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Highlands AFS was initially established in 1938 by the [[United States Army]]. '''Navesink (Twin Lights) Radar Station''' was established as a test platform for early radar prototypes. An [[SCR-271]] early warning radar was located here during the war (1942 - 1945).
Highlands AFS was initially established in 1938 by the [[United States Army]]. '''Navesink (Twin Lights) Radar Station''' was established as a test platform for early radar prototypes. An [[SCR-271]] early warning radar was located here during the war (1942 - 1945).


In 1948 the [[United States Air Force]] [[Air Defense Command]] activated the 646th Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron with [[AN/CPS-6]] radar at this coastal site to feed into a manual control center established at Roslyn, New York. The site was designated as (L-12). These radars were incorporated into the "Lashup" system as (LP-9) and the follow-on permanent network in 1949 as site (P-9).
In 1948 the [[United States Air Force]] [[Air Defense Command]] activated the 646th Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron with [[AN/CPS-6]] radar the Navesink coastal site to feed into a manual control center established at Roslyn, New York. The site was designated as (L-12). These radars were incorporated into the "Lashup" system as (LP-9) and the follow-on permanent network in 1949 as site (P-9).


On 1 July 1953, the Navesink site was redesignated as '''Highlands Air Force Station'''. In 1955 the site received an [[AN/FPS-8]] search radar. This radar was converted into an [[AN/GPS-3]] that would remain until 1960. In 1958 an [[AN/FPS-6]] height-finder radar became operational. Also that year Highlands AFS began providing a feed into the [[SAGE]] (DC-01) blockhouse located at [[McGuire AFB]], NJ and the squadron was redesigated as the [[646th Radar Squadron]] (SAGE). In September 1959 this site became the first to deploy an [[AN/FPS-7]] radar.
On 1 December 1953, the Navesink site was redesignated as '''Highlands Air Force Station'''. In 1955 the site received an [[AN/FPS-8]] search radar. This radar was converted into an [[AN/GPS-3]] that would remain until 1960. In 1958 an [[AN/FPS-6]] height-finder radar became operational. Also that year Highlands AFS began providing a feed into the [[SAGE]] (DC-01) blockhouse located at [[McGuire AFB]], NJ and the squadron was redesigated as the [[646th Radar Squadron]] (SAGE). In September 1959 this site became the first to deploy an [[AN/FPS-7]] radar.


In June 1960 as a fund-saving measure, the [[United States Army]] established the Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) '''NY-55DC''' for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. Later the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system was installed. In 1960 the Air Force installed an [[AN/FPS-6]]B height-finder radar. On January 15, 1961 a SAGE unit tower collapsed in storm; 28 people died. <ref>http://mysite.verizon.net/rehuber/NJ%20Military%20Web%20Page/Air%20Defense%20Radars.htm</ref> The Army likewise installed a pair of AN/FPS-6 / -90 height-finder radars. By 1963 the Air Force AN/FPS-6 and -6B height-finder radars had been replaced by [[AN/FPS-26]]A and [[AN/FPS-90]] sets. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-9.
In June 1960 as a fund-saving measure, the [[United States Army]] established the Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) '''NY-55DC''' for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. Later the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system was installed. In 1960 the Air Force installed an [[AN/FPS-6]]B height-finder radar. On January 15, 1961 a SAGE unit tower collapsed in storm; 28 people died. <ref>http://mysite.verizon.net/rehuber/NJ%20Military%20Web%20Page/Air%20Defense%20Radars.htm</ref> The Army likewise installed a pair of AN/FPS-6 / -90 height-finder radars. By 1963 the Air Force AN/FPS-6 and -6B height-finder radars had been replaced by [[AN/FPS-26]]A and [[AN/FPS-90]] sets. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-9.
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With the site's closure, all structures later demolished.<ref>http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/nj.html</ref> Today Highlands AFS is overgrown by vegetation and inaccessible. A few foundations of buildings remain in a small clearing.
With the site's closure, all structures later demolished.<ref>http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/nj.html</ref> Today Highlands AFS is overgrown by vegetation and inaccessible. A few foundations of buildings remain in a small clearing.

===Air Force units and assignments ===
[[File:646th Radar Squadron - Emblem.png|thumb|250px|Emblem of the 646th Radar Squadron]]
'''Units:'''
* 646th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 June 1948
: Redesignated: 646th Radar Squadron (SAGE) 1 Oct 1958
: Discontinued on 1 July 1966.

'''Assignments:'''
* 503d Aircraft Warning Group, 1 June 1948
* [[26th Air Division]], 6 February 1952
* [[4709th Defense Wing]], 16 February 1953
* [[4621st Air Defense Wing]], 18 October 1956
* [[New York Air Defense Sector]], 8 January 1957
* [[21st Air Division]], 1 April-1 July 1966


==See also==
==See also==
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{{AFHRA}}
{{AFHRA}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
* 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.
* 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
* [http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22Highlands+AFS,+NJ%22&key=HighlandsAFSNJ&pic=HighlandsAFSNJ&doc=HighlandsAFSNJ Information for Highlands AFS, NJ]
* [http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22Highlands+AFS,+NJ%22&key=HighlandsAFSNJ&pic=HighlandsAFSNJ&doc=HighlandsAFSNJ Information for Highlands AFS, NJ]
* [http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22Twin+Lights,+NJ%22&key=TwinLightsNJ Information for Twin Lights, NJ]
* [http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22Twin+Lights,+NJ%22&key=TwinLightsNJ Information for Twin Lights, NJ]

Revision as of 14:21, 8 January 2011

Highlands Air Force Station
Part of Air Defense Command (ADC)
Coordinates{40°23′29″N 073°59′38″W / 40.39139°N 73.99389°W / 40.39139; -73.99389 (Highlands AFS P-9)
TypeAir Force Station
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Air Force
Site history
Built1948
In use1948-1966
Garrison information
Garrison646th Aircraft Control and Warning (later Radar) Squadron
Highlands AFS is located in New Jersey
Highlands AFS
Highlands AFS
class=notpageimage|
Location of Highlands AFS, New Jersey
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

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Highlands (also known at Twin Lights and Navesink) Air Force Station (ADC ID: L-12/LP-9/P-9, NORAD ID: Z-9 is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 1 mile south of Highlands, New Jersey. It was closed in 1966.

History

Highlands AFS was initially established in 1938 by the United States Army. Navesink (Twin Lights) Radar Station was established as a test platform for early radar prototypes. An SCR-271 early warning radar was located here during the war (1942 - 1945).

In 1948 the United States Air Force Air Defense Command activated the 646th Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron with AN/CPS-6 radar the Navesink coastal site to feed into a manual control center established at Roslyn, New York. The site was designated as (L-12). These radars were incorporated into the "Lashup" system as (LP-9) and the follow-on permanent network in 1949 as site (P-9).

On 1 December 1953, the Navesink site was redesignated as Highlands Air Force Station. In 1955 the site received an AN/FPS-8 search radar. This radar was converted into an AN/GPS-3 that would remain until 1960. In 1958 an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar became operational. Also that year Highlands AFS began providing a feed into the SAGE (DC-01) blockhouse located at McGuire AFB, NJ and the squadron was redesigated as the 646th Radar Squadron (SAGE). In September 1959 this site became the first to deploy an AN/FPS-7 radar.

In June 1960 as a fund-saving measure, the United States Army established the Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) NY-55DC for Nike missile command-and-control functions. The site was an AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center. Later the AN/TSQ-51 "Missile Mentor" solid-state computer system was installed. In 1960 the Air Force installed an AN/FPS-6B height-finder radar. On January 15, 1961 a SAGE unit tower collapsed in storm; 28 people died. [1] The Army likewise installed a pair of AN/FPS-6 / -90 height-finder radars. By 1963 the Air Force AN/FPS-6 and -6B height-finder radars had been replaced by AN/FPS-26A and AN/FPS-90 sets. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-9.

The 646th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactiveated, and the site was transferred to the Army, on April 1, 1966, however the Army's facility remained operational through 1974 when the last Nike missile batteries in the region were inactivated.[2] Army radar operations ceased for good in 1974 when the NIKE system was phased out.

With the site's closure, all structures later demolished.[3] Today Highlands AFS is overgrown by vegetation and inaccessible. A few foundations of buildings remain in a small clearing.

Air Force units and assignments

Emblem of the 646th Radar Squadron

Units:

  • 646th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 June 1948
Redesignated: 646th Radar Squadron (SAGE) 1 Oct 1958
Discontinued on 1 July 1966.

Assignments:

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ http://mysite.verizon.net/rehuber/NJ%20Military%20Web%20Page/Air%20Defense%20Radars.htm
  2. ^ http://alpha.fdu.edu/~bender/NY55.html
  3. ^ http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/nj.html
  • 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 Highlands AFS, NJ
  • Information for Twin Lights, NJ

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Highlands_Air_Force_Station&oldid=406679449"