Port Austin Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-61, NORAD ID: Z-61) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 1.2 miles (1.9 km) south-southwest Port Austin, Michigan. It was closed in 1988 by the Air Force.
Port Austin Air Force Station was one of twenty-eight stations built as part of the second segment of the Air Defense Command permanent radar network. Prompted by the start of the Korean War, on 11 July 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction 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 754th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was initially activated on 27 November 1950 at a temporary site at Oscoda AFB,[1] Michigan (L-20) with an AN/TPS-1B radar. It was assigned to Port Austin in July 1951[1] and began operating an AN/TPS-1C. The site then joined the Permanent radar network, and the squadron began using an AN/FPS-3 set, 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.
An AN/CPS-4 was added in 1954. This radar was replaced in 1957 by an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar. A second AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was added a year later. In 1958 this site began operating an AN/FPS-20 radar, which replaced the AN/FPS-3.
During 1959 Port Austin AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-06 at Custer AFS, Michigan. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 754th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 September 1959. 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 early 1962 the site received and operated an AN/FPS-24 search radar, and the AN/FPS-20 was retired. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-61. In 1963 an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar (serial # 51)
was installed, and one AN/FPS-6 was removed later that year. The other AN/FPS-6 was removed in 1968.
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. The site came under Tactical Air Command control in October 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the transfer of the site to Air Defense, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC).
Circa 1982, the main bearing of the AN/FPS-24 search radar failed catastrophically. The FAA long-range radar site at Canton (Detroit), MI, was then used as a temporary data-tie site until an AN/FPS-91A search radar could be installed at Port Austin AFS in 1983. Also, the AN/FPS-26A was replaced by an AN/FPS-116 height-finder radar for the JSS Program. The site remained in use as an Air Force site until 30 September 1988 when it was closed altogether, again replaced by the FAA radar site at Canton.
Air Force units and assignmentsedit
Emblem of the 754th Radar Squadron
Unitsedit
Constituted as the 754th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on 14 November 1950
^ abcdefghijklCornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980(PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. p. 154.
^ abMueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982(PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. p. 615. ISBN0-912799-53-6.
Referencesedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Grant, C.L., The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, (1961), USAF Historical Study No. 126
Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense(PDF). Vol. I. 1945–1955. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN9781437921311.
Leonard, Barry (2009). History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense(PDF). Vol. II, 1955–1972. Fort McNair, DC: Center for Military History. ISBN9781437921311.
Winkler, David F. & Webster, Julie L., Searching the Skies[dead link], The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program, US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, Champaign, IL (1997).
Information for Port Austin AFS, MI
March 13, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Port Austin Air Force Station news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Port Austin Air Force Station ADC ID P 61 NORAD ID Z 61 is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station It is located 1 2 miles 1 9 km south southwest Port Austin Michigan It was closed in 1988 by the Air Force Port Austin Air Force StationPart of Air Defense Command ADC Port Austin AFSLocation of Port Austin AFS MichiganCoordinates44 01 49 N 083 00 06 W 44 03028 N 83 00167 W 44 03028 83 00167 Port Austin AFS P 61 TypeAir Force StationSite informationControlled by United States Air ForceSite historyBuilt1951In use1951 1988Garrison informationGarrison754th Aircraft Control and Warning later Radar SquadronAfter the station s closure it was replaced by the Federal Aviation Administration FAA at Canton Michigan near Detroit 42 16 36 N 083 28 27 W 42 27667 N 83 47417 W 42 27667 83 47417 Canton J 62 as part of the Joint Surveillance System JSS designated by NORAD as Eastern Air Defense Sector EADS Ground Equipment Facility J 62 Contents 1 History 2 Air Force units and assignments 2 1 Units 2 2 Assignments 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesHistory editPort Austin Air Force Station was one of twenty eight stations built as part of the second segment of the Air Defense Command permanent radar network Prompted by the start of the Korean War on 11 July 1950 the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction 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 754th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was initially activated on 27 November 1950 at a temporary site at Oscoda AFB 1 Michigan L 20 with an AN TPS 1B radar It was assigned to Port Austin in July 1951 1 and began operating an AN TPS 1C The site then joined the Permanent radar network and the squadron began using an AN FPS 3 set 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 An AN CPS 4 was added in 1954 This radar was replaced in 1957 by an AN FPS 6 height finder radar A second AN FPS 6 height finder radar was added a year later In 1958 this site began operating an AN FPS 20 radar which replaced the AN FPS 3 During 1959 Port Austin AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE system feeding data to DC 06 at Custer AFS Michigan After joining the squadron was redesignated as the 754th Radar Squadron SAGE on 1 September 1959 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 early 1962 the site received and operated an AN FPS 24 search radar and the AN FPS 20 was retired On 31 July 1963 the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z 61 In 1963 an AN FPS 26A height finder radar serial 51 was installed and one AN FPS 6 was removed later that year The other AN FPS 6 was removed in 1968 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 The site came under Tactical Air Command control in October 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the transfer of the site to Air Defense Tactical Air Command ADTAC Circa 1982 the main bearing of the AN FPS 24 search radar failed catastrophically The FAA long range radar site at Canton Detroit MI was then used as a temporary data tie site until an AN FPS 91A search radar could be installed at Port Austin AFS in 1983 Also the AN FPS 26A was replaced by an AN FPS 116 height finder radar for the JSS Program The site remained in use as an Air Force site until 30 September 1988 when it was closed altogether again replaced by the FAA radar site at Canton Air Force units and assignments edit nbsp Emblem of the 754th Radar SquadronUnits edit Constituted as the 754th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on 14 November 1950Activated 27 November 1950 at Oscoda AFB MI 2 Moved to Port Austin AFS on 20 July 1951 2 Redesignated 754th Radar Squadron SAGE on 1 September 1959 1 Redesignated 754th Radar Squadron on 1 February 1974 1 Inactivated on 30 September 1988Assignments edit 541st Aircraft Control and Warning Group 1 January 1951 1 30th Air Division 6 February 1952 1 4708th Defense Wing 16 February 1953 1 30th Air Division 8 July 1956 1 Detroit Air Defense Sector 1 April 1959 1 34th Air Division 1 April 1966 1 29th Air Division 14 November 1969 1 23d Air Division 19 November 1969 1 21st Air Division 1 August 1981 24th Air Division 1 September 1983 Northeast Air Defense Sector 1 December 1987 1 October 1988See also editList of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons United States general surveillance radar stationsNotes edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Cornett Lloyd H Johnson Mildred W 1980 A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 PDF Peterson AFB CO Office of History Aerospace Defense Center p 154 a b Mueller Robert 1989 Air Force Bases Vol I Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 PDF Washington DC Office of Air Force History p 615 ISBN 0 912799 53 6 References edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Grant C L The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954 1961 USAF Historical Study No 126 Leonard Barry 2009 History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense PDF Vol I 1945 1955 Fort McNair DC Center for Military History ISBN 9781437921311 Leonard Barry 2009 History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense PDF Vol II 1955 1972 Fort McNair DC Center for Military History ISBN 9781437921311 Winkler David F amp Webster Julie L Searching the Skies dead link The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories Champaign IL 1997 Information for Port Austin AFS MI Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Port Austin Air Force Station amp oldid 1192917226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
