Opheim Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-26, NORAD ID: Z-26) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 3.3 miles (5.3 km) west of Opheim, Montana. It was closed in 1979.
In late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Opheim, Montana 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 March 1951 the 779th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated at Opheim AFS with AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-4 radars, 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/GPS-3 radar operated between 1957 and 1961. In 1958 and 1959 AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-6A radars replaced the AN/FPS-4 height-finder radar. The AN/FPS-3, operational until late 1961, was replaced by an AN/FPS-7C search radar. The FPS-3 along an FPS-8 were the primary search radars. The FPS-8 was used as a backup for the FPS-7C until mid to late 1962. The spare IFF unit from the FPS-8 was salvaged and used in the FPS-7C. Also, the MIT unit from the FPS-3 was salvaged and used in the FPS-7C since its MIT was not operational until after the spring of 1964 due to design problems. SAGE utilization required both the IFF and MIT to be operational.
During 1961 Opheim AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-20 at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 779th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1961. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 to the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction, altitude, speed, and whether aircraft were friendly or hostile.
In 1963 the squadron operated the AN/FPS-7C search radar along with AN/FPS-26A and AN/FPS-90 height-finder radars. The FPS-26A heightfinder was not operational until after the spring of 1964. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-26. The AN/FPS-90 was damaged by a fire in 1966, but was repaired; it was removed sometime in the early 1970s.
In addition to the main facility, Opheim operated two AN/FPS-14 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. Opheim AFS ceased operations on 1 June 1979 as part of the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command. The 779th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was inactivated on 29 September 1979.
Today, the former Opheim Air Force Station is abandoned and largely obliterated. Most of the Air Force buildings have been razed, their foundations remain. A few buildings still stand derelict.
Air Force units and assignmentsedit
Unitsedit
Constituted as the 779th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Activated on 1 March 1951
Redesignated as 779th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1961
Redesignated as 779th Radar Squadron on 1 February 1974
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, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980).
Winkler, David F. & Webster, Julie L., Searching the Skies, The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program, US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, Champaign, IL (1997) (sponsored by U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command).
The Air Force Radar Museum Association's NADRM Online Radar Museum Information for Opheim AFS, MT
External linksedit
December 18, 2023
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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 Opheim Air Force Station ADC ID P 26 NORAD ID Z 26 is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station It is located 3 3 miles 5 3 km west of Opheim Montana It was closed in 1979 Opheim Air Force StationPart of Air Defense Command ADC Main GateOpheim AFSLocation of Opheim AFS MontanaCoordinates48 51 40 N 106 28 40 W 48 86111 N 106 47778 W 48 86111 106 47778 Opheim AFS P 26 TypeAir Force StationSite informationControlled by United States Air ForceSite historyBuilt1951In use1951 1979Garrison informationGarrison779th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMapDownload coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Emblem of the 779th Radar SquadronFPS 7 Radar Tower 1973 Opheim Air Force Station Montana Contents 1 History 2 Air Force units and assignments 2 1 Units 2 2 Assignments 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editIn late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Opheim Montana 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 March 1951 the 779th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated at Opheim AFS with AN FPS 3 and AN FPS 4 radars 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 GPS 3 radar operated between 1957 and 1961 In 1958 and 1959 AN FPS 6 and AN FPS 6A radars replaced the AN FPS 4 height finder radar The AN FPS 3 operational until late 1961 was replaced by an AN FPS 7C search radar The FPS 3 along an FPS 8 were the primary search radars The FPS 8 was used as a backup for the FPS 7C until mid to late 1962 The spare IFF unit from the FPS 8 was salvaged and used in the FPS 7C Also the MIT unit from the FPS 3 was salvaged and used in the FPS 7C since its MIT was not operational until after the spring of 1964 due to design problems SAGE utilization required both the IFF and MIT to be operational During 1961 Opheim AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE system initially feeding data to DC 20 at Malmstrom AFB Montana After joining the squadron was re designated as the 779th Radar Squadron SAGE on 15 July 1961 The radar squadron provided information 24 7 to the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range direction altitude speed and whether aircraft were friendly or hostile In 1963 the squadron operated the AN FPS 7C search radar along with AN FPS 26A and AN FPS 90 height finder radars The FPS 26A heightfinder was not operational until after the spring of 1964 On 31 July 1963 the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z 26 The AN FPS 90 was damaged by a fire in 1966 but was repaired it was removed sometime in the early 1970s In addition to the main facility Opheim operated two AN FPS 14 Gap Filler sites Whitewater MT P 26A 48 48 05 N 107 32 00 W 48 80139 N 107 53333 W 48 80139 107 53333 P 26A Whitetail MT P 26D 48 55 47 N 105 15 00 W 48 92972 N 105 25000 W 48 92972 105 25000 P 26D 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 Opheim AFS ceased operations on 1 June 1979 as part of the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command The 779th Radar Squadron SAGE was inactivated on 29 September 1979 Today the former Opheim Air Force Station is abandoned and largely obliterated Most of the Air Force buildings have been razed their foundations remain A few buildings still stand derelict Air Force units and assignments editUnits edit Constituted as the 779th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronActivated on 1 March 1951 Redesignated as 779th Radar Squadron SAGE on 15 July 1961 Redesignated as 779th Radar Squadron on 1 February 1974 Inactivated on 29 September 1979Assignments edit 545th Aircraft Control and Warning Group 1 March 1951 29th Air Division 6 February 1952 Minot Air Defense Sector Manual 1 January 1961 Great Falls Air Defense Sector 25 June 1963 28th Air Division 1 April 1966 24th Air Division 19 November 1969 29 September 1979See also editList of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons United States general surveillance radar stationsReferences 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 Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Peterson AFB CO 1980 Winkler David F amp Webster Julie L Searching the Skies The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories Champaign IL 1997 sponsored by U S Air Force Air Combat Command The Air Force Radar Museum Association s NADRM Online Radar Museum Information for Opheim AFS MTExternal links edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Opheim Air Force Station amp oldid 1151871358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
