page_title: Griffiss Air Force Base
section_title: Air Defense
hierarchical_section_title: Griffiss Air Force Base / History / Air Defense
caption_attribution_description: English: 27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-102A-65-CO Delta Dagger 56-1219
context_page_description: Griffiss Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force installation in the northeastern United States, located in central New York state at Rome, about fifteen miles northwest of Utica.
  Missions included fighter interceptors, electronic research, installation, and support activities, aerial refueling, and bombers. Opened in 1942, the base closed pursuant to BRAC action in 1995 and its airfield is now Griffiss International Airport, owned by Oneida County. In November 1984 the site was added to the National Priorities List because hazardous chemicals were found in soil and ground water. Solvents, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls had been disposed in landfills and dry wells
  Closed 25 years ago in September 1995 by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decision, it was realigned for civilian and non-combat purposes in 1995, and is now home to the Griffiss Business and Technology Park.
context_section_description: Although many aircraft landed at Griffiss during the war, the airfield had no permanently stationed flying units. It wasn't until after World War II, that the Air Force Reserve 65th Reconnaissance Group conducted aerial photo and mapping operations from Griffiss from 27 December 1946 until being inactivated on 27 June 1949.
  On 3 October 1950 the 1st Fighter-Interceptor Group of Air Defense Command (ADC) became the first permanently assigned USAF flying unit at Griffiss. Although the group moved to California in 1951, its 27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS) remained behind.  ADC units were stationed there for the next 30 years as Griffiss became a center for the Northeast air defense mission, and was headquarters of the Northeast Air Defense Sector. The 27th FIS flew Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars, North American F-86 Sabres, Northrop F-89 Scorpion,  Lockheed F-94 Starfires and Convair F-102 Delta Daggers before leaving Griffiss in 1959.
  In October 1955, the 465th FIS was assigned to Griffiss with F-89 Scorpion all-weather fighters. ADC activated the 4727th Air Defense Group as a headquarters for the two squadrons in February 1957 and it became a major tenant at Griffiss.  The 49th FIS moved, less personnel, equipment, and aircraft from Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts and replaced the 465th FIS in October 1959, receiving, after the transfer, its McDonnell F-101 Voodoos.  Later that year, when the 27th FIS departed Griffiss, the 4727th was discontinued.
caption: 27th FIS F-102A Delta Dagger, AF Ser. No 56-1219, circa 1958
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