BADS was established in 1956 atStewart Air Force Base (AFB), New York as the4622nd Air Defense Wing[1] pending completion of the newSemi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-02) and Combat Center (CC-04) which became operational 15 September 1958. DC-02 was equipped with dualAN/FSQ-7 Computers. Early in 1957, the wing was redesignated as theBoston Air Defense Sector.[1]
The radar network supporting BADS required near-total coverage, with radar beams overlapping and sites no more than 25 miles apart. Early gap-filling radars included two SCR-584 units at Scituate and Rockport, Massachusetts—these were World War II-era radars developed by the MIT Radiation Laboratory. Their initial performance was disappointing, requiring significant improvements before they could be used effectively. The SAGE system, which BADS relied on, was the direct impetus for the founding of MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The lab’s early work included not only radar netting but also the development of advanced radar data filtering and digital relay systems, which were first tested at Cape Cod and then implemented in the BADS region.[8]
The Sector was moved on paper toHancock Field, New York and was eliminated on 1 April 1966[9] due to a general reorganization of ADC. Most of its assigned units were reassigned to the34th or35th Air Divisions.
^Approved 24 April 1957. Description: On a shieldArgent, a stylized delta shaped projectile, flyingbendwise, per bend todexterchief, variegated,Azure, sky blue, and white, marked with an atomic symbol of two orbitsGules andOr, entwined around a center nucleiSable; in chief a tri-corned cocked hat proper (black, highlighted white); superimposed over all inbase, a ribbonfesswise Gules with forked ends and lining Argent, piped Gules, the shield edged Azure. Significance: The stylized delta shape projectile is poised skyward which is symbolic of air power. The different shades of blue in the delta projectile depict the voids of space and our battleground. The atomic symbol represents the power and strength of our command. The red ribbon, an honorable heraldic marking debruising the lower area of the delta projectile, symbolizes the noble virtues inherent in the men of our sector -- hardiness, valor, loyalty to country, and devotion to duty, in readiness always to defend our country. The tri-cornered cocked hat is placed in the chief area of our shield and relates the modern airmen of the Air Defense Command to the original “Minutemen.” The silver field of our shield represents steel which depicts our ability and strength to meet the air defense requirements for the present and in the future.
^Preface byBuss, L. H. (Director) (1 October 1958). North American Air Defense Command Historical Summary: January–June 1958 (Report). Directorate of Command History: Office of Information Services.
^Preface byBuss, L. H. (Director) (14 April 1959). North American Air Defense Command and Continental Air Defense Command Historical Summary: July–December 1958 (Report). Directorate of Command History: Office of Information Services.
^Condit, Kenneth W. (1992) [1971]."Chapter 15: Continental Defense"(PDF). The Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Policy: 1955-1956 (Report). Vol. VI ofHistory of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Washington, DC: Historical Office, Joint Staff.
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.ISBN978-0-262-18201-0.
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United States Air Force
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency