Syracuse Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Syracuse Air Defense Sector (SADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Syracuse Air Force Station
, New York
.
units primarily in western New York
and Pennsylvania
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 15 August 1958 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-03) and Combat Center (CC-01) became operational. 43°07′19"N 076°06′01"W DC-03 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 4 September 1963 when the 26th Air Division Headquarters was moved to Hancock and the Syracuse Sector, in a realignment of sector boundaries, merged with the Boston Air Defense Sector
.
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 Syracuse Air Force Station
Syracuse Hancock International Airport
Syracuse Hancock International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located northeast of Syracuse, in Onondaga County, New York, off of Interstate 81 near Mattydale, New York. The main terminal complex is located at the eastern end of Colonel Eileen Collins Boulevard.-History:In 1927...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
History
SADS was established in January 1957 assuming control of former ADC Eastern Air Defense ForceEastern Air Defense Force
The Eastern Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
units primarily in western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. 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 August 1958 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-03) and Combat Center (CC-01) became operational. 43°07′19"N 076°06′01"W DC-03 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 4 September 1963 when the 26th Air Division Headquarters was moved to Hancock and the Syracuse Sector, in a realignment of sector boundaries, merged with the Boston Air Defense Sector
Boston Air Defense Sector
The Boston Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force Air Defense Command organization. Its last assignment was with the ADC 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York.-History:...
.
Lineage
- Established as: 4624th Air Defense Wing on 1 October 1956
- Redesignated as: Syracuse Air Defense Sector on 8 January 1957
- Inactivated on 4 September 1963
Assignments
- 32nd Air Division, 1 October 1956
- 26th Air Division, 15 August 1958 – 4 September 1963
Stations
- Syracuse AFSHancock Field Air National Guard BaseHancock Field Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, co-located with Syracuse Hancock International Airport. It is located north-northeast of Syracuse, New York....
, (Hancock Field) New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, 1 October 1956 – 4 September 1963
Group
- 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Niagara Falls MAPNiagara Falls Air Reserve StationNiagara Falls Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Niagara Falls International Airport, New York. It is located east-northeast of Niagara Falls, New York.-Overview:...
, New York, 1 September 1958-1 July 1960
Interceptor Squadron
- 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron,
- Griffiss AFB, New York, 1 August 1959-4 September 1963
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:...
, 1 June 1960-4 September 1963
Radar Squadrons
- 648th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Benton AFS, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958-4 September 1963
- 655th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Watertown AFS, New York, 1 September 1958-4 September 1963
- 662d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Oakdale AFS, Pennsylvania, 15 June 1960-4 September 1963
- 763d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Lockport AFS, New York, 1 September 1958-4 September 1963
- 772d Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Claysburg AFS, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958-1 May 1961
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...