1776
While the origin of the ADA Branch lies in the Coast Artillery Corps of the First World War, the origins of the Branch are deeper in Army history. As early as 27 September 1776 when Colonel Henry Knox recommended the creation of an artillery school, the importance and need for field and coast artillery existed.
1814-1834
The successful defense of America’s coast by artilllerymen at Fort McHenry, Maryland, from a British naval assault in September 1814 emphasized the importance of artillery in national defense. Ten years later, the Adjutant General of the US Army authorized the creation of a school just for artillery instruction at Fort Monroe, Virginia. For 10 years, the school remained in operation, training three-quarters of all active artillery personnel. Despite the school’s successes, limited funds forced is closing in 1834.
1857
On 29 December 1857, the Adjutant General’s office reestablished the Artillery School at Fort Monroe. The Civil War caused the suspension of instruction at the school. At the War’s end, the school reopened as The Artillery School of the United States Army.
1901
In 1901, the Coast Artillery Corps was organized to defend US coastal forts. Coast Artillerymen manned guns from 6 to 16 inches in caliber. The gunners also manned mobile tractor-drawn and railway artillery to supplement fixed defenses.
1906
In 1906, the Department of Artillery of the United States Army became the Department of Coast Artillery. The mission of the Artillery School changed to one of preparing officers and enlisted men for duties pertaining to seacoast gun defense. One year later, in 1907, the War Department issued General Order No. 24, separating the Coast Artillery and Field Artillery. That same year, the War Department authorized the reorganization of the Artillery School at Fort Monroe as the Coast Artillery School.
1917-1920
With America’s entry into World War I in 1917, the Secretary of War deployed an advisory board of officers under the direction of Colonel Chauncey B. Baker who recommended the creation of an anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) service and a school to train these air defenders.
The Coast Artillery Corps assumed the AAA mission because it was the only artillery branch with experience in firing at moving targets. Further, Coastal Artillery gunners were available because the German battle fleet was under blockage thereby eliminating the need to man forts on East Coast of the United States
The Americans distinguished themselves with excellent marksmanship: the AAA service used on on-twentieth as much ammunition as our British allies to shoot down each German plane. Battery B, 1st AAA Battalion, set the best engagement record of any unit, US or allied, when they used the mobile French 75mm gun to shoot down nine German planes in a 118 day period. Americans also distinguished themselves in the training of artillerymen and in the development of tactics. After the war, all US AAA units were demobilized and the AAA ceased to exist until 1920. Between 1920 and 1921, the government reestablished the AAA service and organized it into six regiments. These regiments provided defense of harbors and priority installations such as the Panama Canal.
1930-1939
By 1930, a new emphasis was placed on anti-aircraft artillery giving it equal tactical merit with seacoast artillery. In 1938, the War Department added additional emphasis when $800,000 was provided to procure mobile anti-aircraft guns and mounts.
Air power played a greater role in World War II than it had in World War I and the need for AAA was greater than ever. The Germans demonstrated this as their blitzkreig swept through Europe in 1939 an 1940. The need for AAA defense in the Pacific became equally obvious.
Near the end of the War, the AAA separated from the Coast Artillery Corps. The Anti-Aircraft Artillery School was established at Camp Davis, North Carolina on 9 March 1942. Two years later, the AAA School moved to Fort Bliss, Texas where the clear weather and solitude of of the desert Southwest provided excellent year-round training and testing grounds.
1940 – 1970
With the advent of high-performance jet aircraft, the possibility of a Soviet manned bomber attack against the United States emerged. This brought about a resurgence in air defense activity. Numerous anti-aircraft units, both heavy and light guns, were added to the Army inventory. For the first time, light anti-aircraft battalions became organic to Army divisions. Heavy anti-aircraft artillery gun battalions were deployed around critical asses within the United States. Guns ultimately gave way to long-range air defense missiles to counter the threat of long range nuclear bombers flying at extremely high altitudes.
The AAA School at Bliss focused on the development of surface-to-air and the First Anti-Aircraft Artillery Guided Missile Battalion was created to assist in the effort. The Battalion participated in the first American firing of a captured German V-2 rocked at White Sands Proving Ground, New Mexico, on 16 April 1946.
On 11 June 1946, the AAA School came under the command of the newly established Anti-aircraft Artillery and Guided missile Center, Fort Bliss. On 1 November 1946, the War Department directed the redesignation of the AAA School to the Anti-Aircraft and Guided Missile Branch. Coastal Artillery was inactivated in 1950. Finally, the Air Defense Artillery Branch was established on 20 June 1968 by General Order No. 25.
The firing of the first all-American missile, the WAC Corporal, highlighted the early part of 1947. By the mid-1950s, both Nike and Corporal missiles reached operational status. The Nike Ajax represented a major break-through in technology and is the forerunner of today’s family of Air Defense missiles.
As the threat posed by intercontinental ballistic missiles increased, the manned bomber threat decreased. This lead to the elimination of air defenses within the United States and Air Defense planners concentrated on defending American maneuver forces.
1970 – 1990
During this time period the Air Defense Artillery Branch underwent an aggressive modernization program resulting in the fielding of new weapon systems such as Patriot and Avenger. Concurrently with this modernization of weapon systems was a modernization of Air Defense concepts leading ultimately to development of enhanced anti-ballistic missile capabilities for Patriot which set the conditions for success on the future battlefield.
1990 – Present
During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Patriot, Hawk, Vulcan and Avenger units played key roles in defending sea ports, air bases, logistics centers and maneuver forces. Throughout the air and ground campaigns, ADA units’ battle against Iraqi ballistic missiles became one of the most highly publicized events of the war with Patriot being singled out for helping to ensure coalition solidarity.
In March 2003, Coalition forces again entered Iraq conducting one of the most swift and precise campaigns ever. US Air Defense Artillery forces were again key members of the combined arms team with Patriot engaging every threatening Iraqi missile using the recently fielded PAC-3 capability.
Today’s ADA forces face a growing and complex threat including ballistic, cruise, and air-to-surface missiles, rotary and fixed-wing aircraft capable of delivering cannon fire, sub-munitions and conventional bombs, unmanned aerial systems (surveillance and attack), and artillery, rockets and mortars (RAM). In response to these threats, ADA uses a host of integrated weapons and sensors including Patriot, Avenger, Sentinel, and the new Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Systems. C-RAM is now deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom to counter the threats posed by RAM, and is saving lives of US soldiers and coalition partners. The first THAAD battery successfully completed operational testing and is progressing towards Materiel Release while the second THAAD battery is currently in training.