Syracuse Air Defense Sector Explained

Unit Name:	Syracuse Air Defense Sector
Dates:	1956–1963
Country:	United States
Role:	Air Defense
Command Structure:	Air Defense Command

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector (SADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command (ADC) 26th Air Division at Hancock Field, New York.

SADS was established in October 1956 as the 4624th Air Defense Wing, SAGE at Syracuse Air Force Station (AFS), New York, assuming control of former ADC Eastern Air Defense Force units primarily in western New York, most of Pennsylvania and a small portion of western Maryland and eastern West Virginia.^[1] It controlled 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. DC-03 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computers. The day-to-day operations of the command were to train and maintain tactical units flying jet interceptor aircraft (F-89 Scorpion, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger) and operating radars and interceptor missiles (CIM-10 Bomarc)in a state of readiness with training missions and a series of exercises with Strategic Air Command and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft. In early 1958, Syracuse AFS was renamed Hancock Field.

The Sector was inactivated on 4 September 1963 when the 26th Air Division headquarters moved to Hancock Field and the Syracuse Sector, in a realignment of sector boundaries, merged with the Boston Air Defense Sector.

Lineage

• Designated as 4624th Air Defense Wing, SAGE and organized on 1 October 1956

Redesignated 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 AFS, (later Hancock Field) New York, 1 October 1956 – 4 September 1963

Components

• 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense)^[2]

Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, 1 September 1958 – 1 July 1960

• 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^{[3] [4]}

Griffiss AFB, New York, 1 August 1959 – 4 September 1963

• 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)^[5]

Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site, New York, 1 June 1960 – 4 September 1963

Radar Squadrons

• 648th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 648th Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[6]

Benton AFS, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958 – 4 September 1963

• 655th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 655th Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[6]

Watertown AFS, New York, 1 September 1958 – 4 September 1963

• 662nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 662d Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[6]

Brookfield AFS, Ohio (moved to Oakdale Army Installation), Pennsylvania in July 1960, 15 June 1960 – 4 September 1963

• 763rd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 763d Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[7]

Lockport AFS, New York, 1 September 1958 – 4 September 1963

• 772nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 772d Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[7]

Claysburg AFS, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958 – 1 May 1961

Weapons Systems

• F-89J, 1959-1959
• F-101B, 1959-1963
• F-102A, 1958-1960
• IM-99 (later CIM-10), 1960-1963

See also

• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
• Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
• List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons

References

• Book: Leonard, Barry. History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense. II, 1955-1972. 2009. Center for Military History. Fort McNair, DC. 9781437921311.
• Book: Redmond, Kent C.. Smith, Thomas M. . From Whirlwind to MITRE: The R&D Story of The SAGE Air Defense Computer. 2000. MIT Press. Cambridge, MA. 978-0-262-18201-0.
• Book: Winkler, David F.. Webster, Julie L . Searching the skies: The legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. 1997. US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. Champaign, IL. 97020912. * Radomes.org Syracuse Air Defense Sector

Notes and References

1. Book: Cornett, Lloyd H. Johnson, Mildred W . A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946-1980. 1980. Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Peterson AFB, CO. 37 (Map).
2. http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16902 Factsheet, 15th Air Base Wing
3. Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 213.
4. http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10859 Factsheet, 49th Fighter Training Squadron
5. Cornett & Johnson, p. 150
6. Cornett & Johnson, pp. 156-58
7. Cornett & Johnson, pp. 165-67