Lake City Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Lake City Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-42) is a closed United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) west-southwest of Lake City, Tennessee
. It was closed in 1960.
, on 11 July 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of the second segment of the permanent network. Receiving the Defense Secretary’s approval on 21 July, the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
The 663d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations at a temporary "Lashup" site L-47 located at McGhee Tyson Airport
, near Knoxville, TN on 1 January 1951. It later moved to a Tennessee National Guard Armory in nearby Maryville, Tennessee
in November 1951.
With construction at Cross Mountain AFS finishing in in March 1952, the 633d AC&W Squadron began operating a pair of AN/CPS-6B and AN/FPS-10 radars from the permanent site, allowing for the deactivation of L-47 at Maryville. The station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. The station was re-designated as Lake City AFS, TN, on 1 December 1953. An AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was added in 1958. One AN/FPS-10 was removed in 1959.
In addition to the main facility, Lake City operated three unmanned AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
This site ceased operations on 1 June 1961 due to budget constraints. Today the site is the location for the WNOX
& WDVX radio transmitter and several towers including a Television station.
Assignments:
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) west-southwest of Lake City, Tennessee
Lake City, Tennessee
Lake City is a town in Anderson and Campbell counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, northwest of Knoxville. The population was 1,888 at the 2000 census...
. It was closed in 1960.
History
Originally designed as Cross Mountain Air Force Station, Lake City AFS was one of twenty-eight stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent Air Defense Command network. Prompted by the start of the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, on 11 July 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of the second segment of the permanent network. Receiving the Defense Secretary’s approval on 21 July, the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
The 663d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations at a temporary "Lashup" site L-47 located at McGhee Tyson Airport
McGhee Tyson Airport
-Top Destinations:-Accidents and incidents:* On 06 August, 1962, an American Airlines Lockheed L-188 Electra veered off the runway on landing, striking the raised edge of an under-construction taxiway with the landing gear, causing it to collapse...
, near Knoxville, TN on 1 January 1951. It later moved to a Tennessee National Guard Armory in nearby Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The city is located south of Knoxville. Maryville's population was 27,258 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville has received a number of accolades for its...
in November 1951.
With construction at Cross Mountain AFS finishing in in March 1952, the 633d AC&W Squadron began operating a pair of AN/CPS-6B and AN/FPS-10 radars from the permanent site, allowing for the deactivation of L-47 at Maryville. The station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. The station was re-designated as Lake City AFS, TN, on 1 December 1953. An AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was added in 1958. One AN/FPS-10 was removed in 1959.
In addition to the main facility, Lake City operated three unmanned AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
- Aquone, NC (P-42A) 35°10′39"N 083°33′49"W
- London, KY (P-42B) 37°09′03"N 083°59′32"W
- Melvin Hill, NC (P-42C) 35°12′27"N 081°59′21"W
This site ceased operations on 1 June 1961 due to budget constraints. Today the site is the location for the WNOX
WNOX
WNOX is a radio station in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. It broadcasts a news-talk format.WNOX operates a 100,000-watt transmitter, located on Cross Mountain north of Briceville, Tennessee...
& WDVX radio transmitter and several towers including a Television station.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:- 663d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Assigned 6 February 1952
-
- Activated by 30th AD at Willow Run AFS (P-23), MI, 1 January 1950 (Not manned or equipped)
- Assigned to McGhee-Tyson Airport, TN, 1 January 1951
- Discontinued on 1 June 1961
Assignments:
- 541st Aircraft Control and Warning Group (30th Air Division), 1 January 1951
-
- Transferred to 30th Air Division, 6 February 1952
- 35th Air Division, 5 August 1952
- 58th Air Division58th Air DivisionThe 58th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command, based at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. It was inactivated on 1 February 1959.- B-29 development :...
, 1 March 1956 - 32d Air Division, 15 November 1958 – 1 June 1961
- Transferred to 30th Air Division, 6 February 1952