Aerospace Defense Command

Former U.S. Air Force major command

"Air Defense Command" redirects here. For other uses, see Air Defense Command (disambiguation).

Aerospace Defense Command

Shield of Aerospace Defense Command

Active| 1946–1950; 1951–March 31, 1980
Country| United States
Branch| United States Army Air Force
(1946–1947)
United States Air Force
(1947–1948) (1951–1980)
Type| 1975: Specified Command
1946: Major Command
Garrison/HQ| 1966 April 20: Chidlaw Building, Colorado

1951 January 8: Ent AFB, Colorado

1946 March 21: Mitchel Field, New York

Military unit

Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly inactivated in 1950, reactivated in 1951, and then redesignated Aerospace rather than Air in 1968. Its mission was to provide air defense of the Continental United States (CONUS). It directly controlled all active measures, and was tasked to coordinate all passive means of air defense.

## Air defense during World War II

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Continental United States air defense forces during World War II were initially under the command of the four air districts – Northeast Air District, Northwest Air District, Southeast Air District, and Southwest Air District. The air districts were established on 16 January 1941, before the Pearl Harbor attack.[1] The four air districts also handled USAAF combat training with the Army Ground Forces and "organization and training of bomber, fighter and other units and crews for assignments overseas".[1] The air districts were redesignated on 26 March 1941 as the First Air Force, Second Air Force, Third Air Force, and Fourth Air Force.[1] The First and Fourth Air Forces, through their interceptor commands, managed the civilian Aircraft Warning Service on the East and West coasts, respectively.

The USAAF's Aircraft Warning Corps provided air defense warning with information centers that networked an area's "Army Radar Stations" which communicated radar tracks by telephone. The AWC information centers also integrated visual reports processed by Ground Observer Corps filter centers. AWC information centers notified air defense command posts of the "4 continental air forces" for deploying interceptor aircraft which used command guidance for ground-controlled interception. The USAAF inactivated the aircraft warning network in April 1944.[2]: 38

### Continental Air Forces

[edit]

Continental Air Forces (CAF) was activated on 12 December 1944, including the four Air Forces, to bring the continental air defense task under one command.[3] AAF Regulation 20-1, dated 15 September 1945, specified the post-war CAF mission. For aircraft warning, in 1945 CAF had recommended "research and development be undertaken on radar and allied equipment for an air defense system [for] the future threat", e.g., a "radar [with] range of 1,000 miles, [to detect] at an altitude of 200 miles, and at a speed of 1,000 miles per hour".[4] HQ AAF responded that "until the kind of defense needed to counter future attacks could be determined, AC&W planning would have to be restricted to the use of available radar sets".[5] CAF's January 1946 Radar Defense Report for Continental United States recommended military characteristics for a post-war Air Defense System "based upon such advanced equipment",[6] and the HQ AAF Plans reminded "the command that radar defense planning had to be based on the available equipment."[7]

Reorganization of Continental Air Forces began in 1945, when ground radar and interceptor plans were prepared for the transfer at CAF HQ in the expectation that 'it would become Air Defense Command.'[8] CAF installations that were transferred to ADC included Mitchel Field (21 March 1946), Hamilton Army Airfield (21 March 1946), Myrtle Beach Army Air Field (27 March 1946), Shaw Field (1 April 1946), McChord Field (1 August 1946), Grandview Army Air Field (1 January 1952), Seymour Johnson Field (1 April 1956), and Tyndall Field (1 July 1957).

## Air Defense Command 1946

[edit]

Shield of Air Defense Command

Air Defense Command was activated on 21 March 1946 with the former CAF Fourth Air Force, the inactive Tenth Air Force, and the tbd's Fourteenth Air Force. Second Air Force was reactivated and added on 6 June 1946. In December 1946 the "Development of Radar Equipment for Detecting and Countering Missiles of the German A-4 type" was planned, part of the Signal Corps' Project 414A.[9][2]: 207  The Distant Early Warning Line was "first conceived—and rejected—in 1946".[2]: 2

A 1947 proposal for 411 radar stations and 18 control centers costing $600 million[10] was the Project Supremacy plan for a postwar Radar Fence that was rejected by Air Defense Command since "no provision was made in it for the Alaska to Greenland net with flanks guarded by aircraft and picket ships [required] for 3 to 6 hours of warning time",[2]: 129  and "Congress failed to act on legislation[specify] required to support the proposed system".[2] (In the spring and summer of 1947, 3 ADC AC&W plans had gone unfunded.[11]: 53 ) By 1948 there were only 5 AC&W stations, including the Twin Lights station in NJ that opened in June and Montauk NY "Air Warning Station #3 (5 July)[12]\--cf. SAC radar stations, e.g., at Dallas & Denver Bomb Plots.[13]

ADC became a subordinate operational command of Continental Air Command on 1 December 1948[citation needed] and on 27 June 1950, United States air defense systems began 24-hour operations two days after the start of the Korean War.[14] By the time ADC was inactivated on 1 July 1950, ADC had deployed the Lashup Radar Network with existing radars at 43 sites. In addition, 36 Air National Guard fighter units were called to active duty for the[specify] mission.[10]

### Reformation 1951

[edit]

ADC was reinstated as a major command on 1 January 1951 at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York. A rudimentary command centre was established that year from a former hallway/latrine area.[15] The headquarters was moved to Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs on 8 January 1951. It received 21 former ConAC active-duty fighter squadrons (37 additional Air National Guard fighter squadrons if called to active duty). ADC was also assigned the 25th, 26th 27th and 28th Air Divisions (Defense)[14] ADC completed the Priority Permanent System network for Aircraft Warning and Control (ground-controlled interception) in 1952. Gaps were filled by additional Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar stations and the Ground Observation Corps (disbanded 1959).[10] In May 1954, ADC moved their initial, rudimentary command center into a "much improved 15,000-square-foot concrete block" building with "main battle control center".[16][17]

During the mid-1950s, planners devised the idea of extending the wall of powerful land-based radar seaward with Airborne early warning and control units. This was done by equipping two wings of Lockheed RC-121 Warning Star aircraft, the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, based at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and the 552nd AEWCW, based at McClellan Air Force Base, California, one wing stationed on each coast. The RC-121s, EC-121s and Texas Towers, it was believed, would contribute to extending contiguous east-coast radar coverage some 300 to 500 miles seaward. In terms of the air threat of the 1950s, this meant a gain of at least 30 extra minutes warning time of an oncoming bomber attack.[18] ADC's Operation Tail Wind on 11–12 July tested its augmentation plan that required Air Training Command interceptors participate in an air defense emergency. A total of seven ATC bases actively participated in the exercise, deploying aircraft and aircrews and supporting the ADC radar net.[19] As the USAF prepared to deploy the Tactical Air Command E-3 Sentry in the later 1970s, active-duty units were phased out EC-121 operations by the end of 1975. All remaining EC-121s were transferred to the Air Force Reserve, which formed the 79th AEWCS at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida in early 1976. The active duty force continued to provide personnel to operate the EC-121s on a 24-hour basis, assigning Detachment 1, 20th Air Defense Squadron to Homestead AFB as associate active duty crews to fly the Reserve-owned aircraft. Besides monitoring Cuban waters, these last Warning Stars also operated from NAS Keflavik, Iceland. Final EC-121 operations ended in September 1978.

## Air and Aerospace Defense Command

[edit]

Convair F-106A Delta Dart of ADC's 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron near Mount Rushmore (lower right background)

The United States Army Air Forces activated Air Defense Command (ADC) in 1946, with a Numbered Air Force of the former Continental Air Forces, from which it took its mission of air warning and air defense. In September 1947, it became part of the newly established United States Air Force. The command become a subordinate organization of Continental Air Command (ConAC) on 1 December 1948. ConAC gradually assumed direct charge of ADC air defense components, and ADC inactivated on 1 July 1950. But five months later, on 10 November 1950, Generals Vandenberg and Twining notified General Ennis C. Whitehead that "the Air Force had approved activation of a separate Air Defense Command [from CONAC] with headquarters on Ent."[20] The new command's mission was to be to stop a handful of conventionally armed piston engine-powered bombers on a one-way mission. The command was formally reactivated on 1 January 1951.

With advances in Soviet bombers, ADC completed improved radar networks and manned interceptors in the 1950s. At the end of the decade it computerized Air Defense Direction Centers to allow air defense controllers to more quickly review integrated military air defense warning (MADW) data and dispatch defenses (e.g., surface-to-air missiles in 1959). ADC began missile warning and space surveillance missions in 1960 and 1961, and established a temporary missile warning network for the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1968 it was redesignated Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM).

In 1975, ADCOM became a specified command and the United States' executive agent in the North American Air Defense Command—the single CINCNORAD/CINCAD commanded both. ADCOM's last surface-to-air missiles were taken off alert in 1972, and the Federal Aviation Administration took over many of ADCOM's SAGE radar stations.

## Tactical Air Command and ADTAC

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On 1 October 1979 ADCOM interceptors/bases and remaining air warning radar stations transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC), with these "atmospheric" units assigned to Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). ADCOM's missile warning and space surveillance installations transferred in 1979 to the Strategic Air Command's Directorate of Space and Missile Warning Systems (SAC/SX),[21]) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Air Force Element, NORAD/ADCOM (AFENA)[21], which was redesignated the Aerospace Defense Center.[22] The command was inactivated on 31 March 1980.

With the disestablishment of TAC and SAC in 1992, the Aerospace Defense Center, the ADCOM specified command organizations, along with SAC's missile warning and space surveillance installations. became part of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). Air Force Space Command activated its headquarters in the same Chidlaw Building where ADCOM had been inactivated.

### Chronology of major events

[edit]

* 27 March 1946: The United States Army Air Force activates the Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field, New York
* 1 December 1948: Air Defense Command became a component of Continental Air Command
* 1 July 1950: Air Defense Command inactivated because the Continental Air Command gradually assumed full charge of United States air defense
* 1 January 1951: Air Defense Command reestablished at Mitchel AFB
* 8 January 1951: Air Defense Command headquarters moved to Ent Air Force Base, Colorado
* 1 October 1953: The 4701st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron, the first AEW&C system,[dubious – discuss] was activated at McClellan AFB, California.
* 15 April 1957: Air Defense Command assigned operational control of the DEW Line and all atmospheric defense units of the inactivated Northeast Air Command.
* 12 September 1957: NORAD is established at Ent AFB with Canadian Air Defense Command air defense units and United States Continental Air Defense Command air defense units

* 1 December 1958: SAGE Combat Center No 1 at Hancock Field, New York became operational
* 1 January 1959: The first BOMARC squadron, the 46th Air Defense Missile Squadron was activated at McGuire AFB, New Jersey.
* 30 September 1960: ADC's BMEWS Central Computer and Display Facility at Ent AFB achieved initial operational capability, providing missile warning to SAC and The Pentagon
* 1 July 1961: ADC took over the Laredo and Trinidad missile and space vehicle tracking stations[23]
* 15 January 1968: Air Defense Command is redesignated as Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM)
* 1 July 1975: Aerospace Defense Command designated a "Specified Command" taking over Continental Air Defense Command roles and responsibilities
* 1 October 1975: Alaskan ADCOM Region established, Aerospace Defense Command assumes control of missile warning and space surveillance forces of Alaskan Air Command
* 29 May 1979: The USAF made a public announcement of its plans to reorganize its aerospace defense forces. Consequently, the USAF inactivated ADCOM as a major command and reassigned its resources to other commands.
* 31 March 1980: Aerospace Defense Command inactivated at the Chidlaw Building in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

|

### Interceptor Aircraft

[edit]

See also: List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons

ADC had four day-type fighter squadrons (FDS) in 1946. The ADC interceptor force grew to ninety-three (93) active Air Force fighter interceptor squadrons, seventy-six (76) Air National Guard fighter interceptor squadrons, several U.S. Navy fighter squadrons, USAF and USN airborne early warning squadrons, radar squadrons, training squadrons, and numerous support units that have played important roles in our nation's defense.[14]

The first ADC interceptor, the P-61 Black Widow, did not have the capabilities to engage the Soviet Tu-4 bomber. Its successor, the F-82 Twin Mustang, was even more disappointing. It took a long time to get into production and did not perform well in inclement weather.[24][25]

The early jet fighters, such as the F-80 Shooting Star and F-84 Thunderjet, lacked all-weather capability and were deemed useless for air defense purposes. Much hope was placed on two jet-powered interceptors, the XP-87 Blackhawk and the XP-89 Scorpion. (Designations changed to XF-87 and XF-89.) They, in turn, also proved to be inadequate: the XF-87 was cancelled and the Scorpion underwent extensive redesign.[26][27]

The first-generation jets gave way to all-weather dedicated interceptor jets. The F-94 Starfire was pressed into service as an "interim" interceptor, and North American in 1949 pushed an interceptor version of the Sabre, the F-86D. Despite the demands its complexity made upon a single pilot, the F-86D was backed by senior Air Force officials. Some 2,504 would be built and it would in time be the most numerous interceptor in the Air Defense Command fleet, with more than 1,000 in service by the end of 1955[28]

The F-86D was not ideal, however; its afterburner consumed a great deal of fuel in getting it to altitude, and the pilot was overburdened by cockpit tasks. The F-89D was modified to accept AIM-4 Falcon guided missiles (F-89H) and AIR-2 Genie atomic warhead rockets (F-89J) as armament. The F-86D was modified (F-86L) to include an FDDL SAGE data link that permitted automatic ground control. The F-86L and F-89H became available in 1956, and the F-89J in 1957.[28]

The first of the Century Series supersonic interceptors was the F-102A Delta Dagger in 1956, followed by the F-104A Starfighter in 1958. The F-101B Voodoo and F-106 Delta Dart were first received by ADC during the first half of 1959. By 1960, the ADC interceptor force was composed of the F-101, F-104, F-106, and the F-102.[29]

Artist's impression of the North American XF-108 Rapier

The North American F-108 Rapier was the first proposed successor to the F-106. It was to be capable of Mach 3 performance and was intended to serve as a long-range interceptor that could destroy attacking Soviet bombers over the poles before they could get near US territory. It was also to serve as the escort fighter for the XB-70 Valkyrie Mach-3 strategic bomber, also to be built by North American. The Air Force expected that the first F-108A would be ready for service by early 1963. An order for no less than 480 F-108s was anticipated.

However, by mid-1959, the Air Force was already beginning to experience some doubts about the high cost of the Rapier program. The primary strategic threat from the Soviet Union was now perceived to be its battery of intercontinental ballistic missiles instead of its force of long-range bombers. Against intercontinental ballistic missiles, the F-108A interceptor would be completely useless. In addition, the Air Force was increasingly of the opinion that unmanned intercontinental ballistic missiles could accomplish the mission of the B-70 Valkyrie/F-108 Rapier combination much more effectively and at far lower cost. Consequently, the F-108A project was cancelled in its entirety on 23 September 1959, before any prototypes could be built.

One of the three Lockheed YF-12A prototypes had Air Defense Command markings (vertical stabilizer nearest center) during 1963 Edwards testing by AFSC's 4786th TS. Using the AN/ASG-18 from the F-108 Rapier program and Falcon missile developed for the F-108A, the Mach 3 interceptor was funded by Congress with $90 million for a 14 May 1965 USAF order of 93 F-12B aircraft (cancelled by SECDEF).

In 1968, ADCOM began the phaseout of the F-101 and F-102 interceptors from active duty units, with both types mostly being transferred to the Air National Guard. The F-101 would remain in a limited role on active duty until 1982, serving in such roles as towed target carrier aircraft and simulated enemy radar contacts for Airborne Weapons Controller students training for duties aboard the E-3 Sentry AWACS. The F-102 would see service until the mid-1980s as the PQM-102 aerial target drone. The F-106 Delta Dart was the primary air defense interceptor aircraft for the US Air Force during the 1970s and early 1980s. It was also the last dedicated interceptor in U.S. Air Force service to date. It was gradually retired during the 1980s, though the QF-106 drone conversions of the aircraft were used until 1998 as aerial targets under the FSAT program.[30]

#### Interceptor gunnery training

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B-57E, AF Ser. No. 55-4277, a target towing aircraft of the 8th Bomb Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan in 1958. Note the bright orange paint on the upper fuselage and wings

B-57E Canberra dedicated Air Defense Command target towing aircraft were used for training of F-86D Sabre, F-94C Starfire, and F-89D Scorpion interceptors firing 2.75-inch Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets. Due to the nature of air-to-air weapon training requiring a large amount of air space, only a few locations were available for practice ranges. ADC assigned these aircraft to bases close to these large, restricted areas, and fighter-interceptor squadrons deployed to these bases for this type of "hot fire" training which took place in these ranges.

The gunnery schools were located at Yuma AFB, Arizona (17th Tow Target Squadron (TTS)), and later moved to MacDill AFB, Florida where the training continued over the Gulf of Mexico. With the move to Florida, the 3d TTS was formed at George AFB, California which performed training over the Mojave Desert in Southern California. Additional units were located at Biggs AFB, near El Paso, Texas (1st TTS) and the 4756th TTS was located at Tyndall AFB, Florida to support the Fighter Weapons Center located there. ADC also supported overseas training at Johnson AB, Japan (the 6th Tow Target Squadron). From Johnson AB, B-57Es deployed to Clark AB, Philippines; Andersen AFB, Guam, Naha AB, Okinawa and Itazuke AB, Misawa AB and Yokota AB, all in Japan for training of the interceptor squadrons assigned to those bases. The 6th TTS was inactivated by late 1957 and the Canberra trainers were designated a flight of the 8th Bombardment Squadron at Johnson AB. In Europe, USAFE supported a squadron of B-57E gunnery trainers at Wheelus AB, Libya where European-based interceptors deployed for "live firing" over the vast desert range there.[31]

To provide challenges for interceptors, The B-57Es towed styrofoam, bomb-shaped radar reflectant targets. These could be towed at higher altitudes than the high-drag 45' banners but hits could still be scored on them. By 1960, the rocket firing interceptors were giving way to F-102 Delta Dagger interceptors firing heat-seeking AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles. This made the target towing mission of the B-57E obsolete, and the B-57Es were adapted to electronic countermeasures and faker target aircraft (EB-57E) (see below).[31]

In order to cover combat losses in the Vietnam War caused by two major ground explosions, twelve B-57Es were reconfigured as combat-capable B-57Bs at the Martin factory in late 1965 and were deployed to Southeast Asia for combat bombardment operations. Six other B-57Es were converted to RB-57E "Patricia Lynn" tactical reconnaissance aircraft in 1966 during the Vietnam War, operating from Tan Son Nhut Air Base until 1971.[31]

October 1960 SAMs near the BOMARC Missile Accident Site after the 7 June 1960 BOMARC nuclear accident. BOMARC alert status ended in 1972, e.g., ADC first closed a BOMARC B complex on 31 December 1969.

### Interceptor Missiles (IMs)

[edit]

The Bomarc Missile Program delivered the first CIM-10 Bomarc supersonic surface-to-air missile to ADC during September 1959 at Fort Dix's BOMARC Base No. 1 near the missile launch control center on McGuire AFB (groundbreaking for McGuire's Air Defense Direction Center to house the IBM AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central for Bomarc ground-controlled interception had been in 1957.) To ensure probability of kill before bombers could drop their weapons, the AN/FSQ-7 used the Automatic Target and Battery Evaluation (ATABE) to determine which bombers/formations to assign to which manned interceptor base (e.g., using nuclear air-to-air missiles), which to assign to Bomarcs (e.g., with W-40 nuclear warheads) and if available, which to assign to the region's Nike Army Air Defense Command Post (that also had ATABE software for efficiently coordinating fire from multiple Hercules missile batteries.) Bomarc missiles bases were along the east and west coasts of North America and the central areas of the continent (e.g., Suffolk County Missile Annex was on Long Island, New York.) The supersonic Bomarc missiles were the first long-range anti-aircraft missiles in the world, and the longer range BOMARC B models required less time after erected until they could be launched.[32]

### Defense Systems Evaluation

[edit]

See also: List of United States Air Force defense systems evaluation squadrons

Martin EB-57E, AF Ser. No. 55-4241, of the 4577th DSES flying over the Great Salt Lake, Utah about 1970. Retired 30 July 1979

"Faker", or simulated target aircraft flew mock penetrations into air defense sectors to exercise GDI stations, Air Defense Direction Centers, and interceptor squadrons. Initially using modified B-25 Mitchell and B-29 Superfortress bombers, the aircraft would fly attack profile missions at unexpected, random times and attempt to evade coverage by flying at low altitudes and randomly flying in different directions to confuse interceptors. The aircraft were modified to carry electronic countermeasures (ECM) gear to attempt to confuse radar operators. In 1957, the propeller-driven aircraft were phased out and replaced by Martin B-57 medium bombers which were being phased out of Tactical Air Command. Initially RB-57As from reconnaissance units were modified to have their former camera bays refitted to carry out the latest ECM systems to confuse the defenders. Wing racks, originally designed for bombs, now carried chaff dispensers and the navigator position was replaced with an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO). The modified B-57s were designated as EB-57 (E for special electronic installation).[31]

Considerable realism would be generated into these simulated aggressor attack missions being flown by the B-57 crews. Often several EB-57s were used to form separate tracks and provide a coordinated jamming attack to complicate the testing. When inside the range of the GCI radar, and in anticipation of interception, chaff was dispensed to confuse the defense force and electronic pulses to jam radar signals were turned on. It was up to the defending interceptors and GCI stations to sort out the correct interception.[31]

Units operating these specially equipped aircraft were designated Defense Systems Evaluation Squadrons (DSES). The 4713th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron was stationed for training in the Northeast. The 4713th also deployed frequently to USAFE in West Germany for training of NATO forces. The other was the 4677th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, which concentrated on Fighter Interceptor Squadron training for units in the Western United States. In 1974, the 4713th DSES was inactivated and its EB-57s were divided between two Air National Guard units and the 4677th DSES was redesignated as the 17th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron. This unit was inactivated in July 1979 and was the last to fly B-57s in the active duty USAF. It shared the Defense Systems Evaluation mission with the Kansas and Vermont Air National Guard. Defense Systems Evaluation operations were also carried out by the 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan; later the 556th Reconnaissance Squadron and moved to Kadena AB, Okinawa. EB-57s were also deployed to Alaskan Air Command, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, frequently.[31]

The 134th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron, Vermont Air National Guard, retired its last EB-57 in 1983, and the operational use of the B-57 Canberra ended.[31] ADC supported 4-story SAGE blockhouses were hardened for overpressures of 5 psi (34 kPa).[33] NORAD sector direction center (NSDCs) also had air defense artillery director (ADAD) consoles [and an Army] ADA battle staff officer." The sector direction centers automatically communicated crosstelling of "SAGE reference track data" to/from adjacent sectors' DCs and to 10 Project Nike Missile Master Army Air Defense Command Posts.[34]

ADC squadrons at Thule Site J and Clear AFS used each AN/FPS-50 to sweep 2 radar beams each ~1° in azimuth x 3.5° elevation (illustrated much less thick). Azimuth sweeping created a "Lower Fan" centered at 3.5° elevation and "Upper Fan" at 7° (both illustrated much higher) with "revisit time of 2 sec" for ICBM detection. The "war room" of the Chidlaw Building's Combined Operations Center took over command center operations in 1963 from the nearby Ent AFB "main battle control center" (screens show missile impact ellipses for an exercise.)

### Continental defense

[edit]

From 1 September 1954 until 1975, ADC was a component of the unified Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) along with the Army's ARAACOM (1957 ARADCOM) and until 1965, the Navy's NAVFORCONAD. The USAF as the executive CONAD agent initially used ADC's:

* General Benjamin Chidlaw as CINCONAD,
* headquarters staff and ADC HQ building for the unified command staff, and
* new blockhouse for the unified command center

ADC'a Permanent System radar stations were used for CONAD target data, along with Navy picket ships (Atlantic and Pacific Barrier until 1965) and Army Project Nike "target acquisition radars". A CONAD reorganization that started in 1956 created a separate multi-service CONAD headquarters staff (with an Air Force Element), separated command of ADC from CINCONAD, and in 1957 added Alaskan Air Command and Northeast Air Command components to ADC[17] Former NEAC installations in the smaller "Canadian Northeast Area" were transferred to the Canadian Air Defence Command.[35] (e.g., the Hall Beach DEW Line station constructed 1955–1957[36]\--cf. Canada's Hopedale stations of the 1954 Pinetree Line and 1957 Mid-Canada Line.)

64th Air Division personnel were assigned to main stations of the 1957 DEW Line and annually inspected auxiliary/intermediate DEW stations maintained by the "DEW M&O Contractor[35]." On 1 March 1957 CONAD reduced the number of ADC interceptor squadrons on alert for the Air Defense Identification Zone.[37] "At the end of 1957, ADC operated 182 radar stations…32 had been added during the last half of the year as low-altitude, unmanned gap-filler radars. The total consisted of 47 gap-filler stations, 75 Permanent System radars, 39 semimobile radars, 19 Pinetree stations,…1 Lashup[-era] radar and a single Texas Tower".[38] After the NORAD agreement was signed on 12 May 1958, ADC became a NORAD component.[39]

SAGE
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) for radar operators was installed at ADC's general surveillance stations by deploying Burroughs AN/FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitting Set electronics. Implementation of the SAGE Geographic Reorganization Plan of 25 July 1958 activated new ADC military installations, e.g., GATR stations for vectoring manned interceptors as well as BOMARC missile launch complexes with nearby GAT Facilities. On 20 December 1958 NORAD approved the "USAF ADC Plan" which included 10 Super Combat Centers (SCCs) in underground bunkers to replace 5 above-ground Combat Centers remaining to be built.[40] Modification of FAA radars to the ARSR-1A configuration (Amplitron, "antenna gear box modification", etc.) were to be complete by November 1960 (e.g., at the Fort Heath radar station)[41] and all 3 Texas Towers were in-service by April 1959 with ADC detachments/radars on offshore platforms near the New England coast, and the Continental Air Defense Integration North schedule for gap-filler radars included those for "P-20F, London, Ontario; C-4-C, Brampton, Ontario; C-5-C, Mt Carleton, New Brunswick; and C-6-D, Les Etroits. Quebec"—in the spring of 1959, ADC requested the Air Defense Systems Integration Division to study accelerating the scheduled 1962 deployment of those 4 sites.[40] After the planned SCCs were cancelled in 1960, the SAGE System was augmented by the "pre-SAGE semiautomatic intercept system" for Backup Interceptor Control as at North Bend AFS in February 1962 (BUIC II first at North Truro AFS in 1966.)

By 30 June 1958, the planned ADC anti-ICBM processing facility to coordinate the ABM missile fire was considered "the heart of the entire [planned] ballistic missile defense system[41] (conceived to have Nike Zeus[42] and Wizard missiles.) On 19 October 1959, HQ USAF assigned ADC the "planning responsibility" for eventual operations of the Missile Defense Alarm System to detect ICBM launches with infrared sensors on space vehicles.[43]

#### Missile warning and space surveillance

[edit]

ADC's BMEWS Central Computer and Display Facility was built as an austere network center (instead of for coordinating anti-ICBM fire) which "at midnight on 30 September I960…achieved initial operational capability" (IOC). On 1 July 1961 for space surveillance, ADC took over the Laredo Test Site and the Trinidad Air Station from Rome Air Development Center.[23] The "1st Aero" cadre at the Hanscom AFB NSSCC moved 496L System operations in July 1961 to Ent's "SPADATS Center"[44] in the annex of building P4. Operational BMEWS control of the Thule Site J RCA AN/FPS-50 Radar Sets transferred from RCA to ADC on 5 January 1962 (the 12MWS activated in 1967.) By 30 June 1962, integration of ADC's BMEWS CC&DF and the SPADATS Center was completed at Ent AFB,[45] and the Air Forces Iceland transferred from Military Air Transport Service to ADC on 1 July 1962.

The 9th ADD established the temporary 1962 "Cuban Missile Early Warning System" for the missile crisis. Responsibility for a USAFSS squadron's AN/FPS-17 radar station in Turkey for missile test monitoring transferred to ADC on 1 July 1963, the same date the site's AN/FPS-79 achieved IOC.[46] By January 1963, ADC's Detachment 3 of the 9th Aerospace Defense Division (9th ADD) was providing space surveillance data from the Moorestown BMEWS station "to a Spacetrack Analysis Center at Colorado Springs."[47] On 31 December 1965, Forward Scatter Over-the-Horizon network data from the 440L Data Reduction Center was being received by ADC for missile warning, and a NORAD plan for 1 April 1966 was for ADC to "reorganize its remaining 26th, 28th, 29th, and 73d Air Divisions into four air forces."[48]

The 1966 20th Surveillance Squadron began ADC's phased array operations with the Eglin AFB Site C-6 Project Space Track radar (the Eglin phased array's IOC was in 1969, and the North Dakota CMEWS "began passing" PARCS phased array data to NORAD in 1977 after being "modified for the ADCOM mission".[21]

After claiming in March 1958 that "the Army's ZEUS did not have the growth potential to handle possible enemy evasion decoy and countermeasure tactics", the USAF similarly identified by early 1959 that its planned Wizard missile was "not cost effective" against ICBM warheads.[49]—the Army Zeus deployed successors against ICBMs (SAFEGUARD System, 1975–6) and space vehicles (Johnston Atoll, 1962–75). After tests of the 1959 High Virgo (at Explorer 5), 1959 Bold Orion (Explorer 6), and 1963 Project 505 (Nike Zeus) anti-satellite tests (the latter's nuclear burst destroyed a satellite), the Air Force Systems Command ASM-135 ASAT collided with a satellite in 1984.

#### Consolidated C3

[edit]

ADC's Consolidated Command. Control and Communications Program, FY 1965–1972[48] was an outgrowth of a 196x "ADC-NORAD PAGE Study" for replacing SAGE/BUIC with a Primary Automated Ground Environment (PAGE) .[50] The program with a Joint DOD/FAA National Airspace System (NAS)[51] resulted with DOD/FAA agreements for a common aircraft surveillance system,[52] with the FAA "to automate its new National Airspace System (NAS) centers".[48] ADC estimated its portion "would cost about $6 million, with annual operating, maintenance, and communication costs about $3.5 million"[52] ("the first BUIC III was set to begin in April 1967 at Z-50, Saratoga Springs".)[50]

As the space mission grew the command changed its name, effective 15 January 1968, to Aerospace Defense Command, or ADCOM. Under ADCOM, emphasis went to systems for ballistic missile detection and warning and space surveillance, and the atmospheric detection and warning system, which had been in an almost continuous state of expansion and improvement since the 1950s, went into decline.[14]

BOMARC, for example, was dropped from the weapons inventory, and the F-101 and F-102 passed from the regular Air Force inventory into the National Guard. To save funds and manpower, drastic reductions were made in the number of long range radar stations, the number of interceptor squadrons, and in the organizational structure. By 1968 the DOD was making plans to phase down the current air defense system and transition to a new system which included an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), Over-the-Horizon Backscatter (OTH-B) radar, and an improved F-106 interceptor aircraft.[14]

The changing emphasis in the threat away from the manned bomber and to the ballistic missile brought reorganization and reduction in aerospace defense resources and personnel and almost continuous turmoil in the management structure. The headquarters of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) and ADC were combined on 1 July 1973. Six months later in February 1973, ADC was reduced to 20 fighter squadrons and a complete phaseout of air defense missile batteries.[14]

Continental Air Command was disestablished on 1 July 1975 and Aerospace Defense Command became a specified command by direction of the JCS. Reductions and reorganizations continued into the last half of the 1970s, but while some consideration was given to closing down the major command headquarters altogether and redistributing field resources to other commands, such a move lacked support in the Air Staff.[14]

## Inactivation

[edit]

Emblem of Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC)

In early 1977 strong Congressional pressure to reduce management "overhead", and the personal conviction of the USAF Chief of Staff that substantial savings could be realized without a reduction in operational capability, moved the final "reorganization" of ADCOM to center stage. Two years of planning followed, but by late 1979 the Air Force was ready to carry it through. It was conducted in two phases:[14]

On 1 October 1979 ADCOM atmospheric defense resources (interceptors, warning radars, and associated bases and personnel) were transferred to Tactical Air Command. They were placed under Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC), compatible to a Numbered Air Force under TAC. With this move many Air National Guard units that had an air defense mission also came under the control of TAC. ADTAC was headquartered at Ent Air Force Base, Colorado, with North American Aerospace Defense Command. In essence, Tactical Air Command became the old Continental Air Command. On the same date, electronic assets went to the Air Force Communications Service (AFCS).[14]

On 1 December 1979 missile warning and space surveillance assets were transferred to Strategic Air Command. On the same date the Aerospace Defense Center, a Direct Reporting Unit, was established from the remnants of ADCOM headquarters.[14]

ADCOM, as a specified command, continued as the United States component of NORAD, but the major air command was inactivated on 31 March 1980. The unit designation of the MAJCOM reverted to the control of the Department of the Air Force.[14]

## Commanders

[edit]

* Lt. Gen George Stratemeyer
* Maj. Gen Gordon Saville
* Lt. Gen Ennis Whitehead
* Gen Benjamin W. Chidlaw
* Maj. Gen Frederick Smith Jr. – from 31 May 1955
* Gen Earle Partridge (acting)
* Lt. Gen Joseph H. Atkinson – became ADC commander on 22 September
* Lt. Gen Robert Lee
* Lt. Gen Herbert Thatcher
* Lt. Gen Arthur Agan[53]

## Lineage

[edit]

* Established as Air Defense Command on 21 March 1946

Activated as a major command on 27 March 1946
Became a subordinate operational command of Continental Air Command on 1 December 1948
Discontinued on 1 July 1950

* Reestablished as a major command, and organized, on 1 January 1951

Became a specified command in 1975
Redesignated Aerospace Defense Command on 15 January 1968
Major Command inactivated on 31 March 1980

## Components

[edit]

### Air Defense Forces

[edit]

* Central Air Defense Force (CADF)

Activated on 1 March 1951 at Kansas City, Missouri
Moved to Grandview AFB, 10 March 1954
Station redesignated Richards-Gebaur AFB, 27 April 1952
Inactivated, 1 January 1960

* Eastern Air Defense Force (EADF)

Activated by Continental Air Command on 1 September 1949 at Mitchel AFB, New York
Moved to Stewart AFB and assigned to Air Defense Command on 1 January 1951
Inactivated, 1 January 1960

* Western Air Defense Force (WADF)

Activated by Continental Air Command on 1 September 1949 at Hamilton AFB, California
Reassigned to Air Defense Command, 1 January 1951
Inactivated, 1 July 1960

### Air Forces

[edit]

* First Air Force

Assigned to Air Defense Command, 27 March 1946 at Mitchel Field, New York
Moved to Fort Slocum, New York, 3 June 1946
Reassigned to Continental Air Command, 1 December 1948
Reassigned to Air Defense Command, 1 April 1966
Inactivated, 31 December 1969

* Second Air Force

Reactivated on 6 June 1946 at Fort Crook, Nebraska
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Inactivated, 1 July 1948

* Fourth Air Force

Assigned to Air Defense Command, 21 March 1946 at March Field, California
Moved to Hamilton Field, California on 19 June 1946
Reassigned to Continental Air Command, 1 December 1948
Discontinued, 1 September 1960
Reactivated 1 April 1966 and assigned to Air Defense Command
Inactivated, 30 September 1969

* Tenth Air Force, 21 March 1946 – 1 December 1948; 20 January 1966 – 8 October 1976

Reactivated 27 May 1946 at Brooks Field, Texas
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Reassigned to Continental Air Command, 1 December 1948
Inactivated, 1 September 1960
Reactivated 1 April 1966 and assigned to Air Defense Command
Assigned to Richards-Gebaur AFB
Inactivated, 30 September 1969

* Eleventh Air Force*

Activated 13 June 1946 at Olmsted Field, Middletown, Pennsylvania
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Inactivated, 1 July 1948

* Fourteenth Air Force, 21 March 1946 – 1 December 1948; 20 January 1966 – 8 October 1976

Reactivated 24 May 1945 at Orlando Air Base, Florida
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Reassigned to Continental Air Command, 1 December 1948
Inactivated, 1 September 1960
Reactivated 1 April 1966 and assigned to Air Defense Command
Assigned to Gunter AFB, Alabama
Redesignated Fourteenth Aerospace Force, 1 July 1968
Moved to Ent AFB, Colorado
Inactivated, 1 October 1976

* Air Forces Iceland

Assigned to Air Defense Command from Military Air Transport Service, 1 July 1962
Stationed at Keflavik Airport, Iceland
Assigned to 64th Air Division
Transferred to: 26th Air Division, 1 July 1963
Transferred to: Goose Air Defense Sector, 4 September 1963
Transferred to: 37th Air Division, 1 April 1966
Transferred to: 21st Air Division, 31 December 1969
Reassigned to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

|

.Note: Assigned to Olmsted AFB, Pennsylvania, but never equipped or manned. Not to be confused with Eleventh Air Force, which was assigned to Alaskan Air Command

### Regions

[edit]

* Alaskan ADCOM Region

Designated and activated at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 1 October 1975
Missile warning and space surveillance forces reassigned to Strategic Air Command, 1 December 1979
Redesignated as Alaska NORAD Region (ANR), 14 June 1983

Operational atmospheric defense units under operational control of Eleventh Air Force

* 20th ADCOM Region

Designated and activated at Fort Lee AFS, Virginia, 8 December 1978
Supplementary ADCOM designation of 20th Air Division

* 21st ADCOM Region

Designated and activated at Hancock AFS, New York, 8 December 1978
Supplementary ADCOM designation of 21st Air Division

* 23d ADCOM Region

Designated and activated at Duluth AFS, Minnesota, 8 December 1978
Supplementary ADCOM designation of 23d Air Division

* 24th ADCOM Region

Designated and activated at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 8 December 1978
Supplementary ADCOM designation of 24th Air Division

* 25th ADCOM Region

Designated and activated at McChord AFB, Washington, 8 December 1978
Supplementary ADCOM designation of 25th Air Division

* 26th ADCOM Region

Designated and activated at Luke AFB, Arizona, 8 December 1978
Supplementary ADCOM designation of 26th Air Division

|

### Air Divisions

[edit]

* 8th Air Division (Aircraft Early Warning & Control)

Activated 1 May 1954 at McClellan AFB, California
Assigned to Western Air Defense Force
Transferred to Air Defense Command, 1 May 1955
Inactivated, 1 July 1957

* 9th Air Division (Defense)

Activated 8 October 1954 at Geiger Field, Washington
Assigned to Western Air Defense Force
Inactivated, 15 August 1958
Reactivated on 15 July 1961 as 9th Aerospace Air Division at Ent AFB, Colorado
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Designated 9th Aerospace Defense Division by 31 May 1963
Discontinued, 1 July 1968

* 20th Air Division

Activated on 8 October 1955 at Grandview AFB, Missouri
Assigned to Central Air Defense Force
Station renamed Richards-Gebaur AFB, 27 April 1957
Inactivated 1 January 1960
Reactivated on 1 April 1966 at Truax Field, Wisconsin
Assigned to Tenth Air Force
Discontinued 31 December 1967
Reactivated on 19 November 1969 at Fort Lee AFS, Virginia
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Reassigned to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

* 21st Air Division

Activated 20 January 1966
Organized at McGuire AFB, New Jersey 1 April 1966
Assigned to First Air Force
Discontinued and inactivated 31 December 1967
Reactivated on 19 November 1969 at Hancock AFS, New York
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Reassigned to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

* 23d Air Division

Activated 19 November 1969 at Duluth AFS, Minnesota
Assigned to First Air Force
Reassigned to Air Defense Command on 1 December 1969
Reassigned to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

* 24th Air Division

Activated 19 November 1969 at Malmstrom AFB, Montana
Assigned to Tenth Air Force
Reassigned to Air Defense Command on 1 December 1969
Reassigned to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

* 25th Air Division

Activated 25 October 1948 as 25th Air Division (Defense) at Silver Lake, Washington
Assigned to Fourth Air Force
Reassigned to Western Air Defense Force, 1 February 1950
Moved to McChord AFB, 15 September 1951
Redesignated 25th Air Division (SAGE), 1 March 1959
Reassigned to Air Defense Command on 1 July 1960
Reassigned to Fourth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Reassigned to Tenth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Reassigned to Aerospace Defense Command, 1 December 1969
Reassigned to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

* 26th Air Division

Activated 16 November 1948 at Mitchel AFB, New York
Assigned to First Air Force
Moved to Roslyn AFS, New York 18 April 1949
Redesignated 26th Air Division (Defense), 20 June 1949
Reassigned to Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 September 1950
Redesignated 26th Air Division (SAGE), 8 August 1958 and moved to Syracuse AFS, New York
Transferred to Air Defense Command on 1 August 1959
Moved to Stewart AFB, New York, 15 June 1964
Redesignated 26th Air Division, 20 January 1966 and moved to Adair AFS, Oregon
Inactivated, 30 September 1969
Reactivated 19 November 1969 at Luke AFB, Arizona
Reassigned to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

* 27th Air Division

Activated as 27th Air Division (Defense) on 20 November 1950 at Norton AFB, California
Assigned to Western Air Defense Force
Inactivated, 1 October 1959
Organized as 27th Air Division on 1 April 1966 at Luke AFB, Arizona
Assigned to Fourth Air Force
Reassigned to Tenth Air Force on 15 September 1969
Inactivated 19 November 1969

* 28th Air Division

Assigned to Western Air Defense Force on 1 January 1951 as 28th Air Division (Defense)
Assigned to Hamilton AFB, California
Redesignated as 28th Air Division (SAGE) and transferred to Air Defense Command, 1 July 1960
Redesignated 28th Air Division, 1 April 1966
Moved to Malmstrom AFB, Montana and assigned to Tenth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Inactivated 19 November 1969

* 29th Air Division

Activated 1 March 1951 at Great Falls AFB, Montana
Assigned to Western Air Defense Force
Transferred to Central Air Defense Force, 16 February 1953
Great Falls AFB renamed Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1 October 1955
Redesignated as 29th Air Division (SAGE) and transferred to Air Defense Command, 1 July 1960
Moved to Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri, 1 July 1961
Redesignated 29th Air Division, 1 April 1966
Moved to Duluth AFS, Minnesota, and assigned to Tenth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Reassigned to First Air Force on 15 September 1969
Inactivated 19 November 1969

* 30th Air Division,

Activated on 16 December 1949 as 30th Air Division (Defense) at Selfridge AFB, Michigan
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Moved to Willow Run AFS, Michigan on 1 April 1952
Assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force, 1 April 1952
Redesignated 30th Air Division (SAGE), 1 April 1959 and moved to Truax Field, Wisconsin
Reassigned to Air Defense Command on 1 July 1959
Redesignated 30th Air Division and moved to Sioux City AFS, Iowa (w/o p/e), 1 April 1966
Reassigned to Tenth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Discontinued 18 September 1968

* 31st Air Division

Activated on 8 October 1950 as 31st Air Division (Defense) at Selfridge AFB, Michigan
Assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force
Reassigned to Air Defense Command on 1 January 1951
Moved to Snelling AFS, Minnesota on 18 December 1950
Reassigned to Central Air Defense Force, 20 May 1950
Inactivated 1 January 1960
Organized at Oklahoma City AFS, Oklahoma on 1 April 1966
Assigned to Fourteenth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Reassigned to Tenth Air Force on 1 July 1968
Inactivated on 31 December 1969

* 32d Air Division

Assigned on 1 January 1951 to Eastern Air Defense Force at Stewart AFB, New York
Moved to Syracuse AFS, New York, 15 February 1952
Inactivated on 15 August 1958
Reactivated on 15 November 1958 as 32d Air Division (SAGE) at Dobbins AFB, Georgia
Assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force
Reassigned to Air Defense Command, 1 August 1959
Moved to Oklahoma City AFS, Oklahoma, 1 August 1961
Discontinued 4 September 1963
Organized at Gunter AFB, Alabama, 1 April 1966
Assigned to Fourteenth Air Force
Reassigned to Tenth Air Force, 1 July 1968
Inactivated 31 December 1969

* 33d Air Division

Activated on 19 March 1951 as 33d Air Division (Defense) at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
Assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force
Reassigned to Central Air Defense Force, 20 May 1951
Moved to Oklahoma City AFS, Oklahoma, 1 July 1956
Redesignated 33d Air Division (SAGE) and moved to Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri, 1 January 1960
Reassigned to Air Defense Command
Discontinued 1 July 1961
Organized on 1 April 1966 as 33d Air Division at Fort Lee AFS, Virginia
Assigned to First Air Force
Inactivated 19 November 1969

* 34th Air Division

Activated on 5 January 1951 at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Assigned to Western Air Defense Force
Reassigned to Central Air Defense Force 15 February 1953
Inactivated 1 January 1960
Organized at Custer AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1966
Assigned to First Air Force
Inactivated 31 December 1969

* 35th Air Division

Activated on 1 July 1951 at Kansas City, Missouri
Assigned to Central Air Defense Force
Moved to Dobbins AFB, Georgia, 1 September 1951
Reassigned to Eastern Air Defense Force, 10 April 1955
Inactivated 15 November 1958
Organized on 1 April 1966 at Syracuse AFS, New York
Inactivated 19 November 1968

* 36th Air Division

Activated 1 April 1966 at Topsham AFS, Maine
Assigned to First Air Force
Inactivated 30 September 1969

* 37th Air Division

Activated on 10 October 1951 at Lockborne AFB, Ohio under Strategic Air Command
Moved to Truax Field, Wisconsin 8 September 1955 and transferred to Air Defense Command
Assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force
Inactivated 1 April 1959
Organized on 1 April 1966 at Goose AFB, Labrador, Canada
Assigned to First Air Force
Reassigned to Aerospace Defense Command, 1 December 1969
Inactivated 10 June 1970

* 58th Air Division (Defense)

Activated 8 September 1955 at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
Assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force
Inactivated 1 February 1959

* 64th Air Division

Transferred on 1 April 1957 to Air Defense Command from Northeast Air Command
Assigned to Pepperrell AFB, Newfoundland
Moved to Stewart AFB, New York, 26 May 1960
Discontinued, 1 July 1963

* 73d Air Division

Activated 1 July 1957 as 73d Air Division (Weapons) at Tyndall AFB, Florida
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Redesignated 73d Air Division, 1 March 1963
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* 85th Air Division

Activated 8 September 1955 at Andrews AFB, Maryland
Assigned to Eastern Air Defense Force
Inactivated 1 September 1958

|

### Air Defense Sectors

[edit]

* Albuquerque Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 January 1960 at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Assigned to 33d Air Division
Discontinued 1 November 1960

* Bangor Air Defense Sector

Activated on 8 January 1957 at Topsham AFS, Maine
Assigned to 32d Air Division
Reassigned to 26th Air Division, 15 August 1958
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Boston Air Defense Sector

4622d Air Defense Wing (SAGE) redesignated 8 January 1957
Activated at Stewart AFB, New York
Assigned to 26th Air Division
Moved to Syracuse AFS, New York 1 April 1966
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Chicago Air Defense Sector

4628th Air Defense Wing redesignated 8 March 1957
Activated at Truax Field, Wisconsin
Assigned to 37th Air Division
Reassigned to 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Detroit Air Defense Sector

4627th Air Defense Wing redesignated, 8 January 1957
Activated at Custer AFS, Michigan
Assigned to 30th Air Division
Reassigned to 26th Air Division, 4 September 1963
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Duluth Air Defense Sector

Activated 8 October 1957 at Duluth AFS, Minnesota
Assigned to 37th Air Division (EADF)
Reassigned to 31st Air Division (CADF), 20 December 1957
Reassigned to 37th Air Division, 1 January 1959
Reassigned to 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Goose Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 April 1960 at Goose AFB, Labrador, Canada
Assigned to 64th Air Division
Reassigned to 26th Air Division (SAGE), 1 July 1963
Discontinued on 1 April 1966

* Grand Forks Air Defense Sector

Activated on 8 December 1957 at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
Assigned to 31st Air Division
Reassigned to 29th Air Division, 1 January 1959
Discontinued on 1 December 1963

* Great Falls Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 March 1959 at Malmstrom AFB, Montana
Assigned to 29th Air Division
Discontinued on 1 April 1966

* Kansas City Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 January 1960 at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri
Assigned to 33d Air Division
Reassigned to 29th Air Division, 1 July 1961
Discontinued 1 January 1962

* Los Angeles Air Defense Sector

Activated on 15 February 1959 at Norton AFB, California
Assigned to 27th Air Division
Reassigned to Western Air Defense Force, 1 October 1959
Reassigned to 28th Air Division, 1 July 1960
Reassigned to Fourth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Discontinued 25 June 1966

* Minot Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 April 1959 at Minot AFB, North Dakota
Assigned to 29th Air Division
Discontinued 15 August 1963

* Montgomery Air Defense Sector

Activated on 8 September 1957 at Gunter AFB, Alabama
Assigned to 35th Air Division
Reassigned to 32d Air Division, 15 November 1958
Reassigned to 26th Air Division (SAGE), 1 July 1963
Assigned to Air Defense Command, 1 October 1964
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* New York Air Defense Sector

4621st Air Defense Wing (SAGE) redesignated, 8 January 1957
Assigned to McGuire AFB, New Jersey
Assigned to 26th Air Division
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 January 1960 at Oklahoma City AFS, Oklahoma
Assigned to 33d Air Division
Reassigned to 32d Air Division, 1 July 1961
Discontinued 1 September 1961
Reactivated 25 June 1963 at Oklahoma City AFS
Assigned to 29th Air Division (SAGE)
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Phoenix Air Defense Sector

Activated on 15 June 1959 at Luke AFB, Arizona
Assigned to Western Air Defense Force
Reassigned to 28th Air Division, 1 July 1960
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Portland Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 September 1958 at Adair AFS, Oregon

25th Air Division

Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Reno Air Defense Sector

Activated on 15 February 1959 at Stead AFB, Nevada
Assigned to 25th Air Division
Reassigned to 28th Air Division, 1 July 1960
Reassigned to Fourth Air Force, 1 April 1966
Discontinued 25 June 1966

* San Francisco Air Defense Sector

Activated on 15 February 1959 at Beale AFB, California
Assigned to 28th Air Division
Discontinued 1 August 1963

* Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector

Activated on 8 November 1958 at K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan
Assigned to 37th Air Division
Reassigned to 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959
Discontinued 15 December 1963

* Seattle Air Defense Sector

Activated on 8 January 1958 at McChord AFB, Washington
Assigned to 25th Air Division
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Sioux City Air Defense Sector

Activated on 1 October 1959 at Sioux City AFS, Iowa
Assigned to 20th Air Division
Reassigned to 33d Air Division, 1 January 1960
Reassigned to 29th Air Division, 1 July 1961
Discontinued 1 April 1966

* Spokane Air Defense Sector

Activated on 8 September 1958 at Larson AFB, Washington
Assigned to 25th Air Division
Discontinued 1 September 1963

* Syracuse Air Defense Sector

4624th Air Defense Wing (SAGE), redesignated 8 January 1957
Activated at Syracuse AFS, New York
Assigned to 32d Air Division
Reassigned to 25th Air Division, 15 August 1958
Discontinued 4 September 1963

* Washington Air Defense Sector

4625th Air Defense Wing (SAGE) redesignated 8 January 1957
Activated at Fort Lee AFS, Virginia
Assigned to 85th Air Division
Reassigned to 26th Air Division, 1 September 1958
Discontinued 1 April 1966

|

### Other

[edit]

* Air Force Element, NORAD/ADCOM (AFENA)

Activated tbd
Redesignated a Direct Reporting Unit of USAF as Aerospace Defense Center, 1 December 1979[21]

* Air Defense Weapons Center

Organized at Tyndall AFB, Florida, 31 October 1967
Assigned to Air Defense Command
Transferred to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979

* Aerospace Defense Command Combat Operations Center (COC)[dubious – discuss]

Designated and activated as NORAD Combat Operations Center, 21 April 1976
Assigned to Cheyenne Mountain Complex City, Colorado
Assigned to Aerospace Defense Command, 21 April 1976[citation needed]
Redesignated ADCOM CONIC, 30 June 1976
Transferred to Tactical Air Command, 1 October 1979[dubious – discuss]

* Cheyenne Mountain Support Group \- Unit activated 1 October 1981. Its mission was to provide for upkeep, maintenance, ana management of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. The 4800 Special SEcurity Squadron was to provide physical protection; the 4801 Civil Engineering Squadron was to administer and operate real property facilities.[54]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Arnold, Henry H.—Foreword (June 1944) [May 1944]. AAF: The Official Guide to the Army Air Forces (Special Edition for AAF Organizations). New York: Pocket Books. pp. 13–15.
2. ^ a b c d e History of Strategic and Ballistic Missile Defense, 1945–1955: Volume I (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2014. "Stations were undermanned, personnel lacked training, and repair and maintenance were difficult. This stop-gap system later would be replaced by a 75-station, permanent net authorized by Congress and approved by the President in 1949 … To be closer to ConAC, ARAACOM moved to Mitchel AFB, New York on 1 November 1950."
3. ^ Grant, p. 1.
4. ^ Grant.
5. ^ quotation from Grant Ch. V—citation 31 cites "1st Ind (ltr, Hq CAF to CG AAF, subj: Defensive Communications and Electronics in the Postwar Period, 21 Jul 45), Hq AAF to CG CAF, 30 Aug 45, in Case Hist AC&W System, doc 4."
6. ^ quotation from Grant Ch. V-citation 32 cites a letter to "Guided Missile Br [in the] AC/AS-4 R&E Div" and a Hq CAF letter: "R&R AC/AS-3, Guided Missiles Div to AC/AS-4 R&E Div, attn: Guided Missiles Br, subj: Military Characteristics of an Air Defense System, 23 Jan 46, in DRB War Plans Miscellaneous National Defense 1946–47, v2; ltr, Hq CAF to CG AAF, subj: Radar Defense Report for Continental United States, 28 Jan 46 in Case Hist AC&W System, doc 9."
7. ^ Grant Ch. V citation 33
8. ^ Grant, p. 76.
9. ^ Schaffel 1991, p. 314.
10. ^ a b c Winkler, David F; Webster, Julie L (June 1997). Searching the Skies: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program (PDF) (Report). Champaign, IL: U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 97020912. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013. ""BUIC II radar sites would be capable of incorporating data feeds from other radar sectors directly onto their radar screens. "
11. ^ "Chapter II: American Strategy for Air and Ballistic Missile Defense". History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense, 1945–1955: Volume I. pp. 37–68.
12. ^ "Montauk AFS History". Radomes.org. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
13. ^ Historical Summary: Radar Bomb Scoring, 1945–1983 (PDF). Mobile Radar (Report). 9 November 1983. Retrieved 31 August 2013. "On 24 July 1945, the 206th was redesignated the 63rd AAFBU (RBS) and three weeks later was moved to Mitchell Field, New York, and placed under the command of the Continental Air Force."
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Johnson, Mildred W (31 December 1980) [February 1973 original by Cornett, Lloyd H. Jr]. A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980 (PDF). Peterson Air Force Base: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
15. ^ Schaffel 1991.
16. ^ Schaffel 1991, p. 261.
17. ^ a b Wainstein, L. (June 1975). The Evolution of U.S. Strategic Command and Control and Warning: Part One (1945–1953) (Report). Institute for Defense Analyses. pp. 1–138\. "In September 1956…the JCS transferred responsibility for the air defense systems in Alaska and the Canadian Northeast from the unified commands in those areas to CONAD."
18. ^ "Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star". Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
19. ^ A Brief History of Keesler AFB and the 81st Training Wing (PDF) (Report). Vol. A-090203-089. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
20. ^ Schaffel 1991, p. 140.
21. ^ a b c d "Chapter I: Mission, Command, Organization, and Resources". Analysis of the Costs of the Administrations Strategic Defense Initiative 1985–1989 (archive.org transcription of Staff Working Paper) (Report). Congressional Budget Office. May 1984. OCLC 13763981. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
22. ^ Ulsamer, Edgar (August 1982). "Space Command: Setting the Course for the Future". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2012. "The new Space Command will be formed on 1 September 1982. [and] will be built around the existing Aerospace Defense Center staff."[dead link]
23. ^ a b Smith, John Q.; Byrd, David A (c. 1991). Forty Years of Research and Development at Griffis Air Force Base: June 1951 – June 1991 (PDF) (Report). Borky, Col. John M (Foreword). Rome Laboratory. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
24. ^ Baugher – Northrop P-61 Black Widow
25. ^ Baugher – North American P/F-82 Twin Mustang
26. ^ Curtiss XP-87/XF-87 Blackhawk Baugher – Curtiss XP-87/XF-87 Blackhawk
27. ^ Baugher – Northrop F-89 Scorpion
28. ^ a b Baugher – North American F-86D Sabre
29. ^ USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1).
30. ^ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016.
31. ^ a b c d e f g Mikesh, Robert C. Martin B-57 Canberra: The Complete Record.Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1995. ISBN 0-88740-661-0.
32. ^ Gibson, James (2000), Nuclear Weapons of the United States: An Illustrated History, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd ISBN 978-0-7643-0063-9.
33. ^ Schaffel 1991, p. 264.
34. ^ FM 44-1: U. S. Army Air Defense Employment (PDF). available at Army History and Heritage Center, Carlisle PA: Headquarters, Department of the Army. 11 October 1965. Archived from the original (field manual) on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
35. ^ a b Continental Air Defense Command Historical Summary: July 1956 – June 1957 (PDF) (Report).
36. ^ "Qikiqtani Truth Commission". Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
37. ^ CONAD regulation 55-8 on 1 March 1957 (cited by CONAD Historical Summary July 1956 – June 1957)
38. ^ Schaffel 1991, p. 223.
39. ^ Schaffel 1991, p. 252.
40. ^ a b Preface by Buss, L. H. (Director) (1 November 1959). North American Air Defense Command and Continental Air Defense Command Historical Summary: January–June 1959 (Report). Directorate of Command History: Office of Information Services. ""Project MADRE (Magnetic Drum Radar Equipment).""
41. ^ a b Preface by Buss, L. H. (Director) (1 October 1958). North American Air Defense Command Historical Summary: January–June 1958 (Report). Directorate of Command History: Office of Information Services.
42. ^ NORAD BMEWS and AICBM System Display (Report). 30 June 1958. (cited by 1958 NORAD/CONAD Historical Summary, Jan–Jun)
43. ^ [full citation needed] http://enu.kz/repository/2010/AIAA-2010-8812.pdf Archived 15 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
44. ^ Leonard, Barry (15 July 2008) [c. 1974[specify]]. History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. II, 1955–1972\. Fort McNair: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012. "In July 1961, the National Space Surveillance and Control Center (NSSCC) was discontinued as the new SPADATS Center became operational at Ent AFB, Colorado. Officially, this marked the beginning of aerospace operations by CINCNORAD."[clarification needed]
45. ^ Del Papa, Dr. E. Michael; Warner, Mary P (October 1987). A Historical Chronology of the Electronic Systems Division 1947–1986 (PDF) (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
46. ^ NORAD Historical Summary, January–July 1963.
47. ^ Model Radar Cross Section Data (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center (Report) (revised ed.). 31 May 1963 [10 January 1963]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
48. ^ a b c NORAD Historical Summary, July–December 1965.
49. ^ Adams, Benson D. (1971). Ballistic Missile Defense. New York: American Elsevier Publishing. pp. 29, 33. ISBN 978-0-444-00111-5. (cited by Leonard p. 113)
50. ^ a b NORAD Historical Summary, July–December 1964.
51. ^ NORAD Historical Summary, January–June 1966.
52. ^ a b NORAD Historical Summary, January–June 1965.
53. ^ "Air Defense of the Continental United States: Commanders". F-106 Delta Dart – Air Defense Command. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
54. ^ ADC SPECIAL ORDER GC-12, 15 SEP 81. https://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/001/049/977.xml

* Grant, Dr C. L. The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954 (Report). Research Studies Institute (USAF Historical Division).
* Schaffel, Kenneth (1991). Emerging Shield: The Air Force and the Evolution of Continental Air Defense 1945–1960 (45MB pdf). General Histories (Report). Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-60-9. Retrieved 26 September 2011.

* v
* t
* e

Aerospace Defense Command (ADC)

Bases|

| CONUS|

* Amarillo
* Beale
* Charleston
* Davis-Monthan
* Dobbins
* Dover
* Dow
* Duluth
* Eglin
* Edwards
* Ellington
* Ellsworth
* England
* Ent
* Ethan Allen
* Fairfax
* Fallon
* Fort Lee
* Fort Heath
* Geiger
* George
* Glasgow
* Grand Forks
* Grenier
* Griffiss
* Gunter
* Hamilton
* Hancock
* Homestead
* Hurlburt
* Hunter
* Imeson
* Key West
* Kincheloe
* Kingsley
* Kirtland
* Lackland
* Laredo
* Larson
* Luke
* MacDill
* March
* Malmstrom
* McCoy
* McChord
* McClellan
* McGhee Tyson
* McGuire
* Minneapolis-St. Paul
* Minot
* Mitchel
* New Castle
* Niagara Falls
* Norton
* O'Hare
* Otis
* Oxnard
* Paine
* Perrin
* Peterson
* Pittsburgh
* Portland
* Presque Isle
* R.I. Bong
* Richards-Gebaur
* Robins
* K.I. Sawyer
* Selfridge
* Seymour Johnson
* Sioux City
* Stead
* Stewart
* Suffolk County
* Tinker
* Travis
* Truax
* Tyndall
* Vandenberg
* Vincent
* Walker
* Webb
* Westover
* Wright-Patterson
* Wurtsmith
* Youngstown

|

Overseas|

* Ernest Harmon
* Frobisher Bay
* Goose
* Keflavik
* McAndrew
* Pepperrell
* Thule

Stations|

| CONUS|

* Adair
* Aiken
* Almaden
* Alpena
* Antigo
* Arlington Heights
* Baker
* Bedford
* Bellefontaine
* Belleville
* Benton
* Blaine
* Brookfield
* Brunswick
* Bucks Harbor
* Burns
* Calumet
* Cambria
* Cape Charles
* Cape Cod
* Carmi
* Caswell
* Chandler
* Charleston
* Cheyenne Mountain
* Claysburg
* Clear
* Colville
* Condon
* Continental Divide
* Cottonwood
* Cross City
* Crystal Springs
* Curlew
* Custer
* Cut Bank
* Dallas Center
* Dauphin Island
* Dickinson
* Duncanville
* Eldorado
* Empire
* Finland
* Finley
* Flintstone
* Fordland
* Fort Fisher
* Fort Lee
* Fortuna
* Gettysburg
* Grand Marais
* Grand Rapids
* Guthrie
* Hanna City
* Havre
* Highlands
* Houma
* Hutchinson
* Joelton
* Keno
* Killeen
* Kingman
* Kirksville
* Klamath
* Lake Charles
* Lake City
* Las Cruces
* Las Vegas
* Lewistown
* Lockport
* Lufkin
* Lyndonville
* Madera
* Makah
* Mica Peak
* Miles City
* Mill Valley
* Minot
* Montauk
* Moriarty
* Mount Hebo
* Mount Laguna
* Mount Lemmon
* Naselle
* North Bend
* North Charleston
* North Truro
* Oklahoma City
* Olathe
* Omaha
* Opheim
* Osceola
* Othello
* Owingsville
* Ozona
* Palermo
* Point Arena
* Port Austin
* Port Isabel
* Pyote
* Red Bluff
* Rochester
* Rockport
* Rockville (Indiana)
* Roslyn
* Rye
* Saint Albans
* San Clemente Island
* Santa Rosa Island
* Saratoga Springs
* Sault Ste Marie
* Shemya
* Snelling
* Snow Mountain
* Sweetwater
* Texarkana
* Tierra Amarilla
* Thomasville
* Tonopah
* Topsham
* Two Creeks
* Wadena
* Walnut Ridge
* Watertown
* Waverly
* West Mesa
* Willow Run
* Winnemucca
* Winslow
* Winston-Salem
* Woomera
* Yaak
* Zapata

|

Overseas|

* Armstrong
* Baldy Hughes
* Beausejour
* Cape Makkovik
* Cartwright
* Cut Throat Island
* Elliston Ridge
* Fox Harbour
* Hofn
* Hopedale
* Kamloops
* La Scie
* Langanes
* Latrar
* Melville
* Puntzi Mountain
* Ramore
* Red Cliff
* Rockville
* Saglek
* St. Anthony
* Saskatoon Mountain
* Sioux Lookout
* Spotted Island
* Stephenville

Air
Defense
units|

| Forces|

* Central Air Defense
* Eastern Air Defense
* Iceland
* Western Air Defense
* First
* Fourth
* Tenth
* Fourteenth

|

Air
Divisions|

* 8th
* 9th
* 20th
* 21st
* 23d
* 24th
* 25th
* 26th
* 27th
* 28th
* 29th
* 30th
* 31st
* 32d
* 33d
* 34th
* 35th
* 36th
* 37th
* 58th
* 64th
* 73d
* 85th

Sectors|

* Albuquerque
* Bangor
* Boston
* Chicago
* Detroit
* Duluth
* Goose
* Grand Forks
* Great Falls
* Kansas City
* Los Angeles
* Minot
* Montgomery
* New York
* Oklahoma City
* Phoenix
* Portland
* Reno
* Sault Sainte Marie
* San Francisco
* Seattle
* Sioux City
* Spokane
* Stewart
* Syracuse
* Washington

Wings|

* Fighter 1st
* 4th
* 23d
* 32d
* 33d
* 50th
* 52d
* 56th
* 78th
* 81st
* 325th
* 328th
* 507th

* Detection and Control 71st
* 73d
* 551st
* 552d

* Air Defense 46th
* 4620th
* 4621st
* 4622d
* 4624th
* 4625th
* 4627th
* 4628th
* 4683d
* 4700th
* 4702d
* 4703d
* 4704th
* 4705th
* 4706th
* 4707th
* 4708th
* 4709th
* 4710th
* 4711th
* 4750th
* 4751st
* 4752d
* 4756th
* 4780th

Groups|

* Fighter 1st
* 4th
* 14th
* 15th
* 23d
* 32d
* 33d
* 50th
* 52d
* 53d
* 54th
* 56th
* 57th
* 78th
* 79th
* 81st
* 82d
* 84th
* 325th
* 326th
* 327th
* 328th
* 329th
* 337th
* 343d
* 355th
* 408th
* 412th
* 414th
* 473d
* 475th
* 476th
* 478th
* 507th

* Air Defense 10th
* 500th
* 501st
* 502d
* 503d
* 514th
* 515th
* 516th
* 517th
* 518th
* 519th
* 520th
* 521st
* 525th
* 527th
* 528th
* 529th
* 530th
* 533d
* 534th
* 564th
* 566th
* 567th
* 568th
* 575th
* 637th
* 665th
* 678th
* 692d
* 701st
* 751st
* 762d
* 765th
* 778th
* 780th
* 827th
* 858th
* 4606th
* 4620th
* 4676th
* 4700th
* 4721st
* 4722d
* 4727th
* 4728th
* 4729th
* 4730th
* 4731st
* 4732d
* 4733d
* 4734th
* 4735th
* 4750th
* 4756th

* Aircraft Control & Warning 503d
* 505th
* 540th
* 541st
* 542d
* 543d
* 544th
* 545th
* 546th
* 563d
* 564th
* 565th
* 566th

Squadrons|

* Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
* Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons

Major
weapon
systems|

| Electronic|

* TB-29
* EB-57
* EC-121

|

Fighters|

* Propeller:
* F-47
* F-51
* P-61
* F-82

* Subsonic Jet:
* P-80
* F-84
* F-86
* F-89
* F-94

* Supersonic Jet:
* F-101
* F-102
* F-104
* F-106

Missiles|

* AIM-4
* AIM-26
* AIR-2
* CIM-10

Ships|

* Guardian
* Interceptor
* Interdictor
* Interpreter
* Investigator
* Locator
* Lookout
* Outpost
* Pickett
* Protector
* Scanner
* Searcher
* Skywatcher
* Tracer
* Watchman
* Vigil

Texas Towers|

* Texas Tower 2
* Texas Tower 3
* Texas Tower 4

Miscellaneous|

* Air Defense Command Emblem Gallery (on Wikimedia Commons)
* General Surveillance Radar Stations

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