Information for Ellington AFB, TX

Latitude: 29-36-56 N, Longitude: 095-10-23 W

Call Sign(s): Short Horn, Tape Worm, Weakfish, Caprock


Perm ID Sage ID JSS ID Unit Location Early
Equip.
Final
Equip.
Oper.
Date
Inact.
Date
Notes
P-79 Z-79   747 Ellington AFB, TX FPS-10 (2); FPS-8/GPS-3; ARSR-1A; FPS-6 ARSR-1E; FPS-6; ARSR-1 is now CARSR with 7172 antenna [FAA]. Apr-52 31-Dec-69 Plans for an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar were cancelled. + Later (1972), this site became part of Southern Air Defense System as site Z-240; still FAA site. Ellington site now operates Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR) radar as of 11/4/2011.
P-79A Z-79A     Fannett, TX FPS-14   Apr-60 Jun-64 Gap-Filler Annex. Located on top of the Big Hill salt dome (but not the same ''Big Hill'' near Beaumont known as the ''Spindletop dome'' (site of the famous Lucas [Oil] Gusher of 1901). Radar building is still extant.
P-79B Z-79B     Van Vleck, TX FPS-14   Apr-60 Jun-64 Gap-Filler Annex. Exact location is in question.

Current Use: Active FAA site. This now-FAA long-range radar site is now data-tied into the Joint Surveillance System (post 9/11).

NOTICE:
Some photos and documents may be marked with varying degrees of classification, up to SECRET. Data so marked is the way it was delivered from official USAF sources, and have been completely declassified. To the best of our knowledge, no currently classified data is stored on this site.
The following site information is available: