Boston Air Defense Sector

Boston Air Defense Sector
Emblem of the Boston Air Defense Sector
Active	1956-1966
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter Interceptor
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

Map of Boston ADS

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, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York.

History

BADS was established in 1956, the sector was eliminated on 30 September 1968 with the general drawdown of the ADC aircraft air defense mission.

The mission of the BADS was to provide air defense over New England initially in an area covering southern Maine, southern New Hampshire, southern Vermont, Massachusetts, and northern Rhode Island. It was combined in 1963 with the Stewart Air Defense Sector that included east-central New York state.

The day-to-day operations of the command was to train and maintain tactical flying units flying jet interceptor aircraft (F-94 Starfire; F-102 Delta Dagger; F-106 Delta Dart) in a state of readiness with training missions and series of exercises with SAC and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft.

Lineage

• Established as 4622d Air Defense Wing on 1 April 1956

Redesignated as Boston Air Defense Sector on 1 October 1956

Inactivated 30 June 1963

• Reactivated by redesignation of Stewart Air Defense Sector to Boston Air Defense Sector, 1 July 1963

Inactivated on 30 September 1968

Assignments

• 26th Air Division, 1 April 1956-1 October 1966
• First Air Force, 1 April 1966-30 September 1968

Components

Interceptor units

• 33d Fighter Wing, 18 October 1956-7 January 1957 (Attached); 8 January-18 August 1957 (assigned to: Otis AFB)
• 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 August 1958-1 July 1969 (assigned to: Hanscom AFB, Griffiss AFB)
• 60th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 August 1959-30 September 1968 (assigned to: Otis AFB)
• 76th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 February 1961-1 July 1963 (assigned to: Westover AFB)
• 324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18 October 1956-8 July 1957; 25 June 1958-1 July 1958 (assigned to: Westover AFB)
• 337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18 October 1956-8 July 1957; 25 June 1958-8 July 1960 (assigned to: Westover AFB)
• 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 July 1959-15 March 1960 (assigned to: Hanscom AFB, Griffiss AFB)

Missile units

• 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC-A/B) (Otis AFB), 1960–1968 41°40′56″N 070°32′21″W

Radar facilities

• SAGE Direction Center (DC-02) located at: 41°30′01″N 074°06′22″W

Active 1958-31 Dec 1969

Operated: AN/FSQ-7 Computer

On 1 April 1966, it was redesignated as a SAGE Combat Center (SCC-04). It was deactivated 31 Dec 1969. Currently used as a telecommunications center.

• Saratoga Springs AFS, NY (P-50) 1952-1977 43°00′41″N 073°40′57″W

Location:

Radars: FPS-27; FPS-90; FPS-26A

656th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current use:

Gap Fillers

New Preston, CT (P-50A) 41°43′35″N 073°21′16″W

Andes, NY (P-50B) 42°13′13″N 074°51′05″W

New Salem, MA (P-50E) 42°30′37″N 072°21′13″W

• Gibbsboro AFS, NJ (RP-63/P-9A) 1961-Present 39°49′27″N 074°57′16″W

Location:

Radars: FPS-27; FPS-6A; FPS-26A. FPS-117 (JSS)

772d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Note: In 1957, Gibbsboro became the first location in the nation of a gap-filler radar. Later collocated with Army Nike long-range radar site; then became USAF LRR site RP-63 / Z-63. Now is JSS site J-51.

Current Use: Active JSS site

Gap Filler

Palermo GFA, NJ (RP-63C) 39°13′24″N 074°41′14″W

• Fort Heath, Winthrop, MA (MM-1) 1961-1962 39°49′27″N 074°57′16″W

Location:

Radars: ARSR-1 (FAA); FPS-6 (2-AF & 2-Army) ARSR-1 (FAA)

820th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Note: Shared Army/FAA radar site for Nike missile-defense system (B-21DC); Missile Master site MM-1. Later, FAA site, Winthrop (Boston).

Current Use: Closed, city park

• North Truro AFS, MA (P-10) 1951-Present 39°49′27″N 074°57′16″W

Location:

Radars: FPS-7; FPS-90; FPS-26A. FPS-91A, FPS-116 (JSS)

762d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Active JSS site.

Gap Fillers

Westboro, MA (P-10A) 42°14′24″N 071°37′41″W

Fort Dearborn, NH (P-10B) 43°02′41″N 070°42′56″W

Chilmark, MA (P-10E) 41°21′19″N 070°44′07″W

• Otis AFB TT, MA 1950-1951/1956-1963 41°39′31″N 070°31′17″W

Location: Otis Air Force Base, MA

Radars: CPS-5, TPS-10A (1950-1951)

762d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (1950-1951)

4604th Support Group

Note: Radars (1950-51) replaced by P-10. Later became home base for Offshore Texas Towers

Current Use: MA Air National Guard Base.

• Texas Tower No.2 (TT-2) 1958-1963 44°41′00″N 067°47′00″W

Location: Georges Shoal, Atlantic Ocean, 110 miles east of Cape Cod

Radars: FPS-3A / -20A / -67; FPS-6 (2)

762d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

4604th Support Group

Note: Operational as a SAGE unit in Sep 1958. Parent station was North Truro AFS, MA (P-10)

Current Use: Decommissioned in 1963; tower sank during dismantling. 56-foot depth,

• Texas Tower No.3 (TT-3) 1958-1963 40°45′00″N 069°19′00″W

Location: Nantucket Shoal, Atlantic Ocean, 100 miles southeast of Rhode Island

Radars: FPS-20A / -67; FPS-6 (2)

773d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

4604th Support Group

Note: Operational as a SAGE unit in Oct 1958. Parent station was Montauk AFS, LI, NY (P-45).

Current Use: Decommissioned in 1963; tower dismantled & salvaged. 80-foot depth,

Stations

• Otis AFB, Massachusetts, 1 April 1956-1 July 1963
• Stewart AFB, New York, 1 July 1963-30 September 1968

See also

• List of MAJCOM wings

References

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

• 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 Boston Air Defense Sector

External links

• Photos of Boston Air Defense Sector SAGE facilities