Gettysburg Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 2.6 miles (4.2 km) north of Gettysburg, South Dakota. It was closed in 1968.
1964 photo of Gettysburg Air Force Station showing its radomes
In late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Gettysburg, South Dakota 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 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.
Gettysburg Air Force Station was activated on 1 January 1956 with the assignment of the 903d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. The station was initially equipped with an AN/MPS-7 search radar and an AN/MPS-14 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 1958 an AN/FPS-20A search radar replaced the AN/MPS-7, and an AN/FPS-6A height-finder radar was installed.
During 1960 Gettysburg AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-11 at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 903d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 January 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
The search radar subsequently was upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-66 in 1961. In 1963 an AN/FPS-90 joined the AN/MPS-14 in performing height-finder duties. The station was re-designated as NORAD ID Z-29 on 31 July. In 1964 an AN/FPS-27 was installed, and the AN/FPS-66 was retired.
The Air Force inactivated the 903rd Radar Squadron on 18 June 1968. The FAA continues to operate long-range radar there today using an AN/FPS-67B search radar atop the old AN/FPS-27 radar tower as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS).
Air Force units and assignmentsedit
Unitsedit
Established as the 903d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Activated at Great Falls AFB (later Malmstrom AFB), MT on 20 May 1953 (not manned or equipped)
Moved to Gettysburg AFS on 1 January 1956
Redesignated 903d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 January 1960
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946–1980 2006-11-23 at the Wayback Machine, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980).
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 Gettysburg AFS, SD
April 12, 2024
gettysburg, 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, . This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gettysburg Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station It is located 2 6 miles 4 2 km north of Gettysburg South Dakota It was closed in 1968 Gettysburg Air Force StationPart of Air Defense Command ADC Gettysburg AFSLocation of Gettysburg AFS South DakotaCoordinates45 02 59 N 99 57 22 W 45 04972 N 99 95611 W 45 04972 99 95611 Gettysburg AFS M 99 TypeAir Force StationCodeADC ID P 29 NORAD ID Z 29Site informationControlled by United States Air ForceSite historyBuilt1956In use1956 1965Garrison informationGarrison903d Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Emblem of the 903d Radar Squadron Contents 1 History 2 Air Force units and assignments 2 1 Units 2 2 Assignments 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp 1964 photo of Gettysburg Air Force Station showing its radomesIn late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Gettysburg South Dakota 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 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 Gettysburg Air Force Station was activated on 1 January 1956 with the assignment of the 903d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron The station was initially equipped with an AN MPS 7 search radar and an AN MPS 14 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 1958 an AN FPS 20A search radar replaced the AN MPS 7 and an AN FPS 6A height finder radar was installed During 1960 Gettysburg AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE system initially feeding data to DC 11 at Grand Forks AFB North Dakota After joining the squadron was re designated as the 903d Radar Squadron SAGE on 15 January 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 hostileThe search radar subsequently was upgraded and redesignated as an AN FPS 66 in 1961 In 1963 an AN FPS 90 joined the AN MPS 14 in performing height finder duties The station was re designated as NORAD ID Z 29 on 31 July In 1964 an AN FPS 27 was installed and the AN FPS 66 was retired The Air Force inactivated the 903rd Radar Squadron on 18 June 1968 The FAA continues to operate long range radar there today using an AN FPS 67B search radar atop the old AN FPS 27 radar tower as part of the Joint Surveillance System JSS Air Force units and assignments editUnits edit Established as the 903d Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronActivated at Great Falls AFB later Malmstrom AFB MT on 20 May 1953 not manned or equipped Moved to Gettysburg AFS on 1 January 1956 Redesignated 903d Radar Squadron SAGE on 15 January 1960 Discontinued and inactivated on 18 June 1968Assignments edit 29th Air Division 1 January 1956 31st Air Division 1 March 1956 29th Air Division 1 January 1959 Grand Forks Air Defense Sector 1 April 1959 Sioux City Air Defense Sector 4 September 1963 30th Air Division 1 April 1966 18 June 1968See also editUnited States general surveillance radar stations List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadronsReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Cornett Lloyd H and Johnson Mildred W A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 Archived 2006 11 23 at the Wayback Machine Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Peterson AFB CO 1980 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 Gettysburg AFS SD Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gettysburg Air Force Station amp oldid 1192920828, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
