Syracuse Air Def. Sector

The Syracuse Air Defense Sector (SADS) was an Air Defense Command unit of the United States Air Force, established in 1956. Headquartered at Hancock Field in Syracuse, New York, the sector was responsible for coordinating the air defense of the Northeastern United States, primarily using interceptor aircraft and radar installations. SADS played a key role during the early years of the Cold War, integrating the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system to enhance detection and response capabilities against potential Soviet bomber threats. The sector was inactivated in 1963 as part of a broader realignment and consolidation of air defense units across the country.