The Syracuse Air Defense Sector (SADS) is an inactive

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, 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 ...

organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command (ADC) 26th Air Division 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, we ...

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. SA ...

(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 c ...

(

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 ...

, 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 Nor ...

)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 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.

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 The 32d Air Division (32d AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was last active with Air Defense Command, assigned to First Air Force at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama, where it was inactivated on 31 December 1969. The di ...

, 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 (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, New York, 1 August 1959 - 4 September 1963 *

35th Air Defense Missile Squadron Military units *35th Fighter Wing, an air combat unit of the United States Air Force *35th Infantry Division (United States), a formation of the National Guard since World War I *35th Infantry Regiment (United States), a regiment created on 1 July 1 ...

(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, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958 - 4 September 1963 * 655th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 655th Radar Squadron (SAGE)) : Watertown AFS, New York, 1 September 1958 - 4 September 1963 * 662nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 662d Radar Squadron (SAGE)) : Brookfield AFS, 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 List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations, ADCOM General Surveillance Radar station in Cambria, New York. History Initially established at Fort Ni ...

, 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)