Oklahoma City Air Force Station: Difference between revisions
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|caption=Location of Oklaholma City AFS, Oklahoma}} |
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: ''For the civil use of this facility, see [[West Woodward Airport]] |
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''' Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-52, NORAD-ID: Z-52)''' is a closed [[United States Air Force]] General Surveillance Radar station. It is located {{convert|10|mi|km}} east-southeast of [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]], just to the southeast of [[Tinker AFB]]. It was closed in 1968. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===World War II=== |
===World War II=== |
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The facility was built by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] in the fall of 1942 and early 1943 as an aircrew training field. Opened in March 1943 during [[World War II]], the facility was known as '''Woodward Army Airfield''' and was assigned to the [[Second Air Force]]. |
The facility was built by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] in the fall of 1942 and early 1943 as an aircrew training field. Opened in March 1943 during [[World War II]], the facility was known as '''Woodward Army Airfield''' and was assigned to the [[Second Air Force]]. |
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In the fall of 1943, the '''[[409th Bombardment Group]]''' trained at the airfield with Douglas A-20 Havocs before being assigned overseas to the [[Ninth Air Force]] in [[England]]. The '''[[408th Fighter-Bomber Group]]''' trained at the airfield with a variety of aircraft (A-24, A-26, P-40, and P-47) in the spring of 1944. |
In the fall of 1943, the '''[[409th Bombardment Group]]''' trained at the airfield with Douglas A-20 Havocs before being assigned overseas to the [[Ninth Air Force]] in [[England]]. The '''[[408th Fighter-Bomber Group]]''' trained at the airfield with a variety of aircraft (A-24, A-26, P-40, and P-47) in the spring of 1944. |
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===Air Defense Command=== |
===Air Defense Command=== |
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In late 1951 [[Air Defense Command]] selected Woodward AAF as a site for 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 exercised a right of return to the former World War II airfield and directed the [[Army Corps of Engineers]] to proceed with construction. |
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On 1 May 1951 the 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned to the new '''Oklaholma City Air Force Station''' by the [[33d Air Division]]. The squadron began operating a pair of [[AN/FPS-10]] radars from this site in May 1952. An [[AN/FPS-6]] height-finder radar was added in 1958. |
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Oklaholma City Air Force Station joined the SAGE system on 25 June 1963, the squadron being re-designated as the [[746th Radar Squadron]] (SAGE). The AN/FPS-l0’s were phased out, with the last one being removed in 1962. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-52. |
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In 1963 this was an ADC/[[FAA]] joint-use facility, with Oklaholma City AFS using [[AN/FPS-67]] search and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars. In 1965 the search radar was upgraded to the AN/FPS-67B variant. |
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The Air Force deactivated the 746th Radar Squadron 8 September 1968 due to budget reductions. The FAA continues to operate the AN/FPS-67B search radar today as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS). What was Oklaholma City Air Force Station is today used by the FAA, with most buildings remaining in use. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Oklahoma World War II Army Airfields]] |
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* [[List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations]] |
* [[List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Military of the United States}} |
{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Military of the United States}} |
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{{AFHRA}} |
{{AFHRA}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924. |
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* 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 |
* 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 |
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* 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. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Aerospace Defense Command|state=collapsed}} |
{{Aerospace Defense Command|state=collapsed}} |
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{{USAAF 3d Air Force World War II}} |
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[[Category:1943 establishments]] |
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[[Category:USAAF Third Air Force Group Training Stations]] |
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[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Oklahoma]] |
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[[Category:Radar networks]] |
[[Category:Radar networks]] |
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[[Category:Radar stations of the United States Air Force]] |
[[Category:Radar stations of the United States Air Force]] |
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Revision as of 10:35, 20 January 2011
Oklaholma City Air Force Station
 | |
|---|---|
| Part of Air Defense Command (ADC) | |
 1995 airphoto | |
| Coordinates | 35°24′12″N 097°21′28″W / 35.40333°N 97.35778°W |
| Type | United States Army Airfield (World War II) United States Air Force Station (Cold War) |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |  United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| In use | 1942-1946; 1956-1968 |
- For the civil use of this facility, see West Woodward Airport
Oklaholma City Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-52, NORAD-ID: Z-52) is a closed World War II United States Army Airfield and a Cold War United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 10 miles (16 km) east-southeast of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, just to the southeast of Tinker AFB. It was closed in 1968.
History
World War II
The facility was built by the United States Army Air Forces in the fall of 1942 and early 1943 as an aircrew training field. Opened in March 1943 during World War II, the facility was known as Woodward Army Airfield (AAF) and was assigned to the Second Air Force.
In the fall of 1943, the 409th Bombardment Group trained at the airfield with Douglas A-20 Havocs before being assigned overseas to the Ninth Air Force in England. The 408th Fighter-Bomber Group trained at the airfield with a variety of aircraft (A-24, A-26, P-40, and P-47) in the spring of 1944.
The airfield was returned to civil use at the end of the war.
Air Defense Command
In late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Woodward AAF as a site for 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 exercised a right of return to the former World War II airfield and directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
On 1 May 1951 the 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned to the new Oklaholma City Air Force Station by the 33d Air Division. The squadron began operating a pair of AN/FPS-10 radars from this site in May 1952. An AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was added in 1958.
Oklaholma City Air Force Station joined the SAGE system on 25 June 1963, the squadron being re-designated as the 746th Radar Squadron (SAGE). The AN/FPS-l0’s were phased out, with the last one being removed in 1962. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-52.
In 1963 this was an ADC/FAA joint-use facility, with Oklaholma City AFS using AN/FPS-67 search and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars. In 1965 the search radar was upgraded to the AN/FPS-67B variant.
The Air Force deactivated the 746th Radar Squadron 8 September 1968 due to budget reductions. The FAA continues to operate the AN/FPS-67B search radar today as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS). What was Oklaholma City Air Force Station is today used by the FAA, with most buildings remaining in use.
See also
- Oklahoma World War II Army Airfields
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- 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
- 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.
- Information for Oklahoma City AFS, OK
External links
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