Detroit Air Defense Sector

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External image
	SAGE facilities

Detroit Air Defense Sector
Detroit Air Defense Sector
	Emblem of the Detroit Air Defense Sector
Active	1957–1966
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

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The Detroit Air Defense Sector (DEADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command (ADC) 26th Air Division at Custer Air Force Station (AFS), Michigan. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966.

History

DEADS was originally designated as the 4627th Air Defense Wing, but was redesignated before being organized in January 1957 at Custer AFS, Michigan.^[1] It became operational in September 1958, but did not assume control of former ADC Central Air Defense Force units with a mission to provide air defense of lower Michigan, northeast Indiana, and most of Ohio until 1959.^[2] The organization provided command and control over several aircraft, missile and radar squadrons.

On 1 September 1959 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-06) and Combat Center (CC-01) became operational. 42°19′18″N 085°16′00″W / 42.32167°N 85.26667°W / 42.32167; -85.26667 (DEADS-SAGE DC-06) DC-06 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computers. The day-to-day operations of the command were to train and maintain tactical units flying jet interceptor aircraft (F-86 Sabre, F-89 Scorpion, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-104 Starfighter, F-106 Delta Dart) and operating interceptor missiles (CIM-10 Bomarc) and radar squadrons in a state of readiness with training missions and series of exercises with Strategic Air Command and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft.

The Sector was inactivated 1 April 1966 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation and replaced at Custer AFS by the 34th Air Division.^[3] Most of its units were reassigned to 34th or the 29th Air Division.

Lineage

Designated as 4627th Air Defense Wing, SAGE

Redesignated as Detroit Air Defense Sector on 8 January 1957 and organized

Discontinued and inactivated on 1 April 1966.

Assignments

30th Air Division, 8 January 1957
26th Air Division, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966

Stations

Custer AFS, Michigan, 8 January 1957 – 1 April 1966

Components

Wing

1st Fighter Wing (Air Defense)^[4]

Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1966

Group

79th Fighter Group (Air Defense)^[5]

Youngstown Airport, Ohio, 1 April 1959 – 1 March 1960

Interceptor Squadrons

56th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^[6]

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 1 April 1959 – 1 March 1960

87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^[7]^[8]

Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1966

319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^[9]

Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana, 1 April 1959 – 1 March 1960

445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron^[10]

Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, 15 July 1963 – 1 April 1966

Missile Squadron

35th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC)^[11]

Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site, New York, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966

Radar Squadrons

661st Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 661st Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[12]

Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1966

662nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 662d Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[12]

Oakdale Army Installation, Pennsylvania, 1 November 1959 – 15 June 1960; 4 September 1963 - 1 April 1966

664th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 664th Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[12]

Bellefontaine AFS, Ohio, 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1966

752d Radar Squadron (SAGE)^[13]

Empire AFS, Michigan, 15 July 1963 – 1 April 1966

754th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 754th Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[13]

Port Austin AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1959 – 1 April 1966

763d Radar Squadron (SAGE)^[13]

Lockport AFS, New York, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966

781st Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 781st Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[14]

Custer AFS, Michigan, 1 April 1959 – 25 June 1965

783rd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 783d Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[14]

Guthrie AFS, West Virginia, 1 July 1961 – 1 April 1966

784th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 784th Radar Squadron (SAGE))^[14]

Snow Mountain AFS, Kentucky, 1 August 1961 – 25 May 1962

Weapons Systems

F-86D, 1959-1960
F-86L, 1959-1960
F-89J, 1959-1960
F-101B, 1960-1966
F-102A, 1959-1960
F-104A, 1959-1960
F-106A, 1960-1966
CIM-10 Bomarc, 1963-1966

Notes

^ See Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946-1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. p. 57. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 37 (Map)
^ Abstract, History of 34th Air Div, Apr-Dec 1966 (accessed 7 Feb 2012)
^ Ravenstein, Charles A (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 6. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 73
^ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 227. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.
^ Maurer, p. 299
^ Cornett & Johnson, P. 120
^ Maurer, p. 391
^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 128
^ Cornett & Johnson, p. 150
^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 158
^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, pp. 163-165
^ a b c Cornett & Johnson, p. 168

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense (PDF). Vol. II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN 978-1-4379-2131-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
Redmond, Kent C.; Smith, Thomas M. (2000). From Whirlwind to MITRE: The R&D Story of The SAGE Air Defense Computer. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-18201-0.
Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 97020912.^{[dead link]}
Radomes.org Detroit Air Defense Sector

[1] See Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946-1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. p. 57. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2012.

[2] Cornett & Johnson, p. 37 (Map)

[3] Abstract, History of 34th Air Div, Apr-Dec 1966 (accessed 7 Feb 2012)

[4] Ravenstein, Charles A (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 6. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

[5] Cornett & Johnson, p. 73

[6] Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 227. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.

[7] Maurer, p. 299

[8] Cornett & Johnson, P. 120

[9] Maurer, p. 391

[10] Cornett & Johnson, p. 128

[11] Cornett & Johnson, p. 150

[cj158-12] Cornett & Johnson, p. 158

[cj163-13] Cornett & Johnson, pp. 163-165

[cj168-14] Cornett & Johnson, p. 168