The Syracuse Air Defense Sector (SADS) is an inactive

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

organization. Its last assignment was with the

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was est ...

(ADC)

26th Air Division The 26th Air Division (26th AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Tactical Air Command, assigned to First Air Force, being stationed at March Air Force Base, California. It was inacti ...

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 The Eastern Air Defense Force (EADF) 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 EADF was ...

units primarily in western New York, most of Pennsylvania and a small portion of western Maryland and eastern West Virginia. It controlled several aircraft and

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

squadrons. On 15 August 1958 the new

Semi Automatic Ground Environment The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) was a system of large computers and associated networking equipment that coordinated data from many radar sites and processed it to produce a single unified image of the airspace over a wide area. S ...

(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 An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are cap ...

(

F-89 Scorpion The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an American all-weather, twin-engined interceptor aircraft built during the 1950s, the first jet-powered aircraft designed for that role from the outset to enter service. Though its straight wings limited its per ...

F-101 Voodoo The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo is a supersonic jet fighter which served the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Initially designed by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation as a long-range bomber escort (known as a ''p ...

, F-102 Delta Dagger) and operating

s and interceptor missiles (

CIM-10 Bomarc The Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC (Boeing Michigan Aeronautical Research Center) (IM-99 Weapon System prior to September 1962) was a supersonic ramjet powered long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) used during the Cold War for the air defense of North ...

)in a state of readiness with training missions and a series of

exercises Exercise is a body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athletic s ...

with

Strategic Air Command Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...

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 The Boston Air Defense Sector (BADS) is an inactive United States Air Force Air Defense Command (ADC) organization. Its last assignment was with the ADC 26th Air Division at Hancock Field, New York. History BADS was established in 1956 at Ste ...

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 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 and preceding 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky number, a pernicious nu ...

(Air Defense) :

Niagara Falls Municipal Airport Niagara Falls International Airport is located east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. Owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the airport is a joint civ ...

, New York, 1 September 1958 - 1 July 1960 *

49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron The 49th Fighter Training Squadron is part of the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training. The squadron was first activated as the 49th Pursuit Squadro ...

Griffiss AFB Griffiss Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force installation in the northeastern United States, located in Central New York state at Rome, about northwest of Utica. Missions included fighter interceptors, electronic research, i ...

, New York, 1 August 1959 - 4 September 1963 * 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)Cornett & Johnson, p. 150 :

Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site The Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site was a Cold War USAF launch complex for Boeing CIM-10 Bomarc surface-to-air missiles. It was operated by the 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron. Equipped only IM-99Bs (46 missiles: solid-state, solid-fuel ...

, New York, 1 June 1960 - 4 September 1963

Radar Squadrons

* 648th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 648th Radar Squadron (SAGE))Cornett & Johnson, pp. 156-58 :

Benton AFS Ground Equipment Facility QRC ( FUDS C03PA046300: "Benton Air Force Communications Annex") is an FAA radar station that was part of a Cold War SAGE radar station (Benton Air Force Station, call sign: Oppose) for aircraft control and warning ...

, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958 - 4 September 1963 * 655th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 655th Radar Squadron (SAGE)) :

Watertown AFS Watertown Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations, ADCOM General Surveillance Radar station 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of Watertown (town), New York, Wa ...

, New York, 1 September 1958 - 4 September 1963 * 662nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later

662d Radar Squadron 66 may refer to: * 66 (number) * One of the years 66 BC, AD 66, 1966, 2066 *66 (song), "66" (song), a song by Lil Yachty featuring Trippie Redd *66, a song by The Afghan Whigs, from the album 1965 (album), 1965 *Sixty-Six (card game), a German card ...

(SAGE)) :

Brookfield AFS Brookfield Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located south-southeast of Brookfield, Ohio. It was closed in 1959. History Brookfield Air Force Station constructed as part of the ...

, 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))Cornett & Johnson, pp. 165-67 :

Lockport AFS Lockport Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force ADCOM General Surveillance Radar station in Cambria, New York. History Initially established at Fort Niagara in 1950 before relocating to Lockport site. It was a joint USAF and U ...

, New York, 1 September 1958 - 4 September 1963 * 772nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 772d Radar Squadron (SAGE)) : 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

Notes

References

* * *
Radomes.org Syracuse Air Defense Sector
{{Aerospace Defense Command, state=autocollapse Syra 1956 establishments in New York (state) 1963 disestablishments in New York (state) Military units and formations established in 1956 Military units and formations in New York (state)