Detroit Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Air Defense Sector (DADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station
, Michigan
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
units with a mission to provide air defense of lower Michigan
northeast Indiana
and most of Ohio
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 1 September 1959 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-06) and Combat Center (CC-01) became operational. 42°19′18"N 085°16′00"W DC-06 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, most units being reassigned to 34th or 29th 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 26th Air Division, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station
Custer Air Force Station
Custer Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located west-northwest of Battle Creek, Michigan. It was closed in 1965.-History:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
History
DADS was established in September 1958 at Custer AFS, Michigan 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 lower Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
northeast 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...
and most of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. 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 September 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-06) and Combat Center (CC-01) became operational. 42°19′18"N 085°16′00"W DC-06 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, most units being reassigned to 34th or 29th Air Division.
Lineage
- Activated as 4627th Air Defense Wing, 8 January 1957
- Re-designated as Detroit Air Defense Sector on 1 September 1958
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966.
Assignments
- 30th Air Division, 8 January 1957
- 26th Air Division, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966
Wing
- 1st Fighter Wing1st Fighter WingThe 1st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Ninth Air Force. It is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va...
(Air Defense)
- Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
Group
- 79th Fighter Group79th Fighter GroupThe 79th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being assigned to Youngstown Air Force Base, Ohio. It was inactivated on 1 March 1960.-World War II:...
(Air Defense)
- Youngstown AirportYoungstown-Warren Air Reserve StationYoungstown-Warren Air Reserve Station is a military facility located in Vienna Center, Ohio, 11 miles north of Youngstown and 10 miles east of Warren, in Trumbull County, Ohio, in the United States. The installation is located at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport...
, Ohio, 1 April 1959-1 March 1960
Interceptor Squadrons
- 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron56th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Detroit Air Defense Sector, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...
- Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 1 April 1959-1 March 1960
- 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
- 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 April 1959-1 March 1960
- 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, 15 July 1963-1 April 1966
Missile Squadron
- 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)
- Niagara Falls Air Force Missile SiteNiagara Falls Air Force Missile SiteNiagara Falls Air Force Missile Site is a closed United States Air Force CIM-10 Bomarc missile site. It was located adjacent to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, east-northeast of Niagara Falls, New York. It was closed in 1969.-History:...
, New York, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
Radar Squadrons
- 661st Radar Squadron661st Radar SquadronThe 661st Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 23d Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
(SAGE)
- Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
- 662d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Oakdale AFS, Pennsylvania, 1 November 1959-15 June 1960; 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 664th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Bellefontaine AFS, Ohio, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
- 752d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Empire AFS, Michigan, 15 July 1963-1 April 1966
- 754th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Port Austin AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
- 763d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Lockport AFS, New York, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 781st Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Custer AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1959-25 June 1965
- 783d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Guthrie AFS, West Virginia, 1 July 1961-1 April 1966
- 784th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Snow Mountain AFS, Kentucky, 1 August 1961-25 May 1962
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...