Air Defense Radar Stations

Information for Benton AFS, PA

Latitude: 41-21-30 N, Longitude: 076-17-40 W

Call Sign(s): Oppose

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-30

Z-30

648

Benton AFS, PA

CPS-6B (2); FPS-35; FPS-6B; FPS-26A; FPS-8 (FAA)

FPS-35; FPS-6; FPS-26A; FPS-67B; CARSR w/ FPS 1561 antenna [

Oct-51

Jun-75

Site located atop Red Rock Mountain near the northwest corner of Ricketts Glen State Park (Mud Pond). In 1962, FPS-35 used in missile-detection test, with marginal results. FAA site now, using FPS-67B, now Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR) radar as of 5/14/2012. Stockbridge (NY) Test Site {RADC} uses the old AN/FPS-35 antenna pedestal.

P-30A

Middleburg, PA **

Gap-Filler Annex. ** In early ADC plans, but never was built.

P-30B

Topton, PA **

Gap-Filler Annex. ** In early 1960s ADC plans, but never was built.

P-30C

East Meredith, PA **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.

P-30D

Montrose, PA **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In 1960s ADC plans, but never was built.

P-30E

Z-30E

Ulysses, PA

FPS-14

Jul-57

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Both building and radar tower are still extant. Located atop Bailey Hill.

P-30F

Z-30F

Joliett, PA

FPS-18

Jul-62

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Both building and radar tower are still extant.

P-30H / RP-62F

Z-62F

Claysburg, PA

Gap-Filler Annex. Former LRR site, P-63. GFA was the former G/A radio transmitter bldg. Reportedly was never activated (ADC records give no operational dates, although this gap-filler site is shown on a 1966 map as site ''Z-62F''). Site was atop Blue Knob.

P-30I

Blaine, PA **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.

P-30I

Hawley, PA **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In 1960s ADC plans, but never was built.

P-30J

Trumbull Corners, NY **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In early 1960s ADC plans, but never was built. The town of Trumbull Corners is located just SW of Ithaca, NY; maybe the GFA radar site was to have been located atop Connecticut Hill (?).

P-30J / P-49E

Atlanta, NY **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.

History of Benton AFS, PA

The 648th AC&W Squadron activated a pair of AN/CPS-6B radars at this site at Ricketts Glen State Park (Mud Pond) starting in October 1951. The AN/CPS-6B search radar remained active until 1961. In 1958 a pair of AN/FPS-6B radars replaced the AN/CPS-6B height-finder radar. In late 1958 Benton began providing data for the SAGE system. In 1961 this site received an AN/FPS-35 search radar, but difficulties prevented it from becoming operational in 1961. It became operational in 1962. This radar and another located in Manassas, Virginia, were used in 1962 as part of a missile-detection test. The results revealed that the AN/FPS-35 had marginal value for detecting submarine-launched ballistic missiles. In 1963 the search radar was complemented by one each AN/FPS-26A and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar. By the end of 1963 Benton was an FAA/ADC joint-use site; the FAA also maintained an AN/FPS-8 search radar for back-up. Circa 1974 the AN/FPS-35 was replaced by an AN/FPS-67B search radar. The 648th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactivated in June 1975. The FAA still operates the AN/FPS-67B, now CARSR, search radar today.

References: "Searching the Skies"; misc. ADCOM documents; eyewitness accounts; FAA data.