Phoenix Air Defense Sector

The Phoenix Air Defense Sector (PhADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 28th Air Division, being stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966

Phoenix Air Defense Sector
Emblem of the Phoenix Air Defense Sector
Active	1960–1966
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

Map of Phoenix ADS

History

PhADS was established in June 1959 assuming control of former ADC Western Air Defense Force units in Arizona; southwestern California; southern Nevada and southwestern Utah. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar squadrons.

On 15 June the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-21) became operational. 33°32′34″N 112°21′27″W DC-21 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; then redesignated as 27th Air Division.

Lineage

• Established as Phoenix Air Defense Sector on 15 June 1959

Inactivated on 1 April 1966

Assignments

• Western Air Defense Force, 15 June 1959
• 28th Air Division, 1 July 1960 – 1 April 1966

Stations

• Luke AFB, Arizona, 15 February 1959 – 1 April 1966

Components

Interceptor units

• 15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 4 December 1964

Radar stations

• 612th Radar Squadron

Ajo AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 April 1966

• 684th Radar Squadron

Mount Lemmon AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 April 1966

• 864th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Vincent AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 August 1963

• 865th Radar Squadron

Las Vegas AFS, Nevada, 1 May 1961 – 1 April 1966

• 904th Radar Squadron

Winslow AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 August 1963

See also

• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
• Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons

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 Phoenix Air Defense Sector

External image
SAGE facilities