Grand Forks Air Defense Sector

The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector (GFADS) was an important part of the United States Air Force. It helped protect the country from threats in the sky. The GFADS was based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. It worked with the Air Defense Command and the 29th Air Division to keep watch over the skies. The unit stopped operating on December 1, 1963, but it played a key role during its time.

History

The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector was created in December 1957. Its job was to protect the skies over most of North Dakota, western Minnesota, and northern South Dakota. It controlled many airplanes and radar teams to watch for any threats.

On November 15, 1959, a new control center called SAGE began working. It used special computers to help manage the defense. The sector’s main work was to keep fighter planes ready, such as the F-94 Starfire, F-102 Delta Dagger, and F-106 Delta Dart, through training and practice missions.

In May 1963, it joined with the Minot Air Defense Sector. The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector stopped operating on December 1, 1963, as part of a bigger change in how the Air Force was organized. Most of its teams moved 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

Stations

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

Components

Wing

• 478th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 February 1961 – 1 July 1963

Wing

• 478th Fighter Group (Air Defense) Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 April 1959 – 1 February 1961

Interceptor Squadrons

• 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 July-4 September 1963

Radar Squadrons