History of Punta Borinquen Radar Station, Puerto Rico
From the 141 ACS web site, http://www.prsanj.ang.af.mil/141acs/history.htm -
141st AIR CONTROL SQUADRON (CRE) HISTORY
"On 13 October 1964, Det 1, 140th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (ACWS) was created under the control of Air Defense Command (ADC). It was located at former Ramey AFB in Aguadilla, PR, on the north western tip of the island of Puerto Rico. Its parent unit the 140th ACWS was located on the north eastern portion of the island. The mission of the detachment was to extend the radar coverage to the west of the island using the GPS-3, radar and also to provide radar support to the 72nd Bomb Wing located also at Ramey AFB.
In 1972, Ramey AFB was de-activated and most of its facilities were turned over to the local government, some areas are now occupied by the US Coast Guard, the Army Reserve, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Det l, 140th ACWS continued its mission as an early warning radar site and ground control intercept for the 156th TFG, Muniz ANG Base. Since August of 1980, the unit has been supporting the drug interdiction effort by being involved in U.S.Customs and local law enforcement agencies operations.
On 8 September 1985, Det 1, 140 ACWS was redesignated as the 141st ACWS and continued to provide support to the drug interdiction programs. In 1986, the 141st was instrumental in setting up and maintaining/operating a TPS-44 radar at Camp Santiago Training Site on the southern part of the island. The involvement and dedication demonstrated by the members of the 141st ACWS to the missions and exercises resulted in its selection to fulfill the mission as a Forward Air Control Post (FACP) for the Caribbean theater.
On 2 May 1988, the 141st ACWS was converted to the 141st Tactical Control Squadron (TCS). The unit conversion to a FACP mission, resulted in the receipt of a TPS-43E mobile radar, new supporting communication equipment, including satellite communications, and 54 vehicles and mobilizers. Today we are known as the 141st Air Control Squadron (CRE) and have converted to the Modular Control Equipment (MCE), the latest in Air Force technology, also theTPS-43E radar was replaced by the TPS-75 radar. The unit conducted succesfully an ORI phase1 as a Control and Reporting Element (CRE), on 31 Jan - 4 Feb 1999."
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