Caswell Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 4.3 miles (6.9 km) north of Limestone, Maine. It was closed in 1980.
Caswell 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 War, 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.
Because of difficulties with new production radar equipment, the site initially consisted of a pair of AN/FPS-10 radars from a closing Lashup site at Limestone AFB, Maine (L-50) to expedite operational status. During 1951 the 766th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was moved from the temporary site at Limestone AFB to Caswell and assumed coverage, 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. Thus Caswell received the "LP-80" designation.
In 1955 and 1956 an AN/FPS-8/UGPS-3 was installed. The AN/GPS-3 remained in service until 1961. In 1957 and 1958 the AN/FPS-10s were phased out and two AN/FPS-6As arrived. During 1959 Caswell AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-05 at Topsham AFS, Maine. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 766th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 October 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 1961 an electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capable AN/FPS-7C began search duties. An AN/FPS-26 height finder radar began operation as well. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-80. The facility came under Tactical Air Command jurisdiction in 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the activation of ADTAC.
In addition to the main facility, Caswell operated this unmanned AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler site:
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 766th Radar Squadron was inactivated on 30 September 1980.
With its closure, Caswell Air Force Station became a Maine National Guard training site. Many USAF buildings still in use, although some are in deteriorating condition. The FPS-7 and FPS-6 towers still stand along with other operational buildings. The Bridgewater Gap Filler site doubled as a fire-lookout tower. Both the building and radar tower remain today.
Air Force units and assignmentsedit
Unitsedit
Constituted as the 766th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on 14 November 1950
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
^ abMueller, Robert, Air Force Bases, Vol. I, p. 328
Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946–1980 2016-02-13 at the Wayback Machine, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980).
Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, Washington DC (1989) ISBN0-912799-53-6.
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 Caswell AFS, ME
March 14, 2024
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Caswell Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station It is located 4 3 miles 6 9 km north of Limestone Maine It was closed in 1980 Caswell Air Force StationPart of Air Defense Command ADC Caswell AFSLocation of Caswell AFS MaineCoordinates46 58 15 N 067 50 04 W 46 97083 N 67 83444 W 46 97083 67 83444 Caswell AFS P 80 TypeAir Force StationCodeADC ID P 80 NORAD ID Z 80Site informationControlled by United States Air ForceSite historyBuilt1952In use1952 1980Garrison informationGarrison766th Aircraft Control and Warning later Radar SquadronMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Emblem of the 766th Radar Squadron Contents 1 History 2 Air Force units and assignments 2 1 Units 2 2 Assignments 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editCaswell 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 War 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 Because of difficulties with new production radar equipment the site initially consisted of a pair of AN FPS 10 radars from a closing Lashup site at Limestone AFB Maine L 50 to expedite operational status During 1951 the 766th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was moved from the temporary site at Limestone AFB to Caswell and assumed coverage 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 Thus Caswell received the LP 80 designation In 1955 and 1956 an AN FPS 8 UGPS 3 was installed The AN GPS 3 remained in service until 1961 In 1957 and 1958 the AN FPS 10s were phased out and two AN FPS 6As arrived During 1959 Caswell AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE system feeding data to DC 05 at Topsham AFS Maine After joining the squadron was redesignated as the 766th Radar Squadron SAGE on 1 October 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 1961 an electronic counter countermeasures ECCM capable AN FPS 7C began search duties An AN FPS 26 height finder radar began operation as well On 31 July 1963 the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z 80 The facility came under Tactical Air Command jurisdiction in 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the activation of ADTAC In addition to the main facility Caswell operated this unmanned AN FPS 18 Gap Filler site Bridgewater ME P 80B 46 25 15 N 068 01 28 W 46 42083 N 68 02444 W 46 42083 68 02444 P 80B 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 766th Radar Squadron was inactivated on 30 September 1980 With its closure Caswell Air Force Station became a Maine National Guard training site Many USAF buildings still in use although some are in deteriorating condition The FPS 7 and FPS 6 towers still stand along with other operational buildings The Bridgewater Gap Filler site doubled as a fire lookout tower Both the building and radar tower remain today Air Force units and assignments editUnits edit Constituted as the 766th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on 14 November 1950Activated at Limestone AFB L 50 ME on 27 November 1950 1 Moved to Caswell AFS on 12 Apr 1951 1 Redesignated 766th Radar Squadron SAGE on 1 October 1959 Redesignated 766th Radar Squadron on 1 February 1974 Inactivated on 30 September 1980Assignments edit 540th Aircraft Control and Warning Group 12 Apr 1951 32d Air Division 6 February 1952 4711th Defense Wing 15 February 1953 32d Air Division 1 March 1956 Bangor Air Defense Sector 15 August 1958 36th Air Division 1 April 1966 35th Air Division 15 September 1969 21st Air Division 19 November 1969 30 September 1980See also editUnited States general surveillance radar stationsReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency a b Mueller Robert Air Force Bases Vol I p 328 Cornett Lloyd H and Johnson Mildred W A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 Archived 2016 02 13 at the Wayback Machine Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Peterson AFB CO 1980 Mueller Robert Air Force Bases Vol I Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 Office of Air Force History Washington DC 1989 ISBN 0 912799 53 6 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 Caswell AFS ME Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caswell Air Force Station amp oldid 1192922835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
