe second iteration of Aerospace Defense Command was established on 21 March 1946 as a component of the United States Army Air Forces, with the mission of planning for and executing the air defense of the United States...
- List of MAJCOM wings