Chicago Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Air Defense Sector (CADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field
, Wisconsin
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
units with a mission to provide air defense of Illinois
; Indiana
; most of Iowa
and northern Missouri
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 1 October 1959, the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-07) and a Combat Center (CC-02) became operational. 43°07′36"N 089°20′06"W DC-07 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computer
s. 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 inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, the command being redesignated as the 20th Air Division; and its units in Indiana were reassigned to the 34th 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...
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field
Dane County Regional Airport
-Statistics:-External links:* Dane County Regional Airport: * Wisconsin Airport Directory: * * - Listen live to Madison's Air Traffic Control...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
History
CADS was established in March 1957 at Truax Field, Wisconsin, assuming control of former ADC Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense Force
The Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
units with a mission to provide air defense of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
; Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
; most of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and northern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
squadrons.
On 1 October 1959, the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
Semi 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-07) and a Combat Center (CC-02) became operational. 43°07′36"N 089°20′06"W DC-07 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. 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 inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, the command being redesignated as the 20th Air Division; and its units in Indiana were reassigned to the 34th Air Division.
Lineage
- Established as Chicago Air Defense Sector on 8 March 1957
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966; redesignated as 20th Air Division.
Assignments
- 37th Air Division, 8 March 1957
- 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
Stations
- Truax Field, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, 8 March 1957-1 April 1966
Group
- 327th Fighter Group327th Fighter GroupThe 327th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin...
(Air Defense)
- Truax Field, Wisconsin, 1 June 1959-25 June 1966
Interceptor squadron
- 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron319th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 319th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Aerospace Defense Command's Interceptor Weapons School at Tyndall AFB, Florida...
- Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana, 1 July 1960-1 February 1963
Radar squadrons
- 676th Radar Squadron
- Antigo AFS, Wisconsin, 1 June 1964-1 April 1966
- 725th Radar Squadron
- Walnut Ridge AFS, Arkansas, 1 July 1961-1 August 1963
- 755th Radar Squadron755th Radar SquadronThe 755th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 34th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Arlington Heights Air Force Station, Illinois...
- 755th Radar Squadron
- Arlington Heights AFS, Illinois, 1 June 1959-1 April 1966
- 782d Radar Squadron
- Rockville AFS, Indiana, 1 June 1959-25 April 1966
- 784th Radar Squadron
- Snow Mountain AFS, Kentucky, 1 June-1 August 1961; 25 May 1962-1 April 1966
- 788th Radar Squadron
- Waverly AFS, Iowa, 1 June 1959-1 April 1966
- 790th Radar Squadron
- Kirksville AFS, Missouri, 1 June 1959-1 April 1966
- 791st Radar Squadron
- Hanna City AFS, Illinois, 1 June 1959-1 April 1966
- 798th Radar Squadron
- Belleville AFS, Illinois, 1 July 1961-1 April 1966
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...