Bangor Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Bangor Air Defense Sector (BaADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Topsham Air Force Station
, Maine
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
units with a mission to provide air defense of Maine
and most of Vermont
and New Hampshire
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 1 March 1959 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-05) became operational. 43°56′42"N 069°57′46"W DC-15 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computer
s. 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.
The Sector was inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, most units being reassigned to 26th Air Division.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Topsham Air Force Station
Topsham Air Force Station
Topsham Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force station. It is located north of Brunswick, Maine. It was closed in 1969.-History:...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
History
BaADS was established in January 1957 assuming control of former ADC Eastern Air Defense ForceEastern Air Defense Force
The Eastern Air Defense Force 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:...
units with a mission to provide air defense of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and most of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
squadrons.
On 1 March 1959 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-05) became operational. 43°56′42"N 069°57′46"W DC-15 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computer
AN/FSQ-7
The AN/FSQ-7 was a computer model developed and built in the 1950s by IBM in partnership with the US Air Force. Fifty-two were built and used for command and control functions for the Semi Automatic Ground Environment air-defense system...
s. The day-to-day operations of the command was to train and maintain tactical flying units flying jet interceptor aircraft (F-94 Starfire
F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
; F-102 Delta Dagger
F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets...
; F-106 Delta Dart
F-106 Delta Dart
The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it has proven to be the last dedicated interceptor in USAF service to date...
) in a state of readiness with training missions and series of exercises with SAC and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft.
The Sector was inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, most units being reassigned to 26th Air Division.
Lineage
- Established as Bangor Air Defense Sector on 8 January 1957
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966
Assignments
- 32d Air Division, 8 January 1957
- 26th Air Division, 15 August 1958-1 April 1966
Groups
- 14th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Ethan Allen AFB, Vermont, 15 August 1958-25 June 1960
- 23d Fighter Group23d Fighter GroupThe 23d Fighter Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 23d Wing and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia....
(Air Defense)
- 23d Fighter Group
- Presque Isle AFB, Maine, 15 August 1958-1 July 1959
Interceptor Squadrons
- 27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Loring AFB, Maine, 1 October 1959-1 April 1966
- 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Dow AFB, Maine, 18 June 1959-1 April 1966
Missile Squadron
30th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)- Dow AFB, Maine, 1 June 1959-15 December 1964
Radar Squadrons
- 654th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Brunswick AFS, Maine, 15 August 1958-1 August 1962
- 672d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron672d Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 672d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Barrington Air Force Station, Nova Scotia...
- 672d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Barrington AS, Nova Scotia, 1 July 1960-1 June 1962
- 764th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Saint Albans AFS, Vermont, 15 August 1958-1 June 1962
- 765th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Charleston AFS, Maine, 15 August 1958- 1 April 1966
- 766th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Caswell AFS, Maine, 15 August 1958-1 April 1966
- 907th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Bucks Harbor AFS, Maine, 15 August 1958-1 April 1966
- 911th Radar Squadron (SAGE)
- Lyndonville AFS, Vermont, 15 August 1958-1 August 1962
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Aerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsAerospace Defense Command Fighter SquadronsThe second iteration of Aerospace Defense Command was established on 21 March 1946 as a component of the United States Army Air Forces, with the mission of planning for and executing the air defense of the United States...