Spokane Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Spokane Air Defense Sector (SpADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 25th Air Division, being stationed at Larson Air Force Base
, Washington.
units in eastern Washington, northern Idaho
and western Montana
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 8 September the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-15) became operational. 47°10′53"N 119°19′16"W DC-15 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 on 1 September 1963 when Larson AFB was turned over to Strategic Air Command
; and its units were assigned to the 25th 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 25th Air Division, being stationed at Larson Air Force Base
Larson Air Force Base
Larson Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base located five miles northwest of the central business district of Moses Lake, in Grant County, Washington. After its closure, the airport was operated as Grant County International Airport.-History:Larson Air Force Base was named in...
, Washington.
History
SpADS was established in September 1958 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 :...
units in eastern Washington, northern Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and western 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.
On 8 September 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-15) became operational. 47°10′53"N 119°19′16"W DC-15 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 on 1 September 1963 when Larson AFB was turned over to Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
; and its units were assigned to the 25th Air Division.
Lineage
- Established as Spokane Air Defense Sector on 8 September 1958
- Inactivated on 1 September 1963
Stations
- Larson AFB, Washington, 8 September 1958-1 September 1963
Group
- 84th Fighter Group84th Fighter GroupThe 84th Fighter Group is an active United States Air Force organization. It is assigned to the 84th Combat Sustainment Wing, stationed at Hill Air Force Base, California. It was last active as a Fighter Group on 15 July 1963.-History:...
(Air Defense)
- Geiger Field, Washington, 1 July 1960-15 July 1963
Interceptor squadron
- 538th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron538th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron is provisional unt of United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, and is currently located at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.-Overview:...
- Larson AFB, Washington, 15 May-1 July 1960
Radar squadrons
- 636th Radar Squadron
- Condon AFS, Oregon, 15 March 1960-1 June 1963
- 637th Radar Squadron637th Radar SquadronThe 637th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 25th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Othello Air Force Station, Washington. Because it was at a Backup Interceptor Control site, it was inactivated in 1970 and replaced by the...
- 637th Radar Squadron
- Othello AFS, Washington, 15 March 1960-1 June 1963
- 760th Radar Squadron
- Colville AFS, Washington, 15 March 1960-1 June 1961
- 822d Radar Squadron
- Cottonwood AFS, Iowa, 1 June 1963-25 June 1965
- 823d Radar Squadron
- Mica Peak AFS, Washington, 15 March 1960-1 June 1963
- 825th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron825th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 825th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Spokane Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Kamloops Air Station, British Columbia, Canada...
- 825th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Kamloops AS, British Columbia, 15 March 1960-1 April 1962
- 919th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron919th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 919th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Spokane Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Saskatoon Mountain Air Station, Alberta, Canada...
- 919th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Saskatoon Mountain AS, Alberta, 15 March 1960-1 April 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...