Sault Sainte Marie Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Sault Sainte Marie Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-66, NORAD ID: Z-66) is a closed United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) south-southwest of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. It was closed in 1979.
, to provide radar defense coverage for the area. It was equipped with AN/TPS-1B and 1C radars, the stie being designated by ADC as L-21.
In late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Sault Sainte Marie as one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent radar surveillance network. Prompted by the start of the Korean War
, on July 11, 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 July 21, the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
On 1 January 1952 the 753d AC&W Squadron began operating AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-5 radars at the permanent site, being designated as "P-66" by ADC, and initially 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. During 1956 the Air Force replaced the AN/FPS-5 with an AN/FPS-6 unit. In 1958 the AN/FPS-3 was replaced by an AN/FPS-20 search radar, and soon received a second height-finder radar, an AN/FPS-6B.
During 1960 Sault Sainte Marie AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-14 at K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 753d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1960. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile. In 1963, the station was switched to the SAGE Data Center DC-06 at Custer AFS, Michigan. In 1963 an AN/FPS-35 search radar replaced the AN/FPS-20A. The AN/FPS-6 was removed in 1963, and the AN/FPS-6B was modified to an AN/FPS-90. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-66. In 1964 an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar was installed.
In addition to the main facility, Sault Sainte Marie operated the following AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. Sault Sainte Marie AFS came under Tactical Air Command
jurisdiction in October 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the formation of ADTAC. The 753rd Radar Squadron was deactivated on 30 October 1979 and Sault Sainte Marie Air Force Station was closed. After the staton's closure, sections of the AN/FPS-35 radar antenna were sent to Montauk AFS in 1980 to replace corroded sections of the antenna there.
Today the former Air Force Housing site is occupied as private homes. The operational area used as an auto junkyard and other small businesses in the former USAF buildings. The radar towers remain, and the remains of the center section of the large FPS-35 sail lies on the ground where it was apparently dropped when it was removed, the base of the antenna remains on top of the large tower.
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 3 miles (4.8 km) south-southwest of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. It was closed in 1979.
History
In June 1950, the 753d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated by Air Defense Command at a temporary "Lashup" radar site located at Sault Sainte Marie AirportSault Ste. Marie Airport
Sault Ste. Marie Airport, , is an international airport located west-southwest of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada at the far eastern end of Lake Superior and the beginning of the St. Mary's River.-History:...
, to provide radar defense coverage for the area. It was equipped with AN/TPS-1B and 1C radars, the stie being designated by ADC as L-21.
In late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Sault Sainte Marie as one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent radar surveillance network. Prompted by the start of the Korean War
Korean 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 July 11, 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 July 21, the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
On 1 January 1952 the 753d AC&W Squadron began operating AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-5 radars at the permanent site, being designated as "P-66" by ADC, and initially 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. During 1956 the Air Force replaced the AN/FPS-5 with an AN/FPS-6 unit. In 1958 the AN/FPS-3 was replaced by an AN/FPS-20 search radar, and soon received a second height-finder radar, an AN/FPS-6B.
During 1960 Sault Sainte Marie AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
(SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-14 at K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 753d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1960. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile. In 1963, the station was switched to the SAGE Data Center DC-06 at Custer AFS, Michigan. In 1963 an AN/FPS-35 search radar replaced the AN/FPS-20A. The AN/FPS-6 was removed in 1963, and the AN/FPS-6B was modified to an AN/FPS-90. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-66. In 1964 an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar was installed.
In addition to the main facility, Sault Sainte Marie operated the following AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
- Grand Marais AFS, MI (P-66A) 46°32′51"N 086°02′11"W
- Fibre, MI (P-66B) 46°09′25"N 084°47′04"W
Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. Sault Sainte Marie AFS came under Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
jurisdiction in October 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the formation of ADTAC. The 753rd Radar Squadron was deactivated on 30 October 1979 and Sault Sainte Marie Air Force Station was closed. After the staton's closure, sections of the AN/FPS-35 radar antenna were sent to Montauk AFS in 1980 to replace corroded sections of the antenna there.
Today the former Air Force Housing site is occupied as private homes. The operational area used as an auto junkyard and other small businesses in the former USAF buildings. The radar towers remain, and the remains of the center section of the large FPS-35 sail lies on the ground where it was apparently dropped when it was removed, the base of the antenna remains on top of the large tower.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:- 753d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Activated at Sault Sainte Marie Airport, 1 June 1950
- Moved to Sault Sainte Marie Air Force Station, 1 April 1960
- Re-designated 753d Radar Squadron (SAGE), 15 July 1960
- Re-designated 753d Radar Squadron, 1 February 1974
- Inactivated on 30 October 1979
Assignments:
- 541st Aircraft Control and Warning Group541st Aircraft Control and Warning GroupThe 541st Aircraft Control and Warning Group is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 30th Air Division, stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base,Michigan...
, 1 June 1950 - 30th Air Division, 6 February 1952
- 4706th Defense Wing, 16 February 1953
- 37th Air Division, 8 July 1956
- 30th Air Division, 1 April 1959
- Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense SectorSault Sainte Marie Air Defense SectorThe Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan.- History :...
, 1 April 1960 - Duluth Air Defense SectorDuluth Air Defense SectorThe Duluth Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 30th Air Division, being stationed at Duluth Airport, Minnesota...
, 1 October 1963 - 29th Air Division, 1 April 1966
- 34th Air Division, 15 September 1969
- 29th Air Division, 14 November 1969
- 23d Air Division, 19 November 1969
- 23d ADCOM Region, 8 December 1978-30 October 1979