King Salmon Long Range Radar Site: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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King Salmon AFS was a continental defence radar station constructed to provide the United States Air Force early warning of an attack by the [[Soviet Union]] on Alaska. The Air Force awarded a contract to construct the radar site to Gaasland & Company on 12 April 1950. Construction began shortly afterward and was completed the following year at a cost of approximately $3,667,372. |
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King Salmon became operational as a ground controlled intercept (GCI) site in November 1951. It converted to an air defense direction center (later renamed NORAD Control Center) on 4 March 1953, and exercised control over [[Cape Newenham AFS]] and [[Cape Romanzof AFS]]. Control of the other aircraft control and warning sites in the southern sector was transferred to King Salmon when the [[Fire Island AFS]] NORAD Control Center was closed in July 1969. |
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Initially, King Salmon AFS was maintained and operated by Detachment F-3, 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group. In 1952, AAC decided to upgrade all the aircraft control and warning detachments to squadrons. The [[705th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron]] was activated on 8 December 1952 and assigned to the 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group. Following the Group's inactivation on 13 April 1953, the squadron was assigned to various other headquarters, including AAC. On 15 November 1977, the squadron was reassigned to the 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group when the latter was reactivated at Elmendorf AFB. The Group was redesignated the 11th Tactical Control Group on 1 July 1981. |
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Communications were initially provided by a high frequency radio system which proved unreliable because of atmospheric disturbances. The Alaskan Air Command, after investigating various options, decided to build the [[White Alice Communications System]], a system of Air Force-owned tropospheric scatter and microwave radio relay sites. The system was completed in 1958. The King Salmon site was activated on 25 May 1957. It was inactivated on 3 August 1979, and replaced by an Alascom owned and operated satellite earth terminal as part of an Air Force plan to divest itself of the obsolete White Alice Communications System and transfer the responsibility to a commercial firm. |
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On 1 October 1977, AAC, after a trial period, implemented a base support contract with RCA Services as part of an Air Force-wide effort to reduce remote tours. Twenty-;eight positions were eliminated. The remaining 63 positions were primarily in operations. |
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King Salmon was the first radar site to receive a new AN/FPS-ll7 minimally attended radar under AAC's Seek Igloo program. The unit, a prototype version, was tested at King Salmon in September l982, then placed in 24-;hour operation in December. It was designed to transmit aircraft tracking data via satellite to the Elmendorf Region Operations Control Center, which reached initial operational capability on l5 June l983. No longer needed, the 705 ACWS was inactivated on l November l983. Because of its proximity to King Salmon Airport, only two contractor maintenance and support personnel were needed to maintain the radar system |
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==Air Force units and assignments == |
==Air Force units and assignments == |
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Revision as of 04:40, 13 March 2011
| King Salmon Air Force Station King Salmon Long Range Radar Station  | |
|---|---|
| Part of Eleventh Air Force (PACAF) | |
| Coordinates | 58°41′33″N 156°40′11″W / 58.69250°N 156.66972°W |
| Type | Air Force Station |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |  United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1951 |
| In use | 1951-Present |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 705th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (1951-1983) |
King Salmon Air Force Station (AAC ID: F-03, LRR ID: A-07) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 0.4 miles (0.64 km) west of King Salmon, Alaska.
The Aircraft Control and Warning station was closed on 1 November 1983, and the site was re-designated as a Long Range Radar (LRR) Station. It remains active as part of the Alaska NORAD Region.
History
King Salmon AFS was a continental defence radar station constructed to provide the United States Air Force early warning of an attack by the Soviet Union on Alaska. The Air Force awarded a contract to construct the radar site to Gaasland & Company on 12 April 1950. Construction began shortly afterward and was completed the following year at a cost of approximately $3,667,372.
King Salmon became operational as a ground controlled intercept (GCI) site in November 1951. It converted to an air defense direction center (later renamed NORAD Control Center) on 4 March 1953, and exercised control over Cape Newenham AFS and Cape Romanzof AFS. Control of the other aircraft control and warning sites in the southern sector was transferred to King Salmon when the Fire Island AFS NORAD Control Center was closed in July 1969.
Initially, King Salmon AFS was maintained and operated by Detachment F-3, 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group. In 1952, AAC decided to upgrade all the aircraft control and warning detachments to squadrons. The 705th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated on 8 December 1952 and assigned to the 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group. Following the Group's inactivation on 13 April 1953, the squadron was assigned to various other headquarters, including AAC. On 15 November 1977, the squadron was reassigned to the 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group when the latter was reactivated at Elmendorf AFB. The Group was redesignated the 11th Tactical Control Group on 1 July 1981.
Communications were initially provided by a high frequency radio system which proved unreliable because of atmospheric disturbances. The Alaskan Air Command, after investigating various options, decided to build the White Alice Communications System, a system of Air Force-owned tropospheric scatter and microwave radio relay sites. The system was completed in 1958. The King Salmon site was activated on 25 May 1957. It was inactivated on 3 August 1979, and replaced by an Alascom owned and operated satellite earth terminal as part of an Air Force plan to divest itself of the obsolete White Alice Communications System and transfer the responsibility to a commercial firm.
On 1 October 1977, AAC, after a trial period, implemented a base support contract with RCA Services as part of an Air Force-wide effort to reduce remote tours. Twenty-;eight positions were eliminated. The remaining 63 positions were primarily in operations.
King Salmon was the first radar site to receive a new AN/FPS-ll7 minimally attended radar under AAC's Seek Igloo program. The unit, a prototype version, was tested at King Salmon in September l982, then placed in 24-;hour operation in December. It was designed to transmit aircraft tracking data via satellite to the Elmendorf Region Operations Control Center, which reached initial operational capability on l5 June l983. No longer needed, the 705 ACWS was inactivated on l November l983. Because of its proximity to King Salmon Airport, only two contractor maintenance and support personnel were needed to maintain the radar system
Air Force units and assignments
Units:
Assignments:
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency