Montgomery Air Defense Sector

Montgomery Air Defense Sector
Emblem of the Montgomery Air Defense Sector
Active	1957-1969
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

Map of Montgomery ADS

The Montgomery Air Defense Sector (MoADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.

History

Established in September 1957 assuming control of former ADC Central Air Defense Force units in southern Mississippi and Alabama. Consolidated on 1 January 1959 with Shreveport and Miami Air Defense Sectors, expanding AOR to include most of Louisiana and eastern Texas along the Gulf of Mexico; central and southern Georgia and all of Florida. Operated a Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center.

Inactivated on 1 April 1966 as part of an ADC consolidation and reorganization. Redesignated as 32d Air Division.

Lineage

• Established as: Montgomery Air Defense Sector on 8 September 1957

Inactivated on 1 April 1966; redesignated as 32d Air Division

Assignments

• 35th Air Division, 8 September 1951
• 32d Air Division, 15 November 1958
• 26th Air Division, 1 July 1963
• 73d Air Division, 1 October 1964-1 April 1966

Components

Interceptor units

• 319th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron, 1 March 1963-1 December 1969 (stationed at: Homestead AFB)
• 482d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 July 1965-30 June 1969, (stationed at: Seymour-Johnson AFB)

Radar facilities

• SAGE Direction Center (DC-09) located at: 32°24′13″N 086°14′28″W

Later supported 32d Air Division

Active 1958-31 Dec 1969

Operated: AN/FSQ-7 Computer

Activated on September 8, 1957, the SAGE Direction Center controlled operations within the Montgomery Air Defense Sector. On 1 April 1966, the Direction Center also became a SAGE Combat Center (SCC). SAGE operations ceased 31 Dec 1969.

• GATR (Ground Air Transmitter Receiver) site (R-114) located at: 30°05′30″N 081°42′37″W

Near Jacksonville, 3.3 mi NE of Russell FL, Temporary site, now a county park.

• GATR (Ground Air Transmitter Receiver) site (R-129) located at: 27°50′06″N 082°31′03″W

Temporary site on MacDill AFB, FL, now closed.

• Cross City AFS, FL (TM-200) 1959-1970 29°38′10″N 083°05′55″W

Radars: FPS-20A / FPS-66A; FPS-6A (2)

653d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: - Correctional Center

Gap Fillers

Perry, FL (TM-200A): 30°04′42″N 083°34′47″W

Bridgeboro, GA (TM-200B): 31°25′31″N 083°57′09″W

• Crystal Springs AFS, MS (TM-195) 1959-1968, 31°58′45″N 090°28′40″W

Radars: FPS-27; FPS-6A; FPS-90 (FPS-27 at this site was the prototype)

627th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Gap Filler

Summit, MS (TM-195A): 31°58′45″N 090°20′40″W

• Dauphin Island AFS, AL (TM-196) 1959-1970 30°15′00″N 088°04′40″W

Radars: FPS-93A; FPS-6

693d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Gap Fillers

New Orleans, LA (TM-196A): 30°01′39″N 090°02′55″W

Gulfport, MS (TM-196B): 30°24′26″N 089°03′34″W

As site (Z-249) 1972-1980

Operating Location G, 630th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Operating Location E, 635th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

635th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Re-opened in 1972 as part of the Southern Air Defense System (SADS)

• England AFB, LA (M-125) 1955-1963, 31°18′52″N 092°31′50″W

Radars: FPS-20A

653d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

FAA site now, still using FPS-20A. FAA site also known as Alexandria, LA.

Gap Fillers

Delhi, LA (M-125A): 32°19′40″N 091°33′25″W

Weeks Island, LA (M-125C): 29°48′34″N 091°48′22″W

Lake Charles GFA, LA (M-125D): 30°11′05″N 093°10′30″W

• Eufaula AFS, AL (TM-199) 1959-1968 31°52′52″N 085°15′14″W

Radars: FPS-24; FPS-90; FPS-26A. FPS-24 and FPS-26 at this site were the prototypes; FPS-26A later modified to show FSS-7 feasibilty. Reportedly, site closed when FPS-24 suffered a bearing failure.

609th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Gap Fillers

Davenport, AL (TM-199A): 32°00′14″N 086°19′45″W

Bridgeboro, GA (TM-199B): 31°25′31″N 083°57′09″W

• Jacksonville NAS, FL (M-114) 1962-1981 30°13′17″N 081°40′57″W

Radars: FPS-66; FPS-6

679th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Now occupied by the Advanced Maritime Projects Office (AMPO).

Gap Fillers

Bunnell, FL (M-114A): 29°21′16″N 081°18′42″W

Blythe Island, GA (M-114B): 31°09′43″N 081°33′44″W

• Key West NAS, FL (Z-209) 1962-Preent 24°35′04″N 081°41′18″W

Radars: FPS-67B; FPS-90 (2)

671st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Active.

Originally, Navy-only radar site (located on Boca Chica Key), added to ADC network at time of Cuban missile crisis. Also shared with the United States Army for the Nike Hawk batteries at Key West; designated Homstead Defense Area AADCP site KW-18DC

• Patrick AFB, FL (Z-211) 1961-1996 28°12′50″N 080°35′57″W

Radars: FPS-66A; FPS-6A (2), FPS-116

Det 1, 679th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (1961)

645th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Inactive, part of Patrick AFB. Now replaced by new Melbourne, FL, FAA/USAF JSS site with ARSR-4 (site J-05A).

• Richmond AFS, FL (Z-210) 1959-1992 25°37′24″N 080°24′16″W

Radars: ARSR-1F; FPS-6 (2), FPS-116

644th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Closed 1992. Now replaced by Tamiami JSS radar site with ARSR-4 (site J-06A). Richmond AFS closed due to extreme damage from Hurricane Andrew (24 Aug 1992). Part of United States Army Nike-Hercules ADA (Homestead Defense Area) as AADCP site HM-01DC

Gap Fillers

Naples, FL (Z-210A): 26°09′16″N 081°46′10″W

Long Key, FL (Z-210B): 24°49′19″N 080°49′11″W

Jupiter, FL (Z-210C): 26°55′58″N 080°04′10″W

• Savannah AFS, GA (M-112) 1955-1979 32°01′01″N 081°09′57″W

Radars: MPS-11; FPS-67B; FPS-26

702d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: - Georgia Air National Guard's 117th Air Control Squaron

Gap Fillers

Parris Island MCAS, SC (M-112A): 32°19′42″N 080°42′21″W

Alma, GA (M-112C): 31°36′30″N 082°32′48″W

Jeffersonville, GA (M-112E): 32°33′46″N 083°23′32″W

• Thomasville AFS, AL (TM-197) 1959-1969 31°52′52″N 085°15′14″W

Radars: FPS-35; FPS-90 (2) FPS-35 at this site was the prototype.

698th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

• Tyndall AFB, FL (TM-198) 1957-Present 30°04′35″N 085°36′35″W

Radars: FPS-64A; FPS-6 (FPS-116)

678th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Active JSS site on Tyndall AFB

Gap Fillers

Carrabelle, FL (TM-198A): 29°51′57″N 084°37′53″W

Eglin AFB, FL (TM-198B): 30°33′14″N 086°45′36″W

Stations

• Gunter AFB, Alabama, 8 September 1957-31 December 1969.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
• Radomes.org Montgomery Air Defense Sector

External links

• Photos of Montgomery Air Defense Sector SAGE facilities