Southwest Air Defense Sector
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2012) |
| Southwest Air Defense Sector | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the Southwest Air Defense Sector | |
| Active | 1987–1994 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Air Defense |
| Nickname(s) | Sierra Pete |
The Southwest Air Defense Sector (SWADS) is an inactive
March Air Force Base, California
. It was inactivated on December 31, 1994.
Los Angeles Air Defense Sector
The Los Angeles Air Defense Sector (SAGE) (LAADS) was designated by
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
.
On April 1, 1966, LAADS was inactivated, as did the other 22 sectors in the country. Most of its assets were assumed by the 27th Air Division.
Reactivated as the Southwest Air Defense Sector (SWADS) on July 1, 1987 at
March AFB and Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR) data from several JSS radar stations and tethered aerostat radar balloons (e.g., Ground Equipment Facility J-31
near Los Angeles).
On January 1, 1995, the SWADS consolidated with the
McChord AFB, Washington and the combined command was designated as the Western Air Defense Sector
(WADS).
Units
Air National Guard units aligned under 1AF (AFNORTH) formerly with an air defense mission under SWADS were:
- 144th Fighter Wing (F-16), California ANG, Fresno ANGB, California
- 150th Fighter Wing(F-16), New Mexico ANG, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
- 138th Fighter Wing (F-16), Oklahoma ANG, Tulsa, Oklaholma
- 149th Fighter Wing (F-16), Texas ANG, Lackland AFB, Texas
Lineage
- Established as
Los Angeles Air Defense Sector on 1 February 1959 by redesignation of 27th Air Division
- Inactivated on 1 April 1966; redesignated as 27th Air Division
- Redesignated as Southwest Air Defense Sector (SWADS) and activated, 1 July 1987
- Inactivated on 31 December 1994, assets reassigned to Northwest Air Defense Sector
Assignments
- 28th Air Division, 1 October 1959 – 1 April 1966
- 26th Air Division, 1 July 1987
- First Air Force, 1 October 1990 – 31 December 1994
Stations
- Norton AFB, California, 1 October 1959 – 1 April 1966
- March AFB, California, 1 July 1987 – 30 September 1990
Components
Group
- 414th Fighter Group (Air Defense)
- Oxnard AFB, California, 1 October 1959 – 1 April 1966
Interceptor squadrons
- 15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
- Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 1 January 1960 – 1 May 1961
- George AFB, California, 1 October 1959 – 1 April 1966
- Castle AFB, California, 1 August 1963 – 1 April 1966
Radar squadrons
- 612th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Ajo AFS, Arizona, 1 January 1960 – 1 May 1961
- 669th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Santa Rosa Island AFS, California, 1 October 1959
- Lompoc AFS, California, 1 April 1963 – 1 April 1966
- 682nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Almaden AFS, California, 1 August 1963
- 774th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Madera AFS, California, 1 August 1963 – 1 April 1966
- Vincent AFB, Arizona, 1 October 1959 – 1 May 1961
See also
- Eastern Air Defense Sector
- List of MAJCOM wings of the United States Air Force
- List of United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command Interceptor Squadrons
- Southeast Air Defense Sector
- United States general surveillance radar stations
- Western Air Defense Sector
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ 1959 NORAD/CONAD Historical Summary: January–June
- 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 Los Angeles Air Defense Sector
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Photos of Los Angeles Air Defense Sector SAGE facilities |
