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{{Infobox military structure |
{{Infobox military structure |
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|name= |
|name=Ground Equipment Facility QRC |
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Benton Air Force Station |
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[[File:Airdefensecommand-logo.jpg|60px]] |
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|partof =<br>1975: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<br>1968: [[File:USAF - Aerospace Defense Command.png|12px]] [[Aerospace Defense Command]]<br>1951: [[File:Airdefensecommand-logo.jpg|12px]]Air Defense Command |
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|partof=[[Air Defense Command]] (ADC) |
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|location= Located at<br>[[Red Rock Mountain]], [[Colley Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Colley Township]], [[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania]] |
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|location= |
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([[eponym]]: the nearby [[Benton, Pennsylvania|Town of Benton]]) |
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|coordinates={{Coord|41|21|30|N|076|17|40|W|display=inline|name=Benton AFS P-30}} |
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|image= [[File:Ricketts Glen State Park radar.jpg|300px]] |
|image= [[File:Ricketts Glen State Park radar.jpg|300px]] |
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|caption= The [[AN/FPS-67B]] radar antenna is beneath a radome (white) and uses the preceding [[Sperry AN/FPS-35 Frequency Diversity Radar|AN/FPS-35]] tower (5-story building).{{r|Bartizek}} |
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|caption= The radar dome in 2010, as seen from the Hayfields in [[Ricketts Glen State Park]] |
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|coordinates={{Coord|41|21|25|N|076|17|25|W|name=FAA QRS radar|display=inline,title|notes=<ref> uavsar.jpl.nasa.gov/kml/FAA_LongRangeRadars.kml </ref> }} (QRS)<br>{{Coord|41|21|30|N|076|17|40|W|name=Benton AFS P-30|notes={{r|Radomes}} }} (AFS) |
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|type=Air Force Station |
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|type=[[Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar]] (CARSR) site {{r|Radomes}} |
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|code= ADC ID: P-30 NORAD ID: Z-30 |
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|code =QRC:<ref> http://forums.radioreference.com/aircraft-data-decoding/214748-atc-radar-sites-2.html </ref> [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<br>{{nowrap |J-tbd: {{c.|2002}} [[Joint Surveillance System]]{{r|Radomes}} }}<br>Z-30: 1963 July 31 [[SAGE radar network]]<br>P-30: 1952 Permanent System |
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|built=1951 |
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|built=1950-1 |
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|builder= |
|builder= |
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|materials= |
|materials= |
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|height= |
|height= |
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|used= |
|used= |
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|demolished= |
|demolished= |
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|condition= |
|condition= |
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|ownership= |
|ownership= |
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|controlledby=[[ |
|controlledby=1975: [[Federal Aviation Administration]] |
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1974<!--February 1-->:: [[648th Radar Squadron]]{{r|Johnson}} |
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<br>1959<!--February 1-->: 648th Radar Squadron (SAGE){{r|Johnson}} |
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|commanders= |
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<br>1950: 648th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron |
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|occupants= |
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|footnotes=Unmanned [[Gap Filler]] radar annexes{{r|Radomes}} |
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|battles= |
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*P-30E ([[Bendix AN/FPS-14]]) [[Ulysses, Pennsylvania]] |
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|events= |
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**{{Coord|41|52|48|N|077|42|51|W|display=inline|name=P-30E}} |
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*P-30F ([[Bendix AN/FPS-18]]) [[Joliett, Pennsylvania]] |
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:{{Coord|40|36|32|N|076|27|42|W|display=inline|name=P-30F}} |
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The annex buildings and radar towers are still extant{{r|Bartizek}} (the "A" through "D" gap fillers at Middleburg, Topton, East Meredith, & Montrose PA; as well as the H-J gap fillers at Claysburg, Hayley, and--in New York--Trumbull Corners, were never built.){{r|Radomes}} |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Location map|Pennsylvania|label=Benton AFS |
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|marksize=6|mark=Red_pog.svg |
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|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=41|lat_min=21|lat_sec=30 |
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|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=076|lon_min=17|lon_sec=40 |
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|position=below|width=300|float=right |
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|caption=Location of Benton AFS, Pennsylvania}} |
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{{kml}} |
{{kml}} |
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'''Benton Air Force Station''' was a [[Cold War]] era [[Aerospace Defense Command]] [[radar]] facility in [[Colley Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Colley Township]], [[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania]]. The station was operational from 1951 until 1975. |
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'''Ground Equipment Facility QRC''' ([[Formerly Used Defense Site|FUDS]] C03PA046300: "Benton Air Force Communications{{Clarification needed|reason=Is this FUDS the former AFS or the former GATR site about 4 miles away?|date=April 2014}} Annex")<ref>{{Citation |format=Memorandum |last=Stuart |first=Neil |date=9 April 1991 |title=DERP-FUDS No Further Action (NOFA) INPRs |url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/data/FUDSPDFs/BentonAFSPA.pdf |location=page image at Radomes.org |publisher=[[North Atlantic Division]] |accessdate=2014-04-19 |quote= }}</ref> is an FAA radar station that was part of a [[Cold War]] [[SAGE radar stations|SAGE radar station]] ('''Benton Air Force Station''', call sign: '''Oppose'''){{r|Radomes}} for aircraft control and warning "from Massachusetts to southern Virginia, and as far out to sea as possible."{{r|Bartizek}} Benton AFS was also the first operational "regional data processing center" for the [[GE 477L Nuclear Detection and Reporting System]]. |
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The radar at Benton Air Force Station scanned skies in the United States from [[Massachusetts]] south to [[Virginia]] and east over the Atlantic Ocean.<ref name="radar">{{cite news | title = A Cold War outpost: Radar installation was part of North American defense system scanning for sneak attacks | last = Bartizek | first = Ron | work = [[The Times Leader]] | date = November 13, 2005 | section = | page = 1B | accessdate = May 20, 2010 |url = http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/BentonAFSPAlookingback.html}}</ref> The station was manned by airmen from the 648th Aircraft Control Squadron at [[Fort Indiantown Gap]]. |
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The FAA facility and the larger area of the former [[:Category:Stations of the United States Air Force|Air Force Station]] are part of [[Ricketts Glen State Park]].<ref>{{cite map |title=Ricketts Glen State Park Official map http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/rickettsglen/rickettsglen_mini.pdf |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |accessdate=2010-05-20}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The 648th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated on 30 Apr 1948 at [[Watertown Air Force Station#History|Pine Camp, New York (which became operational June 1950]] as the [[655th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron|655th AC&WS's]] [[Lashup Radar Network|Lashup station L-6]]<!--Winkler-->) The 648th AC&WS transferred in December 1949 to [[Fort Indiantown Gap|Indiantown Gap Army Installation (AIN)]] and {{c.|1 January 1951}} began operations at a [[Mud Pond, Pennsylvania]], site{{Specify|reason=Coordinates needed|date=April 2014}} with [[General Electric AN/CPS-6]]B radar scanner<!--The Klinot reference says it was only 1 CPS-6.--> and barracks{{r|Radomes}}--one of the 23 new [[Permanent System radar stations#Priority Permanent System |radar stations of the Priority Permanent System]] completed in 1951 using older radars. Site construction on {{convert|98|acre|adj=on}} had begun in 1950 and was completed September 21, 1951.{{Citation needed|date=April 2014}} On September 21, 1951, the last of the 658th personnel arrived at the site from [[Fort Indiantown Gap]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rowland |first=Chuck |date=c. 1956 |title=26th Air Division yearbook |url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/showpicture.php?name=data/newsletters/648th-1.jpg |location=image of page at Radomes.org |accessdate=2014-04-19 |quote=}}</ref> The radar and operations moved to [[Ricketts Glen State Park]], Pennsylvania, by 1 February 1952.{{r|Johnson}} |
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Benton Air Force Station (Also known as Mud Pond) was part of the last batch of twenty-three radar stations constructed as part of the [[Air Defense Command]] permanent network. Construction on the {{convert|98|acre|adj=on}} facility began in 1950 and was completed on September 21, 1951. |
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===Benton Air Force Station=== |
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Earlier stationed at Mud Pond, Pennsylvania, the 648th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations with [[AN/CPS-6]]B radar scanners and barracks for the airmen or "scope dopes" who operated the radar station.<ref name="radar"/><ref name="domes">{{cite web | url = http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Benton+AFS,+PA | title = Air Defense Radar Stations: Information for Benton AFS, Pennsylvania | publisher = Radomes.org | accessdate = 2010-05-31}}</ref> The radar operators worked around the clock and could scramble jets from Air Forces bases in [[New York]] and [[New Jersey]].<ref name="radar"/> The facility was moved to Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania by 1 February 1952. On 1 December 1953, the Ricketts Glen facility was redesignated as '''Benton Air Force Station'''. |
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On 1 December 1953, the radar station at Ricketts Glen State Park was designated '''Benton Air Force Station'''{{r|Johnson}} which initially provided tracking data to a [[Manual Air Defense Control Center]], e.g., on August 15, 1958, the 26th Air Division/[[Syracuse Air Defense Sector]]'s "Combat Alert Center (Manual)" at [[Roslyn AFS]] began using Benton data for manual [[Ground-controlled interception|GCI]]. But in less than 2 months, the "manual division" headquarters at [[Hancock Field]]/[[Syracuse AFS]] was eliminated<!--NORAD1958B p. 16-->--"the 26th was moved out of Roslyn amd established at Syracuse as a [computerized] SAGE division on 1 September" 1958. But [the Syracuse DC with [[AN/FSQ-7]]] did not become operational until 1 January 1959"<ref>{{Cite NORAD Historical Summary |year=1958B}}</ref> ([[cf.]] the [[Office of Civil Defense and Mobilization]] warning center at [[Stewart AFB]]--1 of 3 for national civil defense--was moved to Syracuse and redesignated the "OCDM 26th [[National Warning System|Warning Center]]" on 1 July 1959).<ref name=NORAD1959B>Cite NORAD Historical Summary |year=1959B}} "''On 1 July 1959, concurrent with the discontinuance of [[Eastern NORAD Region]], the warning center was moved from Stewart AFB, New York, to Syracuse, New York, and redesignated the OCDM 26th Warning Center.''"</ref> Benton's data was initially entered in the "Manual Inputs" terminals of the Syracuse's [[Air Defense Direction Center|SAGE Direction Center]]. |
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A [[Burroughs AN/FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitting Set]] was installed early in 1960{{r|Klinot}} to transmit data to the Syracuse DC{{r|Radomes}} and the May 1960 [[Highlands Army Air Defense Site|Highlands AADS]] ([[Project Nike|Nike]] [[Missile Master]]). One of the 1st 4 [[Sperry AN/FPS-35 Frequency Diversity Radar]]s<ref> http://www.radomes.org/museum/savethe35.html </ref> (Site 3) became operational at Benton in 1961{{r|Winkler}}--the radar was {{Convert|70ST|t LT|abbr=on}} with a red/white [[checkerboard]] pattern.{{Citation needed|date=April 2014}} A new [[Ground Air Transmit Receive|GATR annex]] (R-[[tbd]]) was completed "about 4 miles from the main site as part of the [[SAGE Geographic Reorganization Plan|SAGE modernization]]"{{r|Klinot}} (u,e,m after the [[1st GATR was completed]] in April 1961), and Benton AFS was assigned to the [[Boston Air Defense Sector]] (Stewart AFB DC) on September 4, 1963. A "Two Row Angular Contact Ball" bearing that had been "procured as a spare for the Lincoln Labs CCM-Mark I Radar was installed in the AN/FPS-35 at Benton" and failed at 25,000 hours.<ref name=RADC>{{Cite report |last1=Scheiderich |first1=Jerome P |last2=Bocchi |first2=William J |date=April 1971 |title=Bearing Improvement Program for Large Rolling Element Bearings |url=http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/891286.pdf |format=Technical Report RADC-TR-71-81 |number=AD891286 |accessdate=2014-04-21 |quote=The work reported herein was accomplished under System 416L daring the time period from 1959 to 1964 and under Job Order No. 911+20000 from 196k to 1969.}}</ref> "In 1963 the search radar was complemented by [[Avco AN/FPS-26]]A and an [[GE AN/FPS-6]]" to perform SAGE height finding requests.{{r|Winkler}} |
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Upgrades to the station in 1958 made it possible for Benton AFS to join the [[Semi Automatic Ground Environment]] (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-02 at [[Stewart AFB]], New York. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the [[648th Radar Squadron]] (SAGE) on 1 February 1959. In August 1958, the SAGE information feed was switched to DC-03 at Syracuse AFS, then in September 1963 SAGE data was sent back to DC-02.<ref name="domes"/> The system connected a series of long-range radar stations such as the one at Benton Air Force Station with control centers by sending data through the telephone system. Data collected at the control center was sent back to the stations in images on [[cathode ray tube]]s.<ref name="radar"/> |
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====FAA, NUDETS, and missile tracking operations==== |
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Further improvements in the 1960s included the installation of an [[AN/FPS-35]] radar atop a five-story structure that still stands. The new unit weighed 70 tons and was painted in a red/white [[checkerboard]] pattern. |
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By the end of 1963 Benton AFS was a joint-use site for both the USAF and FAA{{r|Winkler}} (by 1967, it was providing [[air traffic control|tracks to the "traffic control]] facility in New York".{{r|Klinot}}{{Where|date=April 2014}} A February 5, 1962 contract for a prototype nuclear detection system established sensors at the Benton, [[Bedford Air Force Station|Bedford (Virginia)]], and [[Temperanceville, Virginia#History|Temperanceville (Virginia)]] stations<ref> NORAD/CONAD 1962 Historical Summary Jan-Jun p. 50 </ref> and the 1st phase of the [[GE 477L Nuclear Detection and Reporting System|NUDETS]] "became operational on 1 July 1964 [and] consisted of a regional data processing center at Benton AFS, Pa., and sensors located at Benton, [[Thomas, West Virginia|Thomas, W. Va]]., [[Manassas Air Force Station|Manassas, Va.]], and [[Hermanville, Maryland|Hermanville, Md]]" (RP-54A/Z-227A, {{Coord|38|13|40|N|076|24|33|W|display=inline|name=RP-54A}}).<ref>Cite NORAD Historical Summary |year=1964B}} p. 64 "Phase I became operational on 1 July 1964 in the Washington, D.C. area to serve the needs of the National Military Command System. … The deployment plan was first called Deuces Wild but was changed to Thirsty Camel in October 1965 when it was thought to have been compromised."</ref> |
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Benton's FPS-35 was modified and "tested during the summer of 1962" to track [[Cape Canaveral]] missile launches ("marginal ability"), and Benton AFS had [[Backup Interceptor Control]]<!--"A-9" appendix code in Winkler--> capability by December 1962{{r|Winkler}}([[General Electric AN/GPA-37 Course Directing Group]]). An [[AN/FPS-8]] backup search radar owned/operated by the FAA was in place by September 1967, when new "[[AN/GPA-98]], ECM training simulator, and [[AN/FYQ-48]], the new digital data processor which replaces the AN/FST-2" were planned.{{r|Klinot}} Before 1974 when the AN/FPS-35 was replaced, [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] direction-finding equipment was used{{r|Klinot}} after the radar "scopes would light up like light bulbs" almost every morning for a half-hour{{r|Bartizek}}--a noisy [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] TV tuner in the area was located which was being used for a "[[soap opera]] on one of the local channels".{{r|Bartizek}} |
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In addition to the main facility, Benton operated two unmanned [[AN/FPS-14]] (P-30E) and [[AN/FPS-18]] (P-30F) Gap Filler sites:<ref name="domes"/> |
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* Ulysses, Pennsylvania (P-30E) {{Coord|41|52|48|N|077|42|51|W|display=inline|name=P-30E}} |
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* Joliett, Pennsylvania (P-30F) {{Coord|40|36|32|N|076|27|42|W|display=inline|name=P-30F}} |
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The gap fillers covered areas of mountainous Pennsylvania that could not be scanned by the facilities at Benton Air Force Station. Both building and radar towers are still extant.<ref name="radar"/> |
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===Formerly Used Defense Site=== |
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The AN/FPS-35 was one of the most powerful radar units in the world at the time. But it was not foolproof. Once the AN/FPS-35 was jammed and the men stationed at Benton could not figure out why. Officials from the U.S. government and [[Sperry Corporation]], the manufacturer, had to be called to Colley Township to investigate the situation. Sperry thought that it was impossible to "jam" the radar, but once almost every morning for a half-hour, the "scopes would light up like light bulbs."<ref name="radar"/> The jamming of the radar made it impossible to read the radar. Investigators stopped traffic on nearby [[Pennsylvania Route 487]] and questioned drivers. Ultimately, direction-finding equipment pointed to a malfunctioning [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] tuner on a television set in the housing area where "the lady of the house sometimes watched a [[soap opera]] on one of the local channels".<ref name="radar"/> The UHF tuner was replaced. The power to the radar facilities was separated from the power to the housing and, coupled with the new UHF, the jamming problem was solved.<ref name="radar"/> |
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After [[Project Concise]] [[Base Realignment and Closure|Air Defense closures were announced]] on November 22, 1974; the radar facility of Benton AFS transferred to the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] on June 30, 1975{{r|Johnson}} (the squadron was also "deactivated" on that date.){{r|Johnson}} as an auxiliary radar for [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport]]{{Citation needed|reason=The info with the term "auxiliary" is in one of the references.|date=April 2014}}--other buildings and barracks transferred to the [[Red Rock Job Corps Center]]{{r|Radomes}} in 1978.{{r|Bartizek}} In 1995, Benton was the backup [[air traffic control]] radar when the airport near Avoca needed data.<ref> http://archives.timesleader.com/1995/1995_15/1995_10_28_RADAR_NOT_USED_FOR_SOME_LANDINGS_THE_SYSTEM_AT_THE_AREA_S_INTERN.html </ref> After 2001 the FAA site became part of the [[Joint Surveillance System]], and the "FPS-67B, now Common [[Air Route Surveillance Radar|Air-Route Surveillance Radar]] (CARSR)"{{r|Radomes}} was used in a 2004 FAA test.<ref> http://llwebprod2.ll.mit.edu/publications/journal/pdf/vol16_no1/16_1_6Thompson.pdf </ref> In 2013, a new maintenance contract was issued for the "Qrc Arsr Hvac Pwr Project".<ref> government-contracts.findthebest.com/l/1155154/Btn-Construction-Incorporated-Federal-Aviation-Administration-DTFAEN13C00399 </ref> |
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===Assigments=== |
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==Closing and conversion== |
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Benton AFS and its USAF squadron were assigned to several larger units of [[Air Defense Command]] ([[Aerospace Defense Command]] after 1968),{{r|Johnson}} but after data transmission was automated in 1960, its radar tracks were provided to more than one Direction Center (e.g., "three air divisions simultaneously - [[35th Air Division|35th]], [[21st Air Division|21st]], and [[34th Air Division]]s" in September 1967): |
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Benton Air Force station was deactivated in June 1975. The radar facilities remain and are operated by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] as an auxiliary service for the nearby [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport]].<ref name="radar"/><ref name="domes"/> The remaining buildings and barracks were converted to the Red Rocks Job Corps Center which is part of the [[Job Corps]],<ref name="radar"/><ref name="domes"/> a program administered by the [[United States Department of Labor]] that offers free-of-charge education and [[Vocational education|vocational training]] to youth ages 16 to 24.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://recruiting.jobcorps.gov/en/about.aspx |title=What Is Job Corps? |publisher=[[Job Corps]] |date=September 25, 2009 |accessdate=May 21, 2010}}</ref> |
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* [[503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group]], 1 January 1951 |
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==Air Force units and assignments == |
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[[File:648th Radar Squadron - Emblem.png|thumb|250px|Emblem of the 648th Radar Squadron]] |
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'''Units:''' |
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* '''648th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron''', activated on 30 Apr 1948 at [[Pine Camp]], New York |
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: Moved in December 1949 to [[Fort Indiantown Gap|Indiantown Gap AIN]], Pennsylvania |
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: Moved ''ca''. 1 January 1951 to Mud Pond, Pennsylvania |
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:: Moved to Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania on 1 February 1952 |
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:: Site redesignated Benton Air Force Station, 1 December 1953. |
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: Redesignated '''648th Radar Squadron''' (SAGE), 1 February 1959 |
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: Redesignated '''648th Radar Squadron''', 1 February 1974 |
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: Inactivated on 30 June 1975 |
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'''Assignments:''' |
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* [[503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group]], 20 April 1948 |
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* [[26th Air Division]], 6 February 1952 |
* [[26th Air Division]], 6 February 1952 |
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* [[4710th Defense Wing]], 10 February 1953 |
* [[4710th Defense Wing]], 10 February 1953 |
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* [[35th Air Division]], 1 April 1966 |
* [[35th Air Division]], 1 April 1966 |
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* [[21st Air Division]], 19 November 1969-30 June 1975 |
* [[21st Air Division]], 19 November 1969-30 June 1975 |
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==See also== |
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* [[List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist |refs= |
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{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Military of the United States}} |
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{{AFHRA}} |
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<ref name=Bartizek>{{Cite news |last=Bartizek |first=Ron |date=November 13, 2005 |title=A Cold War outpost: Radar installation was part of North American defense system scanning for sneak attacks. |url=http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/special_packages/look_back/13156595.htm |format=[http://www.radomes.org/museum/parsehtml.php?html=BentonAFSPAlookingback.html&type=doc_html Radomes.com transcription] of news article |location=location tbd |newspaper=[[The Times Leader]] |page=1B |accessdate=2014-04-19 |quote= }}</ref> |
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{{Reflist}} |
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* Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., ''A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980'', [http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf] Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980). |
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<ref name=Johnson>compiled by {{Cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Mildred W |date=31 December 1980 |origyear=February 1973 original by Cornett, Lloyd H. Jr |title=A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980 |url=http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf |publisher=Office of History, [[Aerospace Defense Center]] |location=[[Peterson Air Force Base]] |page= |accessdate=2012-03-26 }}</ref> |
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* Winkler, David F. & Webster, Julie L., ''Searching the Skies'', The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program, [http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bn/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231] US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, Champaign, IL (1997). |
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* [http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22Benton+AFS,+PA%22&key=BentonAFSPA&pic=BentonAFSPA&doc=BentonAFSPA&www=BentonAFSPA Information for Benton AFS, PA] |
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<ref name=Klinot>{{Cite journal |last=Klinot |first=MSgt Herbert B |date=September 1967 |title=Benton Air Force Station |url=http://radomes.org/museum/documents/648CED67-1.jpg |journal=Communications & Electronics Digest |accessdate=2014-04-19 |quote=The original search radar was the V-Beam AN/CPS-6… In the late 50's, the {{sic|two}} AN/FPS-6 height finders were installed along with the [[Burroughs AN/FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitting Set|Coordinate Data Transmitter AN/FST-2B]], {{sic<!--In 1967, the Master Sergaen claims "2B" in the "late 50's", but the FST-2B solid-state units didn't replace the FST-2 vacuum tube units until later-->}} Serial Number 1<!--This is the number which MSgt Klinot probably saw on the 2B solid state unit-->. …in the early 60's…the AN/CPS-6…was replaced by the new AN/FPS-35 frequency diversity radar and all of the old AC&W operations facilities were removed… [page 21] test site for an experimental nuclear detection operation known as NUDETS during the early part of 1960. Today, Benton Air Force Station…feeds search, height and identification data to three air divisions simultaneously - [[35th Air Division|35th]], [[21st Air Division|21st]], and [[34th Air Division]]s. As a joint-use facility, the search facility also feeds surveillance data to the Federal Aviation Agency traffic control facility in New York… FAA technical personnel are responsible for maintaining both the AN/FPS-35, the prime search set, and a back-up AN/FPS-8 which is owned and operated by the FAA. … New equipment programmed for installation includes the AN/GPA-98, ECM training simulator, and AN/FYQ-48, the new [BUIC III] digital data processor which replaces the AN/FST-2 equipment. [http://radomes.org/museum/documents/648CED67-2.jpg [page<nowiki>]</nowiki> 22]}}</ref> |
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<ref name=Radomes>{{cite web |title=Air Defense Radar Stations: Information for Benton AFS, Pennsylvania |url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Benton+AFS,+PA |publisher=Radomes.org |accessdate=2014-04-19}}</ref> |
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<ref name=Winkler>{{Cite report |last1=Winkler |first1=David F |last2=Webster |first2=Julie L |month=June 1997 |title=Searching the Skies: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program |url=http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231 |location=Champaign, IL |lccn=9720912 |publisher=U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories |accessdate=2013-04-23 |quote=AN/FPS-35 search radars located at [[Manassas Air Force Station|Manassas, Virginia]], and [[Benton Air Force Station|Benton, Pennsylvania]], received modifications and began to be tested during the summer of 1962. During these tests, both radars attempted to track [[Polaris missile|Polaris]], [[Minuteman missile|Minuteman]], [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 15|Titan]], and the [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17|Thor-Delta missile]] launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The tests revealed that the AN/FPS-35 had only marginal ability to detect missile launches.<sup>73</sup>}}</ref> |
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}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Aerospace Defense Command|state=collapsed}} |
{{Aerospace Defense Command|state=collapsed}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Federal Aviation Administration]] |
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[[Category:Aerospace Defense Command military installations]] |
[[Category:Aerospace Defense Command military installations]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Air Defense Command radar stations]] |
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[[Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force]] |
[[Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Former Air Force Stations of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Military history of Pennsylvania]] |
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[[Category:SAGE radar stations]] |
Revision as of 13:12, 23 April 2014
Ground Equipment Facility QRC Benton Air Force Station | |
---|---|
Part of 1975: Federal Aviation Administration 1968: Aerospace Defense Command 1951: Air Defense Command | |
Located at Red Rock Mountain, Colley Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania (eponym: the nearby Town of Benton) | |
Coordinates | 41°21′25″N 076°17′25″W / 41.35694°N 76.29028°W[2] (QRS) 41°21′30″N 076°17′40″W / 41.35833°N 76.29444°W[3] (AFS) |
Type | Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR) site [3] |
Code | QRC:[4] Federal Aviation Administration J-tbd: c. 2002 Joint Surveillance System[3] Z-30: 1963 July 31 SAGE radar network P-30: 1952 Permanent System |
Site information | |
Controlled by | 1975: Federal Aviation Administration
1974:: 648th Radar Squadron[5]
1950: 648th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron |
Site history | |
Built | 1950-1 |
Unmanned Gap Filler radar annexes[3]
|
Ground Equipment Facility QRC (FUDS C03PA046300: "Benton Air Force Communications[clarification needed] Annex")[6] is an FAA radar station that was part of a Cold War SAGE radar station (Benton Air Force Station, call sign: Oppose)[3] for aircraft control and warning "from Massachusetts to southern Virginia, and as far out to sea as possible."[1] Benton AFS was also the first operational "regional data processing center" for the GE 477L Nuclear Detection and Reporting System.
The FAA facility and the larger area of the former Air Force Station are part of Ricketts Glen State Park.[7]
History
The 648th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated on 30 Apr 1948 at Pine Camp, New York (which became operational June 1950 as the 655th AC&WS's Lashup station L-6) The 648th AC&WS transferred in December 1949 to Indiantown Gap Army Installation (AIN) and c. 1 January 1951 began operations at a Mud Pond, Pennsylvania, site[specify] with General Electric AN/CPS-6B radar scanner and barracks[3]--one of the 23 new radar stations of the Priority Permanent System completed in 1951 using older radars. Site construction on 98-acre (40 ha) had begun in 1950 and was completed September 21, 1951.[citation needed] On September 21, 1951, the last of the 658th personnel arrived at the site from Fort Indiantown Gap.[8] The radar and operations moved to Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania, by 1 February 1952.[5]
Benton Air Force Station
On 1 December 1953, the radar station at Ricketts Glen State Park was designated Benton Air Force Station[5] which initially provided tracking data to a Manual Air Defense Control Center, e.g., on August 15, 1958, the 26th Air Division/Syracuse Air Defense Sector's "Combat Alert Center (Manual)" at Roslyn AFS began using Benton data for manual GCI. But in less than 2 months, the "manual division" headquarters at Hancock Field/Syracuse AFS was eliminated--"the 26th was moved out of Roslyn amd established at Syracuse as a [computerized] SAGE division on 1 September" 1958. But [the Syracuse DC with AN/FSQ-7] did not become operational until 1 January 1959"[9] (cf. the Office of Civil Defense and Mobilization warning center at Stewart AFB--1 of 3 for national civil defense--was moved to Syracuse and redesignated the "OCDM 26th Warning Center" on 1 July 1959).[10] Benton's data was initially entered in the "Manual Inputs" terminals of the Syracuse's SAGE Direction Center.
A Burroughs AN/FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitting Set was installed early in 1960[11] to transmit data to the Syracuse DC[3] and the May 1960 Highlands AADS (Nike Missile Master). One of the 1st 4 Sperry AN/FPS-35 Frequency Diversity Radars[12] (Site 3) became operational at Benton in 1961[13]--the radar was [convert: invalid number] with a red/white checkerboard pattern.[citation needed] A new GATR annex (R-tbd) was completed "about 4 miles from the main site as part of the SAGE modernization"[11] (u,e,m after the 1st GATR was completed in April 1961), and Benton AFS was assigned to the Boston Air Defense Sector (Stewart AFB DC) on September 4, 1963. A "Two Row Angular Contact Ball" bearing that had been "procured as a spare for the Lincoln Labs CCM-Mark I Radar was installed in the AN/FPS-35 at Benton" and failed at 25,000 hours.[14] "In 1963 the search radar was complemented by Avco AN/FPS-26A and an GE AN/FPS-6" to perform SAGE height finding requests.[13]
FAA, NUDETS, and missile tracking operations
By the end of 1963 Benton AFS was a joint-use site for both the USAF and FAA[13] (by 1967, it was providing tracks to the "traffic control facility in New York".[11][where?] A February 5, 1962 contract for a prototype nuclear detection system established sensors at the Benton, Bedford (Virginia), and Temperanceville (Virginia) stations[15] and the 1st phase of the NUDETS "became operational on 1 July 1964 [and] consisted of a regional data processing center at Benton AFS, Pa., and sensors located at Benton, Thomas, W. Va., Manassas, Va., and Hermanville, Md" (RP-54A/Z-227A, 38°13′40″N 076°24′33″W / 38.22778°N 76.40917°W).[16]
Benton's FPS-35 was modified and "tested during the summer of 1962" to track Cape Canaveral missile launches ("marginal ability"), and Benton AFS had Backup Interceptor Control capability by December 1962[13](General Electric AN/GPA-37 Course Directing Group). An AN/FPS-8 backup search radar owned/operated by the FAA was in place by September 1967, when new "AN/GPA-98, ECM training simulator, and AN/FYQ-48, the new digital data processor which replaces the AN/FST-2" were planned.[11] Before 1974 when the AN/FPS-35 was replaced, FCC direction-finding equipment was used[11] after the radar "scopes would light up like light bulbs" almost every morning for a half-hour[1]--a noisy UHF TV tuner in the area was located which was being used for a "soap opera on one of the local channels".[1]
Formerly Used Defense Site
After Project Concise Air Defense closures were announced on November 22, 1974; the radar facility of Benton AFS transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration on June 30, 1975[5] (the squadron was also "deactivated" on that date.)[5] as an auxiliary radar for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport[citation needed]--other buildings and barracks transferred to the Red Rock Job Corps Center[3] in 1978.[1] In 1995, Benton was the backup air traffic control radar when the airport near Avoca needed data.[17] After 2001 the FAA site became part of the Joint Surveillance System, and the "FPS-67B, now Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR)"[3] was used in a 2004 FAA test.[18] In 2013, a new maintenance contract was issued for the "Qrc Arsr Hvac Pwr Project".[19]
Assigments
Benton AFS and its USAF squadron were assigned to several larger units of Air Defense Command (Aerospace Defense Command after 1968),[5] but after data transmission was automated in 1960, its radar tracks were provided to more than one Direction Center (e.g., "three air divisions simultaneously - 35th, 21st, and 34th Air Divisions" in September 1967):
- 503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 1 January 1951
- 26th Air Division, 6 February 1952
- 4710th Defense Wing, 10 February 1953
- 4709th Defense Wing, 30 June 1953
- 4707th Air Defense Wing, 8 July 1956
- 4622d Air Defense Wing, 18 October 1956
- Boston Air Defense Sector, 8 January 1957
- Syracuse Air Defense Sector, 15 August 1958
- Boston Air Defense Sector, 4 September 1963
- 35th Air Division, 1 April 1966
- 21st Air Division, 19 November 1969-30 June 1975
References
- ^ a b c d e f Bartizek, Ron (November 13, 2005). "A Cold War outpost: Radar installation was part of North American defense system scanning for sneak attacks" (Radomes.com transcription of news article). The Times Leader. location tbd. p. 1B. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
{{cite news}}
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- ^ uavsar.jpl.nasa.gov/kml/FAA_LongRangeRadars.kml
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Air Defense Radar Stations: Information for Benton AFS, Pennsylvania". Radomes.org. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ^ http://forums.radioreference.com/aircraft-data-decoding/214748-atc-radar-sites-2.html
- ^ a b c d e f g compiled by Johnson, Mildred W (31 December 1980) [February 1973 original by Cornett, Lloyd H. Jr]. A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson Air Force Base: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
- ^ Stuart, Neil (9 April 1991), DERP-FUDS No Further Action (NOFA) INPRs (Memorandum), page image at Radomes.org: North Atlantic Division, retrieved 2014-04-19
- ^ Ricketts Glen State Park Official map http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/rickettsglen/rickettsglen_mini.pdf (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
{{cite map}}
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- ^ Rowland, Chuck (c. 1956). 26th Air Division yearbook. image of page at Radomes.org. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ^ North American Air Defense Command Historical Summary (Report).[specify]
- ^ Cite NORAD Historical Summary |year=1959B}} "On 1 July 1959, concurrent with the discontinuance of Eastern NORAD Region, the warning center was moved from Stewart AFB, New York, to Syracuse, New York, and redesignated the OCDM 26th Warning Center."
- ^ a b c d e Klinot, MSgt Herbert B (September 1967). "Benton Air Force Station". Communications & Electronics Digest. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
The original search radar was the V-Beam AN/CPS-6… In the late 50's, the two [sic] AN/FPS-6 height finders were installed along with the Coordinate Data Transmitter AN/FST-2B, [sic] Serial Number 1. …in the early 60's…the AN/CPS-6…was replaced by the new AN/FPS-35 frequency diversity radar and all of the old AC&W operations facilities were removed… [page 21] test site for an experimental nuclear detection operation known as NUDETS during the early part of 1960. Today, Benton Air Force Station…feeds search, height and identification data to three air divisions simultaneously - 35th, 21st, and 34th Air Divisions. As a joint-use facility, the search facility also feeds surveillance data to the Federal Aviation Agency traffic control facility in New York… FAA technical personnel are responsible for maintaining both the AN/FPS-35, the prime search set, and a back-up AN/FPS-8 which is owned and operated by the FAA. … New equipment programmed for installation includes the AN/GPA-98, ECM training simulator, and AN/FYQ-48, the new [BUIC III] digital data processor which replaces the AN/FST-2 equipment. [page] 22
{{cite journal}}
: External link in
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- ^ http://www.radomes.org/museum/savethe35.html
- ^ a b c d Winkler, David F; Webster, Julie L. Searching the Skies: The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program (Report). Champaign, IL: U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 9720912. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
AN/FPS-35 search radars located at Manassas, Virginia, and Benton, Pennsylvania, received modifications and began to be tested during the summer of 1962. During these tests, both radars attempted to track Polaris, Minuteman, Titan, and the Thor-Delta missile launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The tests revealed that the AN/FPS-35 had only marginal ability to detect missile launches.73
{{cite report}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Scheiderich, Jerome P; Bocchi, William J (April 1971). Bearing Improvement Program for Large Rolling Element Bearings (Technical Report RADC-TR-71-81) (Report). Retrieved 2014-04-21.
The work reported herein was accomplished under System 416L daring the time period from 1959 to 1964 and under Job Order No. 911+20000 from 196k to 1969.
- ^ NORAD/CONAD 1962 Historical Summary Jan-Jun p. 50
- ^ Cite NORAD Historical Summary |year=1964B}} p. 64 "Phase I became operational on 1 July 1964 in the Washington, D.C. area to serve the needs of the National Military Command System. … The deployment plan was first called Deuces Wild but was changed to Thirsty Camel in October 1965 when it was thought to have been compromised."
- ^ http://archives.timesleader.com/1995/1995_15/1995_10_28_RADAR_NOT_USED_FOR_SOME_LANDINGS_THE_SYSTEM_AT_THE_AREA_S_INTERN.html
- ^ http://llwebprod2.ll.mit.edu/publications/journal/pdf/vol16_no1/16_1_6Thompson.pdf
- ^ government-contracts.findthebest.com/l/1155154/Btn-Construction-Incorporated-Federal-Aviation-Administration-DTFAEN13C00399