Duluth Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Duluth Air Defense Sector (DUADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being stationed at Duluth Airport, Minnesota
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
units with a mission to provide air defense of most of Minnesota
and western Wisconsin
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 15 November 1959, the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-10) became operational. 46°50′10"N 092°12′26"W DC-10 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.
Inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, the command being redesignated as the 29th Air Division. The SAGE building was remodeled and, in 1985, given to the University of Minnesota Duluth to house the Natural Resources Research Institute
signed into legislation to address the struggling economy during the early 1980s recession
.
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 Duluth Airport, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
History
Established in October 1957 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 most of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and western 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...
. 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 15 November 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-10) became operational. 46°50′10"N 092°12′26"W DC-10 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.
Inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, the command being redesignated as the 29th Air Division. The SAGE building was remodeled and, in 1985, given to the University of Minnesota Duluth to house the Natural Resources Research Institute
Natural Resources Research Institute
The is a U.S. based research institute established by the Minnesota state legislature within the University of Minnesota Duluth. NRRI is a non-profit applied research organization with a mission to improve the economy of Minnesota by helping its industries compete in the global marketplace with...
signed into legislation to address the struggling economy during the early 1980s recession
Early 1980s recession
The early 1980s recession describes the severe global economic recession affecting much of the developed world in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The United States and Japan exited recession relatively early, but high unemployment would continue to affect other OECD nations through at least 1985...
.
Lineage
- Established as Duluth Air Defense Sector on 1 October 1957
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966
Assignments
- 37th Air Division, 1 October 1957
- 31st Air Division, 20 December 1957
- 37th Air Division, 1 January 1959
- 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959-1 April 1966
Stations
- Duluth AirportDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, 1 October 1957-1 April 1966
Wings
- 56th Fighter Wing56th Fighter WingThe 56th 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 Luke Air Force Base, Arizona where it also is the host unit....
(Air Defense)
- K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 1 October 1963-1 January 1964
- 507th Fighter Wing (Air Defense)
- Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 1 October 1963-1 April 1966
Group
- 343d Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Duluth AirportDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, Minnesota, 15 November 1959-1 April 1966
Interceptor squadrons
- 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 62d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 16 December 1963-1 April 1966
Missile squadrons
- 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)
- Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 1 October 1963-1 April 1966
- 74th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)
- Duluth AF Missile SiteDuluth Air National Guard BaseDuluth Air National Guard Base is a United States Air National Guard base located on the grounds of Duluth International Airport. It is home to the 148th Fighter Wing.-History:...
, Minnesota, 1 April 1960-1 April 1966
Radar squadrons
- 665th Radar Squadron
- Calumet AFS, Michigan, 1 October 1963-1 April 1966
- 674th Radar Squadron
- Osceola AFS, Wisconsin, 1 July 1959-1 April 1966
- 676th Radar Squadron
- Antigo AFS, Wisconsin, 1 October 1963-1 June 1964
- 692d Radar Squadron
- Baudette AFS, Minnesota, 1 July 1959-1 April 1966
- 707th Radar Squadron
- Grand Rapids AFS, Minnesota, 1 July 1959-1 August 1963
- 739th Radar Squadron
- Wadena AFS, Minnesota, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 753d Radar Squadron
- Sault Sainte Marie AFS, Michigan, 1 October 1963-1 April 1966
- 756th Radar Squadron
- Finland AFS, Minnesota, 1 July 1959-1 April 1966
- 785th Radar Squadron
- Finley AFS, North Dakota, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 914th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron914th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 914th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Duluth Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Armstrong Air Station, Ontario, Canada...
- 914th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Armstrong AS, Ontario, 15 November 1959-1 November 1962
- 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron915th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Duluth Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Sioux Lookout Air Station, Ontario, Canada...
- 915th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Sioux Lookout AS, Ontario, 15 November 1959-1 October 1962
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons
- 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...