Syracuse Air Defense Sector

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector was a part of the United States Air Force. It was created to help protect the skies over parts of the United States during a time when there was concern about attacks from the air.

It began in October 1956 as the 4624th Air Defense Wing and was based at Syracuse Air Force Station in New York, later called Hancock Field. The sector took control of units in western New York, most of Pennsylvania, and small parts of western Maryland and eastern West Virginia. It managed many airplanes and radar stations.

In August 1958, a new system called the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) started working. This helped officers track airplanes and decide how to stop any that seemed dangerous. The sector worked with special airplanes like the F-89 Scorpion, F-101 Voodoo, and F-102 Delta Dagger, as well as missiles such as the CIM-10 Bomarc. These were used in training and practice missions with other military groups.

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector stopped operating on September 4, 1963. At that time, its area was combined with the Boston Air Defense Sector when the 26th Air Division moved to Hancock Field.

Lineage

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector began as the 4624th Air Defense Wing on October 1, 1956. It was later renamed the Syracuse Air Defense Sector on January 8, 1957. The sector was closed down on September 4, 1963.

Assignments

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector was part of the 32nd Air Division starting on October 1, 1956. Later, from August 15, 1958, until it ended on September 4, 1963, it was under the 26th Air Division.

Stations

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector was based at Syracuse Air Force Station, which later became known as Hancock Field, in New York. It operated there from October 1, 1956, until September 4, 1963.

Components

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector included several important groups and squadrons to protect the skies. One of these was the 15th Fighter Group, based at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, from September 1958 to July 1960. Another was the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, active from August 1959 to September 1963. There was also the 35th Air Defense Missile Squadron at Niagara Falls Air Force Missile Site, New York, operating from June 1960 to September 1963.

Radar Squadrons

648th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 648th Radar Squadron (SAGE))

Benton AFS, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958 – 4 September 1963

655th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 655th Radar Squadron (SAGE))

Watertown AFS, New York, 1 September 1958 – 4 September 1963

662nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 662d Radar Squadron (SAGE))

Brookfield AFS, Ohio (moved to Oakdale Army Installation), Pennsylvania in July 1960, 15 June 1960 – 4 September 1963

763rd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 763d Radar Squadron (SAGE))

Lockport AFS, New York, 1 September 1958 – 4 September 1963

772nd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (later 772d Radar Squadron (SAGE))

Claysburg AFS, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1958 – 1 May 1961

Weapons Systems

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector used several types of aircraft and systems to protect the skies. These included the F-89J in 1959, the F-101B from 1959 to 1963, the F-102A from 1958 to 1960, and the IM-99, which later became the CIM-10, from 1960 to 1963.