Phoenix Air Defense Sector

The Phoenix Air Defense Sector (PhADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 28th Air Division, being stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966

History
PhADS was established in June 1959 assuming control of former ADC Western Air Defense Force units in Arizona; southwestern California; southern Nevada and southwestern Utah. The organization provided command and control over several aircraft and radar squadrons.

On 15 June the new Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-21) became operational. 33.54278°N, -112.3575°W DC-21  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) in a state of readiness with training missions and series of exercises with SAC and other units simulating interceptions of incoming enemy aircraft.

The Sector was inactivated on 1 April 1966 as part of an ADC consolidation and reorganization; then redesignated as 27th Air Division.

Lineage

 * Established as Phoenix Air Defense Sector on 15 June 1959
 * Inactivated on 1 April 1966

Assignments

 * Western Air Defense Force, 15 June 1959
 * 28th Air Division, 1 July 1960 – 1 April 1966

Stations

 * Luke AFB, Arizona, 15 February 1959 – 1 April 1966

Interceptor units

 * 15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
 * Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 4 December 1964

Radar stations

 * 612th Radar Squadron
 * Ajo AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 April 1966


 * 684th Radar Squadron
 * Mount Lemmon AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 April 1966


 * 864th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
 * Vincent AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 August 1963


 * 865th Radar Squadron
 * Las Vegas AFS, Nevada, 1 May 1961 – 1 April 1966


 * 904th Radar Squadron
 * Winslow AFS, Arizona, 1 May 1961 – 1 August 1963