Commentary 
For much of the Cold War, the Air Defense Command was a significant component of the Air Force.
At any one time, hundreds of jet interceptors, many with nuclear missiles, were on alert around the country to take off within minutes to challenge any unknown aircraft attempting to enter the American Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). These American interceptors were also based in Alaska, Hawaii, Greenland, Iceland, and at times in Canada, in addition to Canadian interceptors. The Air Force and Army also had thousands of anti-aircraft missiles at the ready. No Russian aircraft ever went unchallenged or entered the ADIZ in any significant breach….