Minot Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Minot Air Defense Sector (MADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Minot Air Force Base
, North Dakota
. It was inactivated on 1 December 1963
27th Air Division units in western North Dakota
and eastern Montana
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
The sector operated a Manual Air-Defense Control Center (ADCC) (DC-19). A SAGE Direction Center built, however no AN/FSQ-7
direction computers were ever installed. It was consolidated with the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector
on 1 March 1963, and inactivated on 1 December 1963.
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 29th Air Division, being stationed at Minot Air Force Base
Minot Air Force Base
Minot Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation in Ward County, North Dakota, north of the city of Minot. In the 2010 census, the base was counted as a CDP with a total population of 5,521....
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. It was inactivated on 1 December 1963
History
Established in April 1959 assuming control of former ADC Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense Force
The Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
27th Air Division units in western North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
and eastern Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. 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.
The sector operated a Manual Air-Defense Control Center (ADCC) (DC-19). A SAGE Direction Center built, however no AN/FSQ-7
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...
direction computers were ever installed. It was consolidated with the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector
Grand Forks Air Defense Sector
The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base , North Dakota...
on 1 March 1963, and inactivated on 1 December 1963.
Lineage
- Established as Minot Air Defense Sector on 1 April 1959
- Inactivated on 1 December 1963
Wing
- 32d Fighter Wing (Air Defense)
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 1 February 1961-1 July 1962
Group
- 32d Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 1 August 1960-1 February 1961
Fighter squadrons
- 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 1 July 1962-25 June 1963
- 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron13th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Minot Air Defense Sector, stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana. It was inactivated on 30 June 1968-History:...
- 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 1 January 1961-25 June 1963
Radar squadrons
- 706th Radar Squadron
- Dickinson AFS, North Dakota, 1 January 1961-25 June 1963
- 731st Radar Squadron
- Sundance AFS, Wyoming, 1 January 1961-25 June 1963
- 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron740th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Minot Air Defense Sector, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota...
- 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, 1 January 1961-15 August 1962
- 779th Radar Squadron
- Opheim AFS, Montana, 1 January-15 June 1961
- 780th Radar Squadron
- Fortuna AFS, North Dakota, 1 January 1961-25 June 1963
- 786th Radar Squadron
- Minot AFS, North Dakota, 1 January 1961-25 June 1963
- 902d Radar Squadron
- Miles City AFS, Montana, 1 January 1961-25 June 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...