Welcome to the Air Defense Galaxy of Stars Web site.
THIS WEB SITE IS DEDICATED TO THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO EARNED A PLACE IN OUR COUNTRIES' HISTORY, AS THEY ASSURED THE AIR DEFENSE OF A CONTINENT DURING THE LONG DAYS AND NIGHTS OF THE COLD WAR. THEY WATCHED, THEY WAITED, AND THEY MADE CERTAIN THAT OUR SKIES REMAINED SAFE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA.
The Peterson Air and Space Museum at Peterson AFB, Colorado, has established an Air Defense Galaxy of Stars to honor and commemorate the thousands of United States and Canadian Military personnel who manned the air defense facilities and weapons systems of our Nations.
During the existence of the Air/Aerospace Defense Command from 1946 until its disestablishment in 1980, and into the present day, ground environment units, fighter interceptor squadrons, airborne early warning and airborne warning and control units, and missile units manned the outposts of air defense from coast to coast and from the shores of the Caribbean to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Supplementing their efforts were personnel of Army Air Defense Command and Navy picket ship and fighter units. Also involved were those who served in air defense assets in Alaska, Greenland and Iceland.
All those dedicated men and women earned a place in our countries' history as they assured the air defense of a continent during the long days and nights of the Cold War. Many such units were in places very few would willingly want to call home; nevertheless they served, they watched, they waited, and they made our skies safe for the citizens of The United States and Canada.
Now, they will be recognized and remembered forever as the Air Defense Galaxy of Stars becomes a living memorial to each and every one of them in the Peterson Air and Space Museum.
