Detroit Air Defense Sector

Detroit Air Defense Sector
Emblem of the Detroit Air Defense Sector
Active	1958–1966
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

Map of Detroit ADS

The Detroit Air Defense Sector (DADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.

History

DADS was established in September 1958 at Custer AFS, Michigan assuming control of former ADC Central Air Defense Force units with a mission to provide air defense of lower Michigan northeast Indiana and most of Ohio. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar squadrons. In 1959, Custer AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system.

The Sector was inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, the command being redesignated as the 34th Air Division.

Lineage

• Established as Detroit Air Defense Sector on 1 September 1958

Inactivated on 1 April 1966; redesignated as 34th Air Division.

Assignments

• Central Air Defense Force, 1 September 1958
• Air Defense Command, 1 January 1960
• 26th Air Division, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966

Components

Interceptor units

• 1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense), 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1966 (at Selfridge AFB)

1st Fighter Group

• 412th Fighter Group, (Air Defense), 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1960 (at Wurtsmith AFB)
• 56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 April 1959 – 1 March 1960 (at Wright-Patterson AFB)
• 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1966 (at Lockbourne AFB)
• 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 April 1959 – 1 July 1960 (at Bunker Hill AFB)

Missile units

• 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC-B) (Kincheloe AFB) 1961–1966 46°20′53″N 084°48′18″W

Radar facilities

• SAGE Direction Center (DC-06) located at: 42°19′18″N 085°16′00″W

Later supported 39th Air Division

Active 1958-31 December 1969

Operated: AN/FSQ-7 Computer

Note: Cantonment and housing areas shared with 781st Radar Squadron

• Alpena AFS, MI (M-105) 1956-1957 45°05′10″N 083°34′25″W

Radars: TPS-1D

677th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Now part of the Alpena County Regional Airport.

• Custer AFS, MI (P-67) 1952-1965 47°20′32″N 085°16′49″W

Radars: FPS-66; FPS-6; FPS-6A; FPS-26A

781st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Obliterated

Gap Fillers

Midland, MI (P-67A) 43°38′03″N 084°25′41″W

Richland Center, IN (P-67B) 41°07′05″N 086°14′28″W

Saugatuck, MI (P-67C) 42°39′41″N 086°12′32″W

Shelby, MI (P-67D) 43°36′00″N 086°20′25″W

• Empire AFS, MI (P-34) 1951-Present 44°48′07″N 086°03′05″W

Radars: FPS-7; FPS-26A. ARSR-3; FPS-116 (JSS).

752d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Note: Became a USAF-FAA joint-use site in 1964. FAA-only site in June 1968

Current Use: Active JSS site

Gap Fillers

Petoskey, MI (P-34A) 45°19′37″N 084°53′03″W

Shelby, MI (P-34B) 43°36′00″N 086°20′25″W

Alpena, MI (P-34E) 45°04′16″N 083°34′03″W

Saugatuck, MI (P-34G) 42°39′41″N 086°12′32″W

• Port Austin AFS, MI (P-61) 1952-1988 44°01′49″N 083°00′06″W

Radars: FPS-24; FPS-26A. FPS-91A; FPS-116 (JSS).

754th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Note: Had the last operational FPS-24 in the US Air Force inventory. Site replaced by FAA data-tie site at Canton, MI

Current Use: Port Austin College

• Selfridge AFB, MI (P-20) 1952-1974 46°27′25″N 084°23′13″W

Radars: FPS-35; FPS-26A

661st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Note: USAF site shared with Army for Nike missile-defense system (D-15DC).

Current Use: Air National Guard Base

Gap Fillers

Burnside, MI (P-20A) 43°10′55″N 083°03′12″W

Emery, MI (P-20B) 42°22′00″N 083°39′42″W

Marblehead, MI (P-20C) 41°32′21″N 082°44′26″W

Midland, MI (P-20G) 43°38′03″N 084°25′41″W

Stations

• Custer Air Force Station, Michigan, 1 September 1958 – 1 April 1966

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 Detroit Air Defense Sector

External links

• Photos of Detroit Air Defense Sector SAGE facilities