This video explains more about the SAGE system used in the 50s to 80s to make us feel safe from supersonic Soviet bombers. The system would assign and deploy fighter jets and missiles to each threat. At the peak of the program 305,000 volunteers staffing these things 24 hours a day. The purpose of this program was not really air defense, it was public relations. It was saying to the public, “We are doing something about this problem we see it.” At the same time, the Air Force started looking everywhere for ideas from scientists and engineers.”]
Source: https://gizmodo.com/computing-classic-video-on-how-the-airforce-protected-5303129