Grand Forks Air Defense Sector

Grand Forks Air Defense Sector
Emblem of Grand Forks Air Defense Sector
Active	1957-1963
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Air Defense Command

Map of Grand Forks ADS

The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector (GFADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base , North Dakota. It was inactivated on 1 December 1963

History

Established in December 1957 assuming control of former ADC Central Air Defense Force units with a mission to provide air defense of most of North Dakota along with western Minnesota and northern South Dakota. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and RADAR squadrons. Also operated a Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) direction center.

Consolidated on 1 May 1963 with Minot Air Defense Sector. Inactivated on 1 December 1963 as part of ADC reorganization and consolidation, most units being reassigned to the 29th Air Division.

Lineage

• Established as Grand Forks Air Defense Sector on 8 December 1957

Inactivated on 1 December 1963

Assignments

• 31st Air Division, 8 December 1957
• 29th Air Division, 1 January 1959-1 December 1963

Components

Interceptor units

• 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 July-4 September 1953

Radar facilities

SAGE Direction Center (DC-11) located at: 47°56′47″N 097°22′55″W

Active 1959-1 December 1963

Operated: AN/FSQ-7 Computer

Later become home of the Headquarters, 321st Strategic Missile Wing. Demolished in April 2003.

Stations

• Finley AFS, ND (P-29) 1952-1979 47°30′57″N 097°52′07″W

Location: 1.5 mi WxNW of Finley ND

Radars: FPS-35; FPS-90

785th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Abandoned, serverly deteriorated. Most buildings in poor repair or demolished.

Gap Fillers

Sheyenne, ND (P-29A) 47°49′41″N 099°23′54″W

Grafton, ND (P-29B) 48°24′43″N 097°22′05″W

Valley City, ND (P-29C) 46°50′53″N 098°03′09″W

Middle River, MN (P-29D) 48°32′09″N 096°00′55″W

• Gettysburg AFS, SD (M-99) 1956-1968 45°02′59″N 099°57′22″W

Radars: FPS-27; MPS-14; FPS-90

740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Current Use: Still active. This now-FAA long-range radar site is now data-tied into the Joint Surveillance System (post 9/11).

Stations

• Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 8 December 1957-1 December 1963

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
• Radomes.org Grand Forks Air Defense Sector

External links

• Photos of Grand Forks Air Defense Sector SAGE facilities