Western Air Defense Sector Guarding America's Skies For 50 Years
Story by Maj Herb Porter - Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force
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Formerly known as the 25th Air Division, "WADS" recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in top form with a special dinner for current and former unit members. The keynote speaker for the evening’s festivities was current WADS Commander Col John Cromwell, with Master of Ceremonies duties handled by retired Chief Master Sergeant Pat Clancy, former Senior Enlisted Advisor of the 25th Air Division. Initially an active duty Air Force installation, the Washington Air National Guard assumed official responsibility for protecting the air sovereignty of the Western United States in October 1997, culminating a two-year transition phase.
The Western Air Defense Sector (WADS) is the largest of the three sectors responsible to the Continental U.S. Region of NORAD for peacetime air sovereignty and strategic air defense of the United States. Its present area of responsibility is approximately 1.9 million miles, about 63% of the continental United States. It is operationally accountable directly to First Air Force at Tyndall AFB, FL, while administratively reporting to Washington Air National Guard Headquarters at Camp Murray, WA.
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WADS is augmented by members of the Canadian Forces Air Command, the U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy. Sector personnel and fighter aircraft are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, standing ready to respond to any perceived threat or contingency.
The effective use of air power during WWII made the need for a credible air defense network for the continental United States. Events such as the Korean War and the detonation of a nuclear weapon by the former Soviet Union, gave further impetus to the development of an effective air defense system. Beginning as part of the Air Defense Command, the 25th Air Defense Division was established in October of 1948 at Silver Lake, WA. It consisted of a series of radar surveillance sites extending from Northern California to Washington State, with support from tactical fighter groups at Hamilton Field, CA, for air defense alert. The following year, the unit designation was changed to the 25th Air Division, and placed under the operational control of the 4th Air Force. Its radar surveillance network was complemented by the addition of elements of the Ground Observer Corps in 1951.
With the increasing possibility of a large-scale bomber attack on the United States it became evident that further improvements in the nation’s defense capability were needed. In the mid-50’s the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Lincoln Laboratories, were commissioned to develop an automated nationwide computer-based air defense system. The end result of MITs efforts was the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) System. which consisted of a network of computerized control centers throughout the United States. Groundbreaking for the first SAGE complex at McChord AFB, began in 1957. The heart of the SAGE system, known affectionately as "Clyde", provided weapons controllers of the 60’s and 70’s with data which facilitated the intercept of unknown aircraft by Air Force fighters.
In November 1969, the 25th Air Division was designated as one of eight NORAD Regions with an area of responsibility that encompassed most of the western United States and parts of western Canada. In 1979, the SAGE control centers were replaced by Regional Operations Control Centers (ROCC), as new high-speed digital computers replaced the old "Clyde" systems. In 1986 NORAD was reconfigured with the establishment of three regions – Alaska, Canada, and the continental United States (CONUS). Within CONUS, the 25th Air Division was designated as the Northeast Sector. Further enhancements to air defense capability included the addition of Aerostat radar systems, which are presently used along the southern border of CONUS and assist with the detection and apprehension of aircraft smuggling illegal contraband into the United States.
Historically the men and women of the former 25th Division have proudly stood watch over the skies for over 40 years. It is a proud unit, which was and still remains rich in heritage and tradition. The 25th Air Division, whose motto was "Forever Ready", was officially deactivated at the end of 1990, but its tradition of vigilance carries on well into the 21st century as the Air National Guard will carry the torch forward. . As one former member rightly put it, "I think our next 50 years will be even better than our first".
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