Great Falls Air Defense Sector
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|---|---|
 Emblem of the Great Falls Air Defense Sector | |
| Active | 1959-1966 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Air Defense Command |
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
History
GFADS was established in March 1959 assuming control of former ADC Central Air Defense Force 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 Feburary 1960 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-20) became operational. 47°30′59″N 111°10′55″W / 47.51639°N 111.18194°W DC-20 was equipped with dual AN/FSQ-7 Computers. 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.
Lineage
- Established as Great Falls Air Defense Sector on 1 March 1959
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966; redesignated as 28th Air Division
Assignments
- 29th Air Division, 21 January 1960-1 April 1966
Stations
- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, 1 January 1960-1 April 1966
Components
Interceptor units
- 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1963-1966 (stationed at: Minot AFB)
- 29th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 July 1960-1 April 1966
- 786th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Radar facilities
- SAGE Direction Center (DC-20) located at: 47°30′59″N 111°10′55″W / 47.51639°N 111.18194°W
- Active 1 March 1959-March 1983
- Later supported 28th and 24th Air Divisions
- Operated: AN/FSQ-7 Computer
- GATR (Ground Air Transmitter Receiver) site (R-27) located at: 47°34′47″N 111°13′24″W / 47.57972°N 111.22333°W
- Supported SAGE DC-20 and radar site SM-147 operations at Malmstrom AFB
Stations
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References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- Radomes.org Great Falls Air Defense Sector
