Portland Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Portland Air Defense Sector (PADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division, being stationed at Adair Air Force Station
, Oregon
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
units in eastern Oregon
and northwest California
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 1 June 1960 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-13) became operational. 44°40′15"N 123°12′58"W DC-13 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 on 1 April 1966 as part of an ADC consolodation and reorganization; and its units were reassigned to 28th 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 25th Air Division, being stationed at Adair Air Force Station
Adair Air Force Station
Adair Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force station. It is located north-northeast of Corvallis, Oregon. It was closed in 1969.-History:...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.
History
PADS was established in June 1958 assuming control of former ADC Western Air Defense ForceWestern Air Defense Force
The Western Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.- History :...
units in eastern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and northwest California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. 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 June 1960 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-13) became operational. 44°40′15"N 123°12′58"W DC-13 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 on 1 April 1966 as part of an ADC consolodation and reorganization; and its units were reassigned to 28th Air Division.
Lineage
- Established as Portland Air Defense Sector on 8 June 1958
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966
Groups
- 337th Fighter Group337th Fighter GroupThe 337th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, Portland Air Defense Sector, stationed at Portland Airport, Oregon. It was inactivated on 30 March 1966.-History:...
(Air Defense)
- Portland IAPPortland Air National Guard BasePortland Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Portland International Airport, Oregon. It is located northeast of Portland, Oregon.-Overview:The base is the home of the 142d Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard...
, Oregon, 15 April 1960-25 March 1966- 408th Fighter Group408th Fighter GroupThe 408th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 25th Air Division , based at Kingsley Field, Oregon. It was inactivated on 1 January 1970-History:...
(Air Defense)
- 408th Fighter Group
- Kingsley Field, Oregon, 15 April 1960-1 April 1966
Interceptor squadron
- 82d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Travis AFB, California, 1 August 1963-1 April 1966
Radar squadrons
- 666th Radar Squadron
- Mill Valley AFS, California, 1 August 1963-1 April 1966
- 689th Radar Squadron689th Radar SquadronThe 689th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 25th Air Division, stationed at Mount Hebo Air Force Station, Oregon. It was inactivated on 30 June 1979.-History:...
- 689th Radar Squadron
- Mount Hebo AFS, Oregon, 1 March 1960-1 April 1966
- 761st Radar Squadron
- North Bend AFS, Oregon, 1 March 1960-1 April 1966
- 776th Radar Squadron776th Radar SquadronThe 776th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Electronic Systems Division, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Moscow Air Force Station, Maine. It was inactivated on 1 October 1997....
- 776th Radar Squadron
- Point Arena AFS, California, 1 August 1963-1 April 1966
- 777th Radar Squadron777th Radar SquadronThe 776th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Electronic Systems Division, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It was inactivated on 1 October 1997....
- Klamath AFS, Oregon, 1 March 1960-1 April 1966
- 827th Radar Squadron
- Keno AFS, Oregon, 1 March 1960-1 April 1966
- 859th Radar Squadron
- Red Bluff AFS, California, 1 March 1960-1 April 1966
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...