Hancock SAGE Direction Center DC-03

 (1958-1983) - A Cold War SAGE System Direction Center first established in 1958 on then Hancock Field near Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. Named Hancock SAGE Direction Center after the location. Assigned a Sage ID of DC-03. Co-located with Hancock SAGE Combat Center CC-01. Deactivated as a SAGE Direction Center in 1983.

History
Established in 1958 and became operational on 15 Feb 1960 as Hancock SAGE Direction Center DC-03. The direction center was housed in a purpose built, square, four story reinforced concrete blockhouse.

The Hancock SAGE Direction Center was one of the six-direction centers designated as a SAGE Regional Control Centers (RCCs) in 1966 and it remained operational, still using the vacuum tube FSQ-7 computers, until it was deactivated on 24 Oct 1983.

Hancock SAGE Combat Center CC-1


The Hancock SAGE Combat Center CC-01 was adjacent to the direction center building and shared the powerhouse. The combat center was also constructed as a purpose-built, square, reinforced concrete blockhouse but only three stories tall. Like the direction center, the combat center housed a large computer system, communications equipment, displays and a command post. The computer system was a duplex FSQ-8 computer almost identical to the FSQ-7 computer in the direction center. The major difference between the two was that the FSQ-8 did not require the input-output components to interface directly with the individual radar sites and weapons systems. The combat center was connected to the Hancock SAGE Direction Center DC-03 and other direction centers in its sector of responsibility.

The combat center came under the purview of the 26th Air division and included five direction centers, each controlling an air defense sector. The system began operation in January 1959 and by March 1959 the combat center and the five direction centers were fully SAGE operational.

The FSQ-8 computers in the adjacent Hancock SAGE Combat Center CC-01 were removed circa 1966.

Current Status
Sage Direction Center blockhouse repurposed on Syracuse Hancock International Airport near Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.

See Also:
 * Griffiss JSS ROCC
 * Permanent System Radar Sites
 * SAGE System

Sources:

Links:
 * Radomes - Hancock SAGE Direction Center
 * Wikipedia - Hancock SAGE Direction Center