Grand Forks Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector (GFADS) is an inactive United States Air Force
organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base
, North Dakota
. It was inactivated on 1 December 1963
units with a mission to provide air defense of most of North Dakota
along with western Minnesota
and northern South Dakota
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 15 November 1959, the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-11) became operational. 47°56′47"N 097°22′55"W DC-11 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.
Consolidated on 1 May 1963 with Minot Air Defense Sector
. Inactivated on 1 December 1963 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, most units being reassigned to the 29th 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 29th Air Division, being stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base
Grand Forks Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located north of Emerado, North Dakota and approximately west of Grand Forks, North Dakota...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. It was inactivated on 1 December 1963
History
Established in December 1957 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 with a mission to provide air defense of most of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
along with western Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and northern South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. 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 November 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-11) became operational. 47°56′47"N 097°22′55"W DC-11 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.
Consolidated on 1 May 1963 with Minot Air Defense Sector
Minot Air Defense Sector
The Minot Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Minot Air Force Base , North Dakota...
. Inactivated on 1 December 1963 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, most units being reassigned to the 29th Air Division.
Lineage
- Established as Grand Forks Air Defense Sector on 8 December 1957
- Inactivated on 1 December 1963
Assignments
- 31st Air Division, 8 December 1957
- 29th Air Division, 1 January 1959-1 December 1963
Wing
- 478th Fighter Wing (Air Defense)
- Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 February 1961-1 July 1963
Wing
- 478th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 April 1959-1 February 1961
Interceptor Squadrons
- 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 July-4 September 1963
Radar Squadrons
- 721st Radar Squadron
- Willmar AFS, Minnesota, 1 April 1959-1 June 1961
- 739th Radar Squadron
- Wadena AFS, Minnesota, 1 April 1959-4 September 1963
- 785th Radar Squadron
- Finley AFS, Minnesota, 1 April 1959-4 September 1963
- 787th Radar Squadron
- Chandler AFS, Minnesota, 1 March 1961-4 September 1963
- 903d Radar Squadron
- Gettysburg AFS, South Dakota, 4 September 1963-1 April 1966
- 916th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron916th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 916th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at Beausejour Air Station, Manitoba, Canada...
- 916th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Beausejour AS, Manitoba, 1 April 1959-1 October 1961
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...