Syracuse Air Defense Sector

Syracuse Air Defense Sector
Emblem of the Syracuse Air Defense Sector
Active	1958–1963
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

Map of Syracuse ADS

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.

History

SADS was established in August 1958 assuming control of former ADC Eastern Air Defense Force units primarily in western New York and Pennsylvania. Operated a Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) direction center. 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. On April 1, 1966, a reconfiguration of the Air Defense Command renamed the Boston Air Defense Sector as the 35th Air Division, with headquarters remaining at Hancock Field.

Lineage

• Established as: 4624th Air Defense Wing on 1 October 1956

Redesignated as: Syracuse Air Defense Sector on 15 August 1958

Inactivated on 4 September 1963

Assignments

• 32nd Air Division, 1 October 1956
• 26th Air Division, 15 August 1958 – 4 September 1963

Components

Interceptor units

• 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense), 1 September 1958 – 1 July 1960 (stationed at: Niagara Falls Airport)
• 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 15 October 1959 – 4 September 1963 (stationed at: Griffiss AFB)

Missile units

• 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC-B) (Niagara Falls International Airport) 1961–1963 43°07′03″N 078°56′49″W

Radar facilities

• SAGE Direction Center (DC-03) located at: 43°07′19″N 076°06′01″W

Also Combat Center CC-01

Later supported 26th, 35th and 21st Air Divisions

Active 1958-Late 24 Oct 1983

Operated: AN/FSQ-7 Computer

Rumored to be slated for demolition, to make room for another runway at Syracuse IAP.

• Brookfield AFS, OH (P-62) 1952-1959 41°13′08″N 080°33′43″W

Location:

Radars: FPS-3; FPS-5; FPS-4; FPS-6

662d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Trumbull County Nursing Home

Gap Fillers

Thompson, OH (P-62A) 41°41′09″N 081°02′38″W

Lewisville, OH (P-62B) 39°45′23″N 081°13′40″W

• Benton AFS, PA (P-30) 1951-1975 41°21′30″N 076°17′40″W

Location:

Radars: FPS-35; FPS-6; FPS-26A; FPS-67B.

648th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Used by the Job Corps as a CETA facility. Radars used by the FAA as a long-range radar site data-tied into the Joint

Surveillance System (post 9/11).

Gap Fillers

Ulysses, PA (P-30E) 41°52′48″N 077°42′51″W

Joliett, PA (P-30F) 40°36′32″N 076°27′42″W

Claysburg, PA (P-30G) 40°17′15″N 078°33′50″W

• Claysburg AFS, PA (P-63) 1952-1961 40°17′15″N 078°33′50″W

Location:

Radars: CPS-4; FPS-3; FPS-4; FPS-6 (2), -6A; FPS-20, -20A

772d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Blue Knob Ski Resor

• Oakdale AI, PA (RP-62) 1959-1969 40°23′50″N 080°09′40″W

Location:

Radars: FPS-24; FPS-90; FPS-26A; FPS-67B.

662d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Still active. This now-FAA long-range radar site is now data-tied into the Joint Surveillance System (post 9/11).

Gap Fillers

Thompson, OH (RP-62A) 41°41′09″N 081°02′38″W

Lewisville, OH (RP-62B) 39°45′23″N 081°13′40″W

Brookfield, OH (RP-62E) 41°13′08″N 080°33′43″W

Claysburg, PA (RP-62F) 40°17′15″N 078°33′50″W

Thomas, WV (RP-62G) 39°08′52″N 079°34′15″W

Stations

• Syracuse AFS, (Hancock Field) New York, 1 October 1956 – 4 September 1963

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 Syracuse Air Defense Sector

External links

• Photos of Syracuse Air Defense Sector SAGE facilities