Spokane Air Defense Sector | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the Spokane Air Defense Sector | |
| Active | 1958–1963 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Fighter Interceptor andRadar |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Part of | Air Defense Command |
TheSpokane Air Defense Sector (SPADS) is an inactiveUnited States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with theAir Defense Command25th Air Division (25th AD) atLarson Air Force Base inGrant County, Washington
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SPADS was established in September 1958, assuming responsibility forair defense inEastern Washington,North Idaho, andWestern Montana. The organization eventually also provided command and control over severalinterceptor aircraft andradar squadrons.
On 8 September the newSemi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-15) became operational.47°10′53″N119°19′16″W / 47.18139°N 119.32111°W /47.18139; -119.32111 (SpADS-SAGE DC-15) DC-15 was equipped with dualAN/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. However, until March 1960, SPADS did not have operational command over the radar and interceptor aircraft it directed. Instead, they were assigned to the 4700th Air Defense Wing until March 1960. The 4700th was transferred from direct assignment to 25th AD to SPADS briefly before being discontinued in July.
The Sector was inactivated on 1 September 1963 and its units were assigned to the 25th AD.
The Sector's onlywing was designated and organized as 4700th Air Defense Wing atGeiger Field Washington to provideair defense of the northwestern United States on 1 September 1958.[1] It was assigned twofightergroups flying fighterinterceptor aircraft (F-102 Delta Dagger,F-104 Starfighter, andF-106 Delta Dart)[2] and tenradar squadrons to accomplish its mission. When its498th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (part of the 84th Fighter Group) converted to F-106As, it became the first combat readysquadron flying Delta Darts.[3] In May 1959, the wing's4721st Air Defense Group at Larson was discontinued and its538th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron transferred directly to the wing[4]
On 15 March 1960, the wing's636th,[5]637th,[5]822d[6] and823d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons[6] and538th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron[4] were transferred to SPADS. Other radar units assigned to the wing, however, were transferred to other ADC organizations. The634th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron[5] atBurns AFS, Oregon, in May 1960; the638th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron[7] atCurlew AFS, Washington in December 1959, the680th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron[8] atYaak AFS, Montana in July 1960; the716th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron[9] at Geiger Field, Washington in May 1959 and the821st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron[6] atBaker AFS, Oregon in May 1960.
In May, the wing and its84th Fighter Group[10] were also transferred, leaving the wing without an operational mission, and it was discontinued on 30 June 1960.
| *823d Radar Squadron
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Further Reading
| External image | |
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 SAGE facilities |
