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Portland Air Defense Sector

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Portland Air Defense Sector
Emblem of the Portland Air Defense Sector
Active1948–1966
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
RoleAir Defense
Part ofAir Defense Command
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Carroll W. McColpin
Map of Portland ADS

The Portland Air Defense Sector (PADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division, being stationed at Adair Air Force Station, Oregon. It was inactivated on 1 July 1969.

History

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PADS was established in June 1958 assuming control of former ADC Western Air Defense Force units in eastern Oregon and northwest California. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar squadrons.

On 1 June 1960 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-13) became operational. 44°40′15″N 123°12′58″W / 44.67083°N 123.21611°W / 44.67083; -123.21611 (PADS-SAGE DC-13) DC-13 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 an ADC consolidation and reorganization; and its units were reassigned to 28th Air Division. The 689th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was moved to DC-12, 25th Air Division, McChord AFB, WA, on 1 April 1966.

Lineage

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  • Established as Portland Air Defense Sector on 8 June 1958
Inactivated on 1 April 1966

Assignments

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Stations

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Components

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Groups

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Portland IAP, Oregon, 15 April 1960 – 25 March 1966
Kingsley Field, Oregon, 15 April 1960 – 1 April 1966

Interceptor squadron

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Travis AFB, California, 1 August 1963 – 1 April 1966

Radar squadrons

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See also

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References

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External image
image icon SAGE facilities

Public Domain 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.
  • 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 Air Defense Radar Stations