Air Defense Radar Stations

Information for Boron AFS, CA

Latitude: 35-04-44 N, Longitude: 117-34-45 W

Call Sign(s): Duly

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-59	Z-59	750	Boron AFS, CA	FPS-10(2); FPS-6; FPS-20; FPS-35; FPS-90; FPS-26A	FPS-67; FPS-26A	Feb-52	Jun-75	BUIC-II. FAA site now; radar is still FPS-67B. Remote GATR at Shafter, CA (R-10).
P-59A	Z-59A		Shafter, CA	FPS-18		Feb-59	Jun-61	instead of LRR site SM-161; located at Minter Field, earlier site of former Lashup radar station L-39.
P-59B			Lone Pine, CA **					** In original ADC plans, but never was built
P-76F / P-59C	Z-76F / Z-59C		Joshua Tree, CA	FPS-18		Sep-60	Jun-61	Located atop Copper Mountain. 1961 and 1962 SAGE maps show Joshua Tree as site P-59C; however, 1958 SAGE map shows Lathrop Wells as site P-59C.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-59

Z-59

750

Boron AFS, CA

FPS-10(2); FPS-6; FPS-20; FPS-35; FPS-90; FPS-26A

FPS-67; FPS-26A

Feb-52

Jun-75

BUIC-II. FAA site now; radar is still FPS-67B. Remote GATR at Shafter, CA (R-10).

P-59A

Z-59A

Shafter, CA

FPS-18

Feb-59

Jun-61

instead of LRR site SM-161; located at Minter Field, earlier site of former Lashup radar station L-39.

P-59B

Lone Pine, CA **

** In original ADC plans, but never was built

P-76F / P-59C

Z-76F / Z-59C

Joshua Tree, CA

FPS-18

Sep-60

Jun-61

Located atop Copper Mountain. 1961 and 1962 SAGE maps show Joshua Tree as site P-59C; however, 1958 SAGE map shows Lathrop Wells as site P-59C.

History of Boron AFS, CA

In February 1952 the 750th AC&W Squadron assumed coverage responsibilities formerly held by the Edwards AFB site (L-40), and was operating two AN/FPS-10 radars at this new site. The AN/FPS-10 search radar remained until 1959. In 1958 an AN/FPS-6 replaced the AN/FPS-10 height-finder radar. A second height-finder radar (AN/FPS-6A) was installed in 1959. In 1961 the facility provided data for the regional SAGE center, and became an operational ADC/FAA joint-use radar. By this time the AN/FPS-10 had been replaced by an AN/FPS-20 search radar. However, this radar was soon replaced by an AN/FPS-35 FD radar. By 1963 this radar operated with AN/FPS-26A and AN/FPS-90 height-finder radars. In 1968 the AN/FPS-90 was deactivated. In 1969 the AN/FPS-35 was removed, and was replaced by an AN/FPS-67 on the same tower (and with a radome); it became operational in 1970. The 750th was deactivated in June 1975. The FAA retained the AN/FPS-67, and continue to operate it today.

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