Aerospace Defense Command - Major Events Time Line

Major Events Time Line

27 March 1946
The United States Army Air Force activates the Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field (later, Mitchel Air Force Base), New York
1 December 1948
The United States Air Force establishes the Continental Air Command (ConAC) under both the Air Defense Command and Tactical Air Command
27 June 1950
United States air defense systems begins 24-hour operations two days after the start of the Korean War
1 July 1950
Air Defense Command deactivated because the Continental Air Command gradually assumed full charge of United States air defense
1 January 1951
Air Defense Command re-established, again at Mitchel Field
8 January 1951
Air Defense Command headquarters moves from Mitchel Field to Ent Air Force Base, Colorado
14 July 1952
Air Defense Command begins 24-hour Ground Observer Corps operations
1 October 1953
The 4701st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron, the first AEW&C system, was activated at McClellan AFB, California.
1 September 1954
The Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) is established at Ent Air Force Base as a joint-service force, taking control of Air Force Air Defense Command forces, Army Anti-Aircraft Command forces, and Naval air defense forces (NAVFORCONAD)
15 April 1957
Air Defense Command assigned operational control of the DEW Line and all atmospheric defense units of the inactivated Northeast Air Command.
12 September 1957
The North American Air Defense Command is established at Ent Air Force Base as an international organization, taking operational control of Canadian Air Defense Command air defense units and United States Continental Air Defense Command air defense units
1 December 1958
SAGE Combat Center No 1 at Hancock Field, New York (26th Air Division) became operational
1 January 1959
The first BOMARC squadron, the 46th Air Defense Missile Squadron was activated at McGuire AFB, New Jersey.
31 July 1959
The Ground Observer Corps, active since July 1952, is abolished because of improvements in radar technology
1 October 1960
BMEWS Site I, at Thule AB, Greenland, reached initial operational capability; the first Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
1 February 1961
The 1st Aerospace Surveillance and Control Squadron established at Ent AFB, Colorado by Air Defense Command to operate the SPADATS Center. This marks the beginning of Air Defense Command's aerospace defense operations.
1 July 1962
Control of Air Forces Iceland transferred from Military Air Transport Service to Air Defense Command.
3 September 1965
Space Defense Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado activated
15 January 1968
Air Defense Command is redesignated as Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM)
31 October 1972
Final BOMARC unit inactivated at Langley AFB, Virginia; BOMARC interceptor activity ended.
1 July 1973
Continental Air Defense Command and Aerospace Defense Command headquarters begins consolidation and streamlining
4 February 1974
The Department of Defense announces plans for cutbacks in air defense forces showing increasing emphasis on ballistic missile attack warning and decreasing emphasis on bomber defense
30 June 1974
Continental Air Defense Command dis-established
1 July 1975
Aerospace Defense Command designated a "Specified Command" taking over Continental Air Defense Command roles and responsibilities
1 October 1975
Alaskan ADCOM Region established, Aerospace Defense Command assumes control of missile warning and space surveillance forces of Alaskan Air Command
1 October 1979
Transfer of ADCOM atmospheric defense resources (interceptors and warning radars) to Tactical Air Command (TAC); Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC) established as a Numbered Air Force equivalent under Tactical Air Command
31 March 1980
Aerospace Defense Command inactivated at Colorado Springs, Colorado.
1 October 1985
ADTAC redesignated 1st Air Force, with US-Only ADCOM responsibilities under CONAD (COMTAC).

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