Great Falls Air Defense Sector
Encyclopedia
The Great Falls 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base
, Montana
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966
units with a mission to provide air defense of central Montana
. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar
squadrons.
On 15 February 1960 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Direction Center (DC-20) became operational. 47°30′59"N 111°10′55"W DC-20 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 ADC reorganization and consolidation, the command being redesignated as the 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 Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base
Malmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966
History
GFADS was established in March 1959 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 central Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. 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 February 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-20) became operational. 47°30′59"N 111°10′55"W DC-20 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 ADC reorganization and consolidation, the command being redesignated as the 28th Air Division.
Lineage
- Established as Great Falls Air Defense Sector on 1 March 1959
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966; redesignated as 28th Air Division
Interceptor squadrons
- 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 25 June 1963-1 April 1966
- 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron13th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Minot Air Defense Sector, stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana. It was inactivated on 30 June 1968-History:...
- 13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 25 June 1963-1 April 1966
- 29th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron29th Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 29th Training Systems Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. Its assignment is with the 53d Test Management Group, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.-Overview:...
- 29th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Minot AFB, North Dakota, 1 July 1960-1 April 1966
Radar squadrons
- 681st Radar Squadron
- Cut Bank AFS, Montana, 1 July 1960-25 June 1965
- 694th Radar Squadron
- Lewistown AFS, Montana, 1 July 1960-1 April 1966
- 706th Radar Squadron
- Dickinson AFS, North Dakota, 25 June 1963-25 June 1965
- 716th Radar Squadron
- Kalispell AFS, Montana, 1 July 1960-1 April 1966
- 778th Radar Squadron
- Harve AFS, Montana, 1 July 1960-1 April 1966
- 779th Radar Squadron
- Opheim AFS, Montana, 25 June 1963-1 April 1966
- 780th Radar Squadron
- Fortuna AFS, North Dakota, 25 June 1963-1 April 1966
- 786th Radar Squadron
- Minot AFS, North Dakota, 25 June 1963-1 April 1966
- 801st Radar Squadron801st Radar SquadronThe 801st Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 28th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana...
- 801st Radar Squadron
- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1 July 1960-1 April 1966
- 902d Radar Squadron
- Miles City AFS, Montana, 25 June 1963-1 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...