From what I understand, old USAF Air/Aerospace Defense Command
was disbanded in '78, and it's units transfered to TAC (now a part of
the ACC).
     Issue One: My guess for why is that after the threat from Soviet
bombers subsided during the 60s and 70s, the AF decided it was no
longer necessary. From what I've been able to gather, as a result of
this and the pro-missile/anti-bomber stance of the JFK/LBJ
administrations, the development of the last two true-blue ADC
interceptors - the F-108 and YF-12 - were cancelled (granted, in part
due to technical difficulties with both designs), and the ADC was
allowed to die from attrition by not allocating funds throughout the
60s and 70s to replace its aging 50s era F-89s, 101s, 102s, and 106s.
That is until the remaining ADC units were transfered to TAC, where
they slowly were requipped with F-4s, F-15s, and F-16s (how bloody
convienent).
     If this isn't correct, please...feel free to correct me here.
     Issue Two: During the 70s, most of the existing ADC units were
slowly moved over to the AFR and ANG. My question is how could such
units maintain a 24hr, 365 day vigil if they were being manned by
"weekend warriors"? I understand that some AFR and ANG personnel are
full-timers, but surely not all of these interceptor pilots and crews
fell into this category. In short, during peacetime, other than on
weekends, did any of these units maintain a 24hr alert.
     Best guess here would be that in case of a surprise attack, the
remaining active duty ADC units, along with TAC and RCAF units would
be expected to handle any/all bomber interceptor missions. Since it
was more likely that a crisis would preceed an attack though, there
would most likely be time to mobilize the reserves and ANG units prior
to any outbreak in hostilities.
     Again, if I'm off target, correct me.
     Issue Three: Okay...I suspect this one is gonna sound supremely
stupid, but this isn't an area of military aviation I've put a lot of
study into (largely because by it's nature is seems very confusing).
     From what I understand, ANG units serve one weekend a month, and
for a two week stint during the summer for training purposes. Now say
you have an ANG Fighter Interceptor Group (FIG). Is there only one
group of guardsmen who serve with this unit once a month, or are
there four different groups of guardsmen - each of which serves with
the unit during the four weeks of the month.
     Second, what was the most likely locale for and type of training
for ANG FIGs during their summer deployment. One of the reasons for
this question is that on a F-101B Voodoo of the TX-ANG unit "The
Texans" (which I believe I finally figured is also known as the 111th
FIS of the 147th FIG) were the champions at "William Tell" in '78 (re,
the last year the ADC existed). If my memory serves me right, William
Tell is a ACM training/competion held each year at either Eglin or
Tyndall AFB in Florida. Is this typical of the type of summer
deployment such units participated in?
Thanks!
Derek (/\)akefield
iscandar@chatter.com
... This BBS has achieved Air superiority.
--- Blue Wave v2.12 [NR]
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