Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector (SsmADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan
.
units in Wisconsin
and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 15 June 1960, the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-14) became operational. 46°20′47"N 087°23′00"W DC-14 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 consolidation and reorganization; and its units were reassigned to the 28th and 29th Air Divisions.
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 30th Air Division, being stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
History
SsmADS was established in November 1958 assuming control of former ADC Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense Force
The Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
units in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. 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 15 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-14) became operational. 46°20′47"N 087°23′00"W DC-14 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 consolidation and reorganization; and its units were reassigned to the 28th and 29th Air Divisions.
Lineage
- Established as Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector on 8 November 1958
- Inactivated on 15 December 1963
Assignments
- 37th Air Division, 8 November 1958
- 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959 – 15 December 1963
Wings
- 56th Fighter Wing56th Fighter WingThe 56th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona where it also is the host unit....
(Air Defense)
- K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 1 February 1961-1 October 1963
- 507th Fighter Wing (Air Defense)
- Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 1 February 1961-1 October 1963
Groups
- 56th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1960-1 February 1961
- 507th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1960-1 February 1961
Interceptor squadron
- 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1960-15 July 1963
Missile squadron
- 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)
- Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1960-1 October 1963
Radar squadrons
- 639th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron639th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 639th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Lowther Air Station, Ontario, Canada...
- Lowther AS, Ontario, 1 April 1960-1 July 1963
- 665th Radar Squadron
- Calumet AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1960-1 October 1963
- 676th Radar Squadron
- Antigo AFS, Wisconsin, 1 April 1960-1 October 1963
- 752d Radar Squadron
- Empire AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1960-15 July 1963
- 753d Radar Squadron
- Sault Sainte Marie AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1960-1 October 1963
- 912th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron912th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 912th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Ramore Air Station, Ontario, Canada...
- 912th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Ramore AS, Ontario, 1 April 1960-1 January 1962
- 913th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron913th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 913th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Pagwa Air Station, Ontario, Canada...
- 913th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Pagwa AS, Ontario, 1 April 1960-1 June 1963
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...