I was stationed at the 931st AC&W Squadron on `P` Mountain at Thule, Greenland from 1961-62. I am looking for two 931st patches, anyone know where I can get them?

looking for some info: Is anyone familiar with the two ARSR-4 radar towers on Long Island, NY in Hampton Hills in the woods across from Suffolk Community College? For years there were 2 of them and they were often known as the hampton golf balls. 1 of the towers is gone and I wonder when it was removed and why? There seems to be no access at all to get close to the location of the remaining tower now as it`s deep in the woods. But you can see them from a distance as it`s up on a hill. Email me with any info. Thanks

For ``Islander``: Only one radar tower contains an ARSR-4 radar, which is the tower that`s there now. The ARSR-4 is a three-dimensional (3D) radar, meaning it performs both search (range & azimuth) and altitude-determining functions. One radar does it all. When the radar site (officially known as `Riverhead` or `Suffolk`) was first built back in the 1980-1981 time frame, it had two radar towers: an ARSR-3 search radar (for range & azimuth) and a separate AN/FPS-116 height-finder radar for range and altitude-determining functions. In 1988, all AN/FPS-116 height-finder radars across the country were retired for cost savings. In the mid 1990`s, most existing FAA / Air Force joint-use radars were replaced with the ARSR-4 model. At the Riverhead/Suffolk radar site, both of the two original towers have now been torn down. The newer ARSR-4 tower is actually the third tower to occupy the site. The Riverhead/Suffolk radar site replaced both the Air Force`s radar station at Montauk AFS and the FAA`s radar facility at JFK IAP. For additional information, including photos (past and present), go to http://www.radomes.org/museum/scripts/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=`Riverhead+(Suffolk),+LI,+NY`&key=RiverheadSuffolkLINY&pic=RiverheadSuffolkLINY&doc=RiverheadSuffolkLINY/. The `Photographs` link will take you to a 1981 picture of the site when the ARSR-3 and the AN/FPS-116 were the two radars there. The `Recent Photos` link will take you to several newer pictures showing the ARSR-4 towers and the discontinued AN/FPS-116 tower. Note the differences. By the way, the Riverhead/Suffolk radar site is accessed from the west side, off the Speonk-Riverhead Road. I hope this answers all your questions.

Let`s see; I was at Keesler in 1964, in the 3382nd in the Triangle area, right next to the flightline the Coast Guard used. We sat through a hurricane, and were confined to the dayrooms in the barracks. Of course it was nothing remotely as severe as Katrina, but I still remember the huge bolts of lightning hitting the power poles all around, the copious amounts of rain, and how dark it got. And afterwards, all the bugs and critters, coming from everywhere!

As you are all aware, Gulfport and Biloxi, MS appear to have taken the brunt of death and damage from Hurricane Katrina. Information from the area is very limited so far but I`ll pass on additional info as I get it. Here is the latest message posted on Keesler`s website. No word yet out of the 214th EIS in New Orleans. Harvey ** HURRICANE KATRINA INFORMATION ** KEESLER UPDATE: Keesler Air Force base has survived a direct hit by a Hurricane Katrina a Category 4 hurricane. Initial assessment shows extensive damage to our industrial and housing areas. We are deploying assessment crews and are in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and with commanders of many military bases who have offered assistance. The damage is severe enough that we are unable to leave our shelters until Thursday at the earliest in order to assure our recovery teams have cleared debris and made it safe for us and our families to return home. Brigadier General Lord and your leadership promises to keep you apprised of the progress of our recovery teams and release you to go home and assess your own damage as soon as it is safe for your family to travel. All pets at the Keesler pet shelter are in good health and weathered this extremely dangerous storm safely. We are doing everything within our power to clear the way and provide the best immediate and long term assistance to help each one of us in order to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brigadier General Lord wants you to know we are not alone and will do everything we can to keep you safe and get you home as soon as possible. Please be patient. We all need to pull together and help us all make it through this difficult time safely.

A/1C Dan Puhl 791st AC&W, Hanna City IL. 1959 - 1962

BILOXI, Miss. (Reuters) - Helicopters plucked frantic survivors from rooftops of inundated homes on Tuesday and officials said hundreds of people may have died in Hurricane Katrina`s attack on the U.S. Gulf Coast, which sent a wall of water into Mississippi and flooded New Orleans. The economic cost of the hurricane`s rampage could be the highest in U.S. history, according to damage estimates. ... In the Mississippi coastal city of Biloxi, hundreds may have been killed after being trapped in their homes when a 30-foot storm surge came ashore, a city spokesman said. `It`s going to be in the hundreds,` spokesman Vincent Creel told Reuters. `Camille was 200, and we`re looking at a lot more than that,` he said, referring to Hurricane Camille, which hit the area in 1969 ... The storm inflicted catastrophic damage all along the coast as it slammed into Louisiana with 140 mph winds, then swept across Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. It shattered buildings, broke boats, smashed cars, toppled trees and flooded cities. Risk analysts estimated the storm would cost insurers $26 billion, making Katrina potentially the costliest U.S. natural disaster. Most of the deaths appear to have been caused by the storm surge, which swept as far as a mile inland in parts of Mississippi. Hundreds of people climbed onto rooftops to escape the rising water and waited to be rescued. Others may have been trapped in attics.

I was an instructor in the ECCM/AJO Course at Keesler`s Annex #1, in Aug 69 when hurricane Camille came through. We took two weeks out of our training to help clean-up the coast. I thought that was bad and from all indications Katrina is a lot worse. My heart goes out to all those people of Keesler and Biloxi.

Keesler- Katrina...to see small item from Keesler AFB regarding Katrina, log onto (Air Force website) http://www.keesler.af.mil/ regarding the Biloxi area log onto http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/

Former OIC Quality Control, 23rd Air Division, ADCOM, 1977-78

Re: Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi got a storm surge of about 20 feet. Biloxi: The Biloxi River is flowing over the bridge on Interstate 10 ... Water on first two floors of Beau Rivage ... Extensive flooding in East Biloxi... Gulfport: Heavy damage to Memorial Hospital ... First floor of the Armed Forces Retirement Home flooded ... three of four walls have collapsed at Harrison Central 9th Grade School in North Gulfport... At least three firehouses have taken significant damage ... Gulfport`s fire chief calls the scene `complete devastation,` with Katrina the strongest storm to hit the state in 36 years. (Note this is still early on in the reporting from that area.)

I served at McChord from 1953 to 1959. I visited the Neah Bay AC&W site 3 or 4 times on TDY. I fondly recall the good fishing there. Also visited other ac&w sites under the 25th Air Division.

Clicked on your link from my 610th ACWRON website. Thanks for your efforts. Especially enjoyed reading the RT jargon. Lots of memories for this ex-Controller of F86F`s 1955-1956 in Southern Japan (Kyushu). I`ll definitely re-visit...thanks. CMG.

SSgt GATR (30454) 3396 Student Sq., Keesler Apr. - Nov. 1968 4626 Support Sqadron, Topsham, ME Dec. 1968 - May 1970 (R25) (redesignated Det. 1, 4624th after 36AD deactivated on 15 Sep 1969) 701 Air defense Group, Fort Fisher AFS, NC July 1970 - Feb. 1972 (Z115) TDY 771 Radar Sq., Cape Charles AFS, VA, Jan - Feb 1971 (AN/GKA5 school)

I WAS STATIONED IN OPHEIM MT. 779TH FROM MARCH 57 UNTIL NOV 57 IN WIRE MAINTENANCE .SWITCH BOARD MAINT. ETC

Radar spawns literature? “Site 18: Short Stories from an Isolated Air Force Radar Detachment in Japan During the Korean War,” by Richard E. Waldron, paperback, Squantum Publishing, October 2005, 196 pp., ISBN: 0965659372. Amazon.com has this description, “Short stories with pictures from a small, isolated Air Force radar site in Japan during the Korean War and Cold War - including news reports of little-known Russian/American air conflicts. Humor, informal military life and off-the-wall activities at Site 18 compare loosely to television`s MASH.” Note, “This item has not yet been released.” Using the site search feature, I think the book concerns the 848 AC&W Sq., Det. 18, Wakkainai, Hokkaido, Japan. Having read a fair amount of military-related books, I’ve always thought radar was worthy of its own stories, as the posts herein suggest. The equipment, the characters, the locations, were (and are) rich fields for a prospective author to explore. Perhaps this book will be a case in point. (Also, weren’t the mobile units really more like MASH?)

Hi. I have some pictures from the 681st. AC&W Sqdn. Cut Bank, MT. How do I get them to you and/or get them to your web site.

Air Police Gate Security, 654th AC&W Squadron, Brunswick NAS, Maine 1956-1962.

I`m helpine my Dad find pictures and old friends that were in the 124th armored ordinance maintenance division in 1951-1952 in bad kreuznach Germany. Thanks

Ran into a rattler the other day and couldn`t help but thionkabout Pyote

wondering about everybody that was there, esp. the 485th

Anyone out there who was with 681st at Cut Bank in 1953-54?

Does anyone remember a Chuck Reeves who would have been on active duty around the mid 60`s? He was shipped out to Germany during that time.

764th ac&wqdn- 1953-57

I noticed in the gap filler radars that the site at Circle Hot Springs, Alaska was not listed. The radar was a TPS-1D search. There were 16 men at the site. I was there in 1956. Glennie Laws, (Airman 1st class, 30352B) e-mail glaws2@cox.net

I got out after my first enlistment and re-enlisted after 95 days. In six months I was eligible for P-1. I met the Pro Pay Board on 23 April 62. How do I remember that date. I had to leave the hospital where my wife was in labor for the birth of our second child to meet the board. I was a 305XX, and Pro Pay was totally dropped to zero May 1972.

I served at Kotzebue for the Comm Squadron in 1967

I was stationed at the radar site from july 1956 to april 1960. Made a trip there recently, too little too late. It was very depressing to see how everything had changed so much. Nevertheless I have many wonderful memories from Gettysburg. I was able to contact a good friend who now lives in Spearfish, S.D. Would like to know about what was my home for almost four years, 903rd AC&W Squadron.

Ref Gary Jacob`s comment on Pro pay. Radar Techs (303X2) did get pro pay. Pro pay was awarded to career fields that were highly technical and hard to retain.Some career fields got P-1 pay of approx $60 and others got P-2 pay of approx $90. Pro was was not successful and caused much controversy from personnel in fields that did not get it. As I recall the program ws phased out after about 2 years. 303x2`s got P-2 during the active period. CMS James Wilson (30390)

We 305s had P-1 pay for a while and then it went up to P-2. I retired in 73 but can`t remember ever losing this extra money.

As a 303X2 I drew P-2 pay for years starting in 1965, later when I changed over to a 308X0 I actually drew P-3 pay for a while before it was phased out.

I first received Pro Pay (P-1, $25) in 1959, as a 27370. Had to meet a squadron board to qualify. That was phased out for 27xxx field a few years later, but when I retrained as a 51171, Computer Programmer, in 1969, I received P-3 ($75) until 31 Dec 72, then P-2 ($50) for a year, then P-1 again for a year. That squadron board was bad news for some guys. In my detachment was a SSgt 5-level wire maintenance man. He froze in front of the board, they decided he was not qualified for Pro-Pay, then that he was not qualified to hold the 5 level, and administratively busted him down to A1C. He was a good man.

Maybe my memory is failing me but I recall as a 27370 we started receiving $30 a month for P-1 pay in 1959. I don`t recall when it was discontinued.

I was a 304x4 1962-1969 (ground radio) and igt p2 pay as soon as I got my 5 Level

Pro Pay recvd. 1961 as A1C E4 was a27350 (scope dope) at the time was at 902nd. AC&W SQ Miles City Montana

Thanks for the walk down memory lane! I was a Radar Operator/AJO for 23 years between 1958 and 1981. Really enjoyed the pictures of the sites where I was station.

Stationed at 785 Radar Sq, Finley AFS, ND, 1974-78. GATR Section. Does anyone remember a SMSgt EE Dubay from Condon AFS OR, 1968-?

I started receiving Pro Pay in 1964 so it must have been in effect prior to that. I continued drawing it until around 1972 when they phased it out for 303x2`2 since they were no longer critical.

In 1964 most of the 30xxx received propay. P1 was $30.00 AND P2 was $60.00 per month. First termers were not eligbile.

794th acw, Cape Newenham, 1954 .1955

Okay, anyone know this one: Did technicians who worked on gap-fillers get `proficiency pay,` that is, a kind of extra pay for unique fields. I don`t know if any radar tech ever got pro pay? By the way, my recollection is as a Keelser student circa 1971, I got about $65 every couple of weeks, this would be prior to the all-volunteer army concept later adopted (there still being a draft). And yes, I recall I got my room (with two roommates) and rations (the dining hall, for which I had a meal card) so that was reimbursement of a type. All that and the chance to learn radar, too. Bear in mind time has made memories fuzzy, that signal to noise ratio found in the aging radar types.

I was looking for a former member of the 681st that was stationed in Cut Bank during 53 thru 57 or 58. Name was Billy Statler and he was from Mountian Home Idaho.

A few weeks ago we recieved two notebooks full of radar installation slides, but there was no return information, or ID of the sender. If you are the person who sent these to us at RADOMES, please get in touch with me via email. Thanks very much (great slides!) - Gene

775th Cambria, CA 1958 - - -918th Prince George, BC, CA 1959 - - -HQ 32nd Air Division, Marietta, GA 1960-61

Assigned to the 13MWS at Clear AFS, AK February 1982 to February 1983. Also assigned to the SAGE of the 21ADS at the 21st then the 24th AD at Hancock Field, NY from 1983 until closing in 1984. Finally stationed at the 24AD at the ROCC at Griffis AFB, NY until 1985.

Lived just a few miles from the SAGE installation at Topsham, Maine, and always wanted to know its history. Thanx!

Ref: Jack and Jim`s comments on the `3D` radars. I worked on the CPS-6A at Keesler during the 1950-51 timeframe. It had a horizontal and slant antenna that produced both azimuth, range and height. It had five transmitters, 3 for the horizontal and two for the slant antenna. It rotated on four `trucks`, each with two wheels. We called it the `old Eight Wheeler`. The wheels and track were very similar to railroad train wheels and track. It was located on the flightline apron between hanger 1 and 2 on a 25 foot temperate tower. You can see a picture of it if you click on the Radar Equipment entry in the contents section of this site. The picture was taken by my good friend, Chuck Rowland. This CPS-6A was used to support the radar ops school. A later version was the CPS-6B. It was similar, but far from a carbon copy. I remember they had a 6B at Tyndall when I was there in 1952, but I didn`t work on it. I worked on the CPS-4 and CPS-5. All of these were used to support the controllers school at Tyndall. Another 6B was installed at Highlands AFS, NJ (Twin Lights). I`m sure the technology of coming up with the height readings were like day and night between the CPS-6A/B and the TPS-43E that Jim mentioned.

I believe that the 745th, located in Duncanville, Tx., had a `V` beam radar in the 1956 to 1959 time frame. It was said that this set had two antennas on a common frame, and was able to determine height and position. I don`t know if `V` beanm was the same as the CPS-6a.

Your right, Bob. The 745th at Duncanville had a stripped down version of the CPS-6B called the FPS-10. And yes, they did call the CPS-6A/B V Beam sets.

In 1969 at Luke AFB, 727-3 TCS we had a TPS-43 in late 1969. The old radar that Jim asked about maybe the CPS-6B nw2hich had multiple attena mounted on a single platform.

Just looking for anyone from the 778 Radar Squadron, Havre, Montana. My husband served there from `63 & `64.

Jeff States said he, `Would be interested to know when the 3D radar concept went into standard usage???` In the late 70`s TAC radar units upgraded from the two-dimensional TPS-44 to the 3-D TPS-43E. I went to a TPS-43E maintenance school at Keesler in the summer of 78, but I think I`ve heard of earlier (like a 50`s era) system that was an attempt at including azimuth, range and height data from a single radar set. Somewhere in the dark pages of my memory is a picture of a combination search and height that are two distinctly separate antennas on a single rotating platform. Others?

Would love to hear from people from the past.

I was stationed at Tin City, AK (710th AC&W Sqdn) from June, `53 to June `54. I recently tried to find the area on a satellite photo and couldn`t locate any recognizable landmarks. Fifty years has passed since I was there, but something recognizable should still exist. The Radome was on top of a mountain with a steep drop that was very near the Bering Sea.I would doubt that it would have been completely removed when the base was closed. Does any one know of a site that might show some detail? The Village of Wales was aroung the point (about fifteen miles, I think) from the radar site, and I did find some photos and information on that. Appreciate any suggestions anyone might have.

`Want to Buy` A shoulder patch from the 681st. AC&W Sqdn. Cut Bank, MT. Sent me an e-mail if anyone has an extra one. Thanks

I was stationed at Sparrevohn in 1970, I have lots of memories and slides and would like to share with those who were there at that time.

I was an FAA radar tech on 20 tower at Olathe NAS around 1962. Anyone else there at that time?

I served with the 729th TCS at MacDill AFB 1976-77 and then with the the 622nd TCF at Rheingrafenstein, 1977-79. It was worth the three month extension to serve in the 622nd.

I served with the 729th TCS at MacDill AFB 1976-77 and then with the the 622nd TCF 1977-79. It was worth the three month extension to serve in the 622nd under Maj. Sterling W. Boyd.

Still looking for Ray Tate I was with him at the 767th at TA NM-was also at 768th at Moriarty NM and 685th at Las Cruces NM. Really enjoyed the AC&W Sq. I was In the Air Police

Hello To whom it may concern? How do you become a memeber on here? I would like to sign up my Dad Ret Tech SGT Donald E Billet USAF. He was a Radar Tech,Maint 30372 Please e-mail me back I would like to know Thank You By the way This is a Great site.

I would like to get in touch with those who seved in the Interim Air Defense System-Alaska in 1950/51, especially anyone who was at Galena (Pre-Campion). My tour at Galena was from Aug 50 to Sep 51. I arrived 5 weeks after the start of 24 hour operation and two months before activation of the 11th Aircraft Control & Warning Group at Ladd AFB (Direction Center). Myself along with two other Enlisted Men were the first upon the crash scene of the F94 in which Lt Dotz (Pilot) and Alan Campion (RO) were killed in November 1950. The `New` Radar site built some distance from Galena was named after Lt Alan Campion.

Would be interested to know when the 3D radar concept went into standard usage???

looking for former members of Osceola AFSTA, WI.

Seems as though I remember in the 61-65 time period that the FPS-8 was used as a gap filler. Anyone know if this is correct? B

I was a long range radar maint tech from 1955 to 1971 and enjoyed scanning your site. Your info brought back many good memories. Thank you

Served with 719th ACW (Sparrevohn, AK), Jan. 73 to Jan. 74 (can anyone advise if the site is still operational?). PCS to Homestead AFB w/Det. 2, 552nd AEWC for about a year and a half. The Connie (EC121) stood down to make way for AWACS which set up shop at Tinker. I stayed in Homestead (before Andrew blew it away) with 726 ACW (TAC).

How do I join The Air Defense Radar Veterans` Association. I was on an AC&W station in the late 50`s. 1957 thru Jan. 1960. 681st. ACWRON (ADC) Cutbank, Montana.

I never heard of an FPS-8 at a gap filler site, Billy. They did have a lot of FPS-18`s installed though. It`s possible that one could have been installed at one of the manned gap fillers, but I doubt if any were at the unmanned sites.

At manned gap-filler radar sites in the CONUS, the AN/TPS-1D medium-range search radar was typically used. At unmanned gap-filler radar sites in the CONUS, the AN/FPS-14 and AN/FPS-18 short-range search radars were exclusively used. (The AN/FPS-8 was a long-range search radar.) Probably just confused the two numbers.

Michael Woodard: Yes, Sparrevohn AFS is indeed still active; it is now designated as Sparrevohn Long-Range Radar Site (instead of Air Force Station). The Alaskan Air Force long-range sites all operate AN/FPS-117 radars now which are 3D phased-array systems -- one radar provides search, range, and height functions.

With today`s scheduled space walk to remove the protruding `gap fillers` I am reminded that old terms that we once used back in our time(gap filler)can always take on new meanings!!

My father is retired from the Air Force (and a member of your group). I grew up on radar stations and AFBs all over the country and abroad. Your site is informative and it is like a trip back to my childhood. You have done an excellent job!

Hello to all my AC&W friends. I went through Tech School at Keesler in 1958,was stationed at Omaha AFS from 58-60, and Cartwright/Fox Harbour in 1961. Looking for old friends.

Just returned from reunion at Fortuna ND - had a great time. Also stopped at Minot South Base. Both sites are in deplorable condition, sad to see. Was stationed at following radar associated bases Kelly AFB, TX - 2866 GEEIA - 1966-67 Dong Ha AB, RVN - Det 1, 620TCS - 1967 Pleiku AB, RVN - Det 2, 620 TCS - 1968 Fortuna AFS, ND - 780 ADGp, 1968-70 Caswell AFS, ME - 766 AC&WS, 1970-72 Minot AFS, ND - 786 AC&WS, 1972-74 Tempelhof AB, GE - 1946CS - 1975-78 Pope AFB, NC - 74 TCF - 1978-79 Davis-Monthan AFB - 83 TCF - 1979-82 Wheeler AFB HI - 326AD/169 AC&WS - 1982-86 Anyone stationed with me? I`d love to hear from old friends.

Hi all, Time again for my semi-annual search for anyone who served at the `Cave` in Kindsbach, Germany from 1962-1966. These were the years during which the GE 412L air weapons control system replaced the manual plotting system in Germany. Althought the cave has been `sealed` for more than 10 years and 412L is a distant relic of the cold war, my search continues! Happy summer to you all...

New sea-going platform for latest anti-missile radar announced here: http://www.spacewar.com/news/bmdo-05zj.html

Okay, radar trivialists, what was the meaning of `407L,` or 412L,` with regard to Germany-based air defense radars? Were these designators picked out of thin air or were there some meanings to them?

Gary...I have tried to research that myself. 412L was originally called 212L. As far as I know they are Air Force/GE numeric designations that simply refer to a specific weapons system---nothing more!

Jeff and Gary: Those are Program designators (although, technically, I guess you could refer to them as ``weapon systems``). 407L designated TACS (Tactical Air Control System), now GTACS (Ground Theater Air Control System). 412L designated AWCS (Air Weapons Control System) (originally WS-212L, as Jeff indicated). Also, SAGE was 416L (originally WS-216L), BUIC was 416M, and Common Digitizer for SAGE/BUIC was 416Q. The Hawaiian Air Defense System was 418M. The modern-day Joint Surveillance System is 968H. Etc., etc. Most of these programs can be found on-line using a standard Internet search engine such as `Google.`

I have been a Radome Member and contributor for many years. I have just found out that my company is looking for radar experience in the development of a digital radar test driver type system that is heavy in the software area. The job is in Huntsville Alabama. General radar analysis is the main requirement, but software development in the signal processing area would be a plus. If interested, send your resume to: Human Resources (Radar Program) 1500 Perimeter Pkwy Suite 215 Huntsville, AL 35806