Zapata Air Force Station (ADC ID: TM-189) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 3.2 miles (5.1 km) north of Zapata, Texas. It was closed in 1961.
Zapata Air Force Station came into existence as part of Phase III of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. On October 20, 1953 ADC requested a third phase of twenty-five radar sites be constructed.
The 742d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned to the station by the 33d Air Division on 1 July 1957. It initially operated an AN/FPS-3A search radar and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar, 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.
In addition to the main facility, Zapata operated an AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler site:
The site was deactivated on 1 June 1961 due to budgetary constraints. Today what was Zapata Air Force Station was sold to private ownership and the County of Zapata. It is now known as the Laspalmas RV Park. After being sold, part of the base was divided into small lots and sold individually to private owners, who drive mobile trailers or campers to the lots and remain there through the winter months. The remainder of the site is vacant. It has reverted to, and is owned by, the county of Zapata. Most of the buildings remain in use and the site is well-maintained.
Air Force units and assignmentsedit
Units:
742d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Assigned 1 July 1957 to Zapata Air Force Station
What was Zapata Air Force Station was sold to private ownership and the County of Zapata. Today it is known as the "HAWK BASE". After being bought by Mr.Roberto Lopez, Sr Founder, Owner and President of Hawk Oilfield Service, Inc. Hawk Base serves as a central station to all Hawk satellite locations throughout south Texas.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
Information for Zapata AFS, TX
December 15, 2023
zapata, force, station, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2012, lear. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Zapata Air Force Station ADC ID TM 189 is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station It is located 3 2 miles 5 1 km north of Zapata Texas It was closed in 1961 Zapata Air Force StationPart of Air Defense Command ADC Zapata AFSLocation of Zapata AFS TexasCoordinates26 57 08 N 099 16 31 W 26 95222 N 99 27528 W 26 95222 99 27528 Zapata AFS TM 189 TypeAir Force StationSite informationControlled by United States Air ForceSite historyBuilt1957In use1957 1961Garrison informationGarrison742d Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMapDownload coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Contents 1 History 2 Air Force units and assignments 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editZapata Air Force Station came into existence as part of Phase III of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program On October 20 1953 ADC requested a third phase of twenty five radar sites be constructed The 742d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned to the station by the 33d Air Division on 1 July 1957 It initially operated an AN FPS 3A search radar and an AN FPS 6 height finder radar 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 In addition to the main facility Zapata operated an AN FPS 14 Gap Filler site Delmita TX TM 189A 26 39 00 N 098 27 38 W 26 65000 N 98 46056 W 26 65000 98 46056 TM 189A The site was deactivated on 1 June 1961 due to budgetary constraints Today what was Zapata Air Force Station was sold to private ownership and the County of Zapata It is now known as the Laspalmas RV Park After being sold part of the base was divided into small lots and sold individually to private owners who drive mobile trailers or campers to the lots and remain there through the winter months The remainder of the site is vacant It has reverted to and is owned by the county of Zapata Most of the buildings remain in use and the site is well maintained Air Force units and assignments editUnits 742d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Assigned 1 July 1957 to Zapata Air Force StationActivated by 33d AD at Oklahoma City AFS on 8 September 1956 dd Discontinued on 1 June 1961Assignments 33d Air Division 1 July 1957 Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector 1 January 1960 1 June 1961What was Zapata Air Force Station was sold to private ownership and the County of Zapata Today it is known as the HAWK BASE After being bought by Mr Roberto Lopez Sr Founder Owner and President of Hawk Oilfield Service Inc Hawk Base serves as a central station to all Hawk satellite locations throughout south Texas See also editList of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar StationsReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 by Lloyd H Cornett and Mildred W Johnson Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Peterson Air Force Base Colorado Winkler David F 1997 Searching the skies the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command Information for Zapata AFS TX Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zapata Air Force Station amp oldid 1127610862, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
