The San Francisco Air Defense Sector (SFADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 28th Air Division, being stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California.
The sector was established in February 1959 assuming control of former ADC Western Air Defense Force units in California west of the Sierra Nevada; north of Santa Barbara and south of Eureka. The organization controlled several aircraft and radar squadrons.
On 1 December 1960 the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-18) became operational. DC-18 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); (2 F-101B Voodoo Squadrons) in a state of readiness with training missions and series of exercises with SAC and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft.
The 83d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Hamilton AFB, Ca., both were part of the sector's forces, under the command of the 78th Fighter Wing.
The Sector was inactivated on 1 August 1963 as part of an ADC consolidation and reorganization; and its units were assigned to 28th Air Division at Hamilton Air Force Base, California.
Lineage
Established as San Francisco Air Defense Sector on 15 February 1959 Inactivated on 1 August 1963
Assignments 28th Air Division, 15 February 1959 – 1 August 1963
Stations Beale AFB, California, 15 February 1959 – 1 August 1963
Components 78th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) Hamilton AFB, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 August 1963
Interceptor squadrons
82d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Travis AFB, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 August 1963 456th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Castle AFB, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 August 1963
Radar squadrons
634th Radar Squadron Burns AFS, Oregon, 1 July 1960 – 1 September 1960 658th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Winnemucca AFS, Nevada, 1 July 1960 – 1 September 1961 666th Radar Squadron Mill Valley AFS, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 August 1963 668th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Mather AFB, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 September 1961 682d Radar Squadron Almaden AFS, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 August 1963
774th Radar Squadron Madera AFS, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 August 1963 776th Radar Squadron Point Arena AFS, California, 1 July 1960 – 1 August 1963 821st Radar Squadron Baker AFS, Oregon, 1 July-15 September 1960 858th Radar Squadron Fallon AFS, Nevada, 1 July-15 September 1960 866th Radar Squadron Tonopah AFS, Nevada, 1 July-15 September 1960
See also List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
References
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. . Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . Radomes.org San Francisco Air Defense Sector