Texas Tower 2 (ADC ID: TT-2) was a former United States Air ForceTexas Tower General Surveillance Radar station, first operational in 1955. It was located 110 miles (180 km) east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 56 feet (17 m). The tower was closed in 1963 and dismantled.[1][2]
Located on Georges Bank, Texas Tower 2 was one in a series of manned radar stations that were so named because they resembled the oil-drilling platforms of the Gulf of Mexico. Air Defense Command (ADC) estimated that the Texas Towers would help extend contiguous East Coast radar coverage some 300 to 500 miles (480 to 800 km) seaward. In terms of Soviet military capabilities, this would provide the United States with an extra 30 minutes of warning time in the event of an incoming bomber attack.
Texas Tower 2 began construction in 1955 at Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. In June 1955, it was successfully floated and towed to its site east of Cape Cod. Beginning in December 1955 enough of the structure was complete that one AN/FPS-3 search radar and two AN/FPS-6 height finder radars developed by Air Force Rome Air Development Center [RADC] New York, were installed.
Personnel from the 762d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, stationed at North Truro Air Force Station, MA performed the operational use of the tower. It was manned by a crew of 6 officers and 48 airmen. The 4604th Support Squadron (Texas Towers) at Otis AFB (now Otis Air National Guard Base) provided logistical support. Life aboard Texas Tower 2 was difficult. Both the structure and its crew suffered from the near-constant vibration caused by rotating radar antennas and diesel generators. The surrounding ocean and tower footings also transmitted distant sounds along the steel legs, amplifying them throughout the entire structure.
With the advent of Soviet ICBMs and the bomber threat was reduced in importance, the tower was decommissioned in 1963 and demolished shortly thereafter.
During the demolition, the remains of the tower sank to the sea floor. It remains there and has become a site for scuba diving.
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.
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
Information for Texas Tower No.2 (Georges Shoal)
External linksedit
April 11, 2024
texas, tower, former, united, states, force, texas, tower, general, surveillance, radar, station, first, operational, 1955, located, miles, east, cape, massachusetts, feet, tower, closed, 1963, dismantled, part, defense, command, image, locationcoordinates41, . Texas Tower 2 ADC ID TT 2 was a former United States Air Force Texas Tower General Surveillance Radar station first operational in 1955 It was located 110 miles 180 km east of Cape Cod Massachusetts in 56 feet 17 m The tower was closed in 1963 and dismantled 1 2 Texas Tower 2Part of Air Defense Command ADC Image of Texas Tower 2LocationCoordinates41 45 0 00 N 67 46 0 00 W 41 7500000 N 67 7666667 W 41 7500000 67 7666667TypeLong Range Radar SiteSite informationOpen tothe publicNoSite historyBuilt by United States Air ForceIn use1958 1963Demolished1963762d Radar Squadron4604th Support Squadron Texas Tower 2 emblemLocated on Georges Bank Texas Tower 2 was one in a series of manned radar stations that were so named because they resembled the oil drilling platforms of the Gulf of Mexico Air Defense Command ADC estimated that the Texas Towers would help extend contiguous East Coast radar coverage some 300 to 500 miles 480 to 800 km seaward In terms of Soviet military capabilities this would provide the United States with an extra 30 minutes of warning time in the event of an incoming bomber attack Contents 1 History 2 Units and assignments 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editTexas Tower 2 began construction in 1955 at Fore River Shipyard in Quincy Massachusetts In June 1955 it was successfully floated and towed to its site east of Cape Cod Beginning in December 1955 enough of the structure was complete that one AN FPS 3 search radar and two AN FPS 6 height finder radars developed by Air Force Rome Air Development Center RADC New York were installed Personnel from the 762d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron stationed at North Truro Air Force Station MA performed the operational use of the tower It was manned by a crew of 6 officers and 48 airmen The 4604th Support Squadron Texas Towers at Otis AFB now Otis Air National Guard Base provided logistical support Life aboard Texas Tower 2 was difficult Both the structure and its crew suffered from the near constant vibration caused by rotating radar antennas and diesel generators The surrounding ocean and tower footings also transmitted distant sounds along the steel legs amplifying them throughout the entire structure With the advent of Soviet ICBMs and the bomber threat was reduced in importance the tower was decommissioned in 1963 and demolished shortly thereafter During the demolition the remains of the tower sank to the sea floor It remains there and has become a site for scuba diving Units and assignments editUnits 762d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron Flight Operations unit based at North Truro AFS MA May 1956 15 January 1963 4604th Support Squadron Texas Towers Logistics support unit based at Otis AFB MA May 1956 15 January 1963Assignments 4704th Defense Wing May 1956 4622d Air Defense Wing 18 October 1956 Boston Air Defense Sector 8 January 1957 15 January 1963See 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 The Texas Towers Archived from the original on 25 July 2011 Retrieved 20 June 2009 Texas Tower 2 at FortWiki com 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 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 Information for Texas Tower No 2 Georges Shoal The Texas TowersExternal links editGallery of the construction of the tower Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Texas Tower 2 amp oldid 1192916796, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
