Goose Air Defense Sector

Goose Air Defense Sector
Emblem of the Goose Air Defense Sector
Active	1963–1966
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Defense
Part of	Aerospace Defense Command

The Goose Air Defense Sector (GADS) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division, being stationed at Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, Canada. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966 and replaced by the 37th Air Division.

History

Command and control echelon of command, controlling both radar and fighter squadrons in Canada. Provided air defense of northeast North America. Assigned units of the 4732d Air Defense Group at Goose AFB in April 1960 and the 4731st Air Defense Group at Ernest Harmon AFB in June. Both groups were discontinued. ^[1] These units included two Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons (FIS), although the 323rd FIS was discontinued almost immediately after transfer. ^[2] Both squadrons flew F-102 "Delta Daggers," although the 59th FIS had not completed its conversion from F-89 "Scorpions" when it was first assigned ^[3] Also operated Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Direction Center (DC-31) (Manual) at CFB North Bay, Ontario 46°20′15″N079°24′42″W / 46.33750°N 79.41167°W / 46.33750; -79.41167 (GADS-SAGE DC-31) Inactivated in 1966 ^[4] and personnel and equipment transferred to 37th Air Division.

Lineage

• Constituted as Goose Air Defense Sector on 7 March 1960

Activated on 1 April 1960

Inactivated on 1 April 1966.

Assignments

• 64th Air Division, 1 April 1950 – 1 July 1963
• 26th Air Division, 1 July 1963 – 1 April 1966

Components

Air Force

• Air Forces Iceland

Keflavik Airport, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966

Wing

• 4683d Air Defense Wing

Thule AB, Greenland, 1 July 1963 – 1 July 1965

Groups

• 4683d Air Base Group 1 July 1965 – 1 April 1966

Thule AB, Greenland, 1 October 1960

• 4684th Air Base Group

Sondrestrom AB, Greenland, 4 September 1963 – 1 April 1966

Squadrons

• 59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron 6 Jun 1960 -

Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, 1 April 1956 – 1 April 1966

• 323d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, 6 June 1960 – 1 July 1960

640th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Stephenville Air Station, Newfoundland, 1 June 1960 – 1 April 1966 641st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Melville AS, Labrador, 1 April 1960 – 1 April 1966 642d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Red Cliff AS, Newfoundland, 1 June 1960 – 1 October 1961 920th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Resolution Island AS, Northern Territories, 1 April 1960 – 1 October 1961 921st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Saint Anthony AS, Newfoundland, 1 April 1960 – 1 April 1966

922d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Cartwright AS, Labrador, 1 April 1960 – 1 April 1966 923d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Hopedale AS, Labrador, 1 April 1960 – 1 April 1966 924th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Saglek AS, Labrador, 1 April 1960 – 1 April 1966 926th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Frobisher Bay Air Base, Northwest Territories, 1 April 1960 – 1 November 1961

Stations

• Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, Canada, 1 April 1960 – 1 April 1966

Aircraft

• F-89J 1960
• F-102A 1960-1966

References

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

1. Cornett & Johnson, A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, pp. 57, 89
2. Maurer(ed.), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II, pp. 233, 398
3. Cornett and Johnson, pp.117, 125
4. Ibid. p. 57

• Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-405-12194-6.
• Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN   97020912.^{[ dead link ]}
• Radomes.org Goose Air Defense Sector

External image
SAGE facilities