I’m writing on behalf of my 80 year-old neighbor, Fred Hockett. Despite his age, Fred is in great shape and is still very active hunting and fishing. Fred enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1948 and a few months later Air Corp became the U.S. Air Force. Fred was in the 505th ACW Group, Squadron 637, 11th Radar Calibration Unit. His primary base was McChord Field near Tacoma, Washington. Fred doesn’t know how to use a computer so I’m helping him out. Fred would like to know if there are any web sites for reunions of his unit. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks,

George D. Hudson for Fred Hockett
Sheridan, Oregon.
Email: GDHudson@aol.com

66-68 908th Radar Sqdn Dobbins AFB, GA (Low power GKA-5)

68-68 773rd Radar Sqdn Montauk AFS, NY (High power GKA-5/FRT-49 and ALRI Site)

Have fond memories of my time in the Air Force and enjoy reading the stories and comments regarding radar sites. I was on two, St Albans and Murphy Dome, so I do feel like part of the family...
El

"Oh, those guys again ..."

March 25, London, England (CNN) -- Rare photos of Russian strategic bomber jets purportedly intercepted in British airspace show Moscow's war machine is becoming increasingly bold, analysts said Thursday as Russia denied any territorial violations. Britain's Ministry of Defence released images it said were taken earlier this month of two Russian Tu-160 bombers -- known as Blackjacks by NATO forces -- as they entered UK airspace near the Outer Hebrides islands off Scotland's northwest coast. It said the March 10 incident, which resulted in crystal clear images of the planes against clear blue skies and a dramatic sunset, was one of many intercepts carried out by British Royal Air Force crews in just over 12 months …

Link:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/25/russia.uk.intercepts/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

Let's see---the advent of nuclear submarines and ICBM's forced a change in our strategic defensive thinking and posture regarding the threat from manned Soviet bombers. Our defensive changes eventually resulted in the closing of SAGE by 1984.

History repeats itself and/or---what goes around comes around. The Soviet bombers are now Russian bombers and...here we go again! I wonder if the British Royal Air Force might need some help from a few “old Yanks” as they did in a previous war??

I was stationed at the SAGE control center in Corvallis, Ore from 1963 to July 1965. Would like to talk to anyone who might have been there. I am especially interested in contacting Jimmy Willingham who was best man at my wedding.
I spent one year at the 922nd AC&W Squad. in Cartwright, Labrador until August, 1966 and would like to talk to anyone who was there.

was stationed at sweetwater from 7/1965 to 10 1967 would like to hear from airmen stationed there at that time thanks jmw

My father,SSGT John T. Hoard was an engineer and retired from the USAF in 1965. He passed away on March 25,2007,and was buried with full military honors in his hometown of Tarboro,NC. From 1960-1961,he was assigned to the 785th Radar Squadron in Finley. I remember a few things about living there on base. I remember riding the bus to the little school in town. I remember enjoying the wide open spaces with my brother and sister.Sadly,I also remember that the base commander was shot and killed in a deer hunting accident by one of our neighbors.
If anyone was there during that time,and remembers my Dad or our family,I'd appreciate hearing from you.
My mothers name was "Jibby"
My name is John T. Hoard,Jr and my sister is Deanna and my little brothers name is Steve..... Thanks in advance

A Vote to Replace Radar; By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS; March 22: The Senate voted Monday to approve a bill that would speed the modernization of the nation’s antiquated air traffic control system by replacing radar with GPS technology. The $34.5 billion bill, which passed 93 to 0, requires key elements of the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen program be in place as soon as 2014. The new system is expected to ease airport congestion and delays by allowing planes to take more direct routes and fly closer to each other. ...

Here is a link for a complete article from USA Today on the radar replacement system---Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) mentioned below by Gary Jacobs.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-08-27-airport-radar_N.htm

And just how will GPS replace Radar for those aircraft that don't want to be seen? Looks like opening for future 9-11?

I do not believe GPS would ever replace "primary" air-surveillance radar. However, it is conceivable that GPS might replace "secondary" radar (i.e., transponders, or SIF) onboard aircraft. There are already systems in place that use GPS navigational signals to compute a vehicle's location, and then transmit the vehicle's location to a central monitoring station. Such a system seemingly would work for air traffic control as well.

The New York Times/March 23, 2010

Robert M. White, who played an important role in the development of manned spaceflight as the first pilot to fly a winged craft into outer space, died Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. He was 85.In the early 1960s, Major White, an Air Force pilot, was among those who pushed the envelopes of speed and altitude flying above the California desert out of Edwards Air Force Base. On July 17, 1962, he flew the rocket-powered X-15 plane to an altitude of 314,750 feet, or 59.6 miles, almost 10 miles above Earth’s atmosphere. He was the Air Force’s prime pilot for the X-15 program.

Hi all, Just found out about the Radomes Site when making a visit to the 687th AC&W site in ABQ...

Dick

762nd AC&W Sq. / Radar Sq. / Air Defense Gp., North Truro AFS, MA, reunion is scheduled for the first weekend in August 2010 on Cape Cod, Mass. The specific venue is still /T.B.D./. All military members and civilians who were ever stationed there or worked there are invited to attend. Dependents are welcome, too. The point of contact is Terry Thomas, terryt6l@comcast.net.

Hi from the AN/FST 2 veteran

Any one out there from our old 662nd RADAR site, Brookfield, OH? I was there 10/53 to 03/56. My nick name was Whitey. Do you remember me? Drop me an e-mail..........Paul

This is a great site. Served in Korea in 1953 with 5th Comm. Sqdn (Command) 315th Air Div. Combat Cargo as NCOIC of ground radio unit at K-55, Osan and then at 790th AC&W Sgdn in Bartlesville, Okla. in 1954-l956. There was no need of radio operaters there and work on repair projects on radar domes, teletype crypto operator and finally as operator of the unit MARS radio station and barracks chief of BKS #5. The CO was a Maj. Deal. Had an enjoyable tour there withe a great bunch. Regards to all AC&W vets.

Stationed at 637th AC&W, Othello, WA 6/62 through 9/64 30352, A1C. Tried to join but could not get through. Currently live in Moses Lake, about 35 miles north(previous home of Larson AFB(SAC).

I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER

After 43 years I'm still working on radars.

I was stationed at the 765th Radar Sq from Oct 72 thru Feb 75 as the Station support Officer.

Steve Kesselman

I have just received your web-site address from a former colleague and for a beginning lokked through the list of the radar station call signs. Having spent 27 years in ATC in Germany beginning in 1957 telephone contact to the various mil radar sites was daily
business. I noted that some of the call signs of Germany mentioned in your list are not
correct. For instance BARBER was located at Pruem (Eifel), WATERHOLE was 615th at
Boerfink as was SCANDALIZE and HARDTIRE. CORNBEEF was 602nd and 619th at Birkenfeld
(Erbeskopf) and later became RHEIN CONTROL (ARTCC). I will look through my old lists and let you know in case I find some more.

Regards,
FF

Stationed at the "Bucks" from Dec 74-May 75.

Great job guys!!

623rd AC&W Det.2 4/67-4/68

HELLO ALL! I AM TRYING TO FIND INFO ABOUT ANY OTHER SERVICEMAN WHO MIGHT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HEARING AFTER SERVING IN ARIZONA UP ON MOUNT LEMMON IN TUCSON, ARIZONA. THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN STATIONED AT FORT HUACHUCA, COCHISE COUNTY. ANY TIME DURING OR AFTER 1955-1958. MY GRANDFATHER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VA. HE HAS HEARING LOSS IN BOTH HIS EARS. WE NEED UR HELP. IF U HAVE ANY INFO E-MAIL ME PLEASE. SUBJECT TITLE HEARING LOSS-VA. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

I was stationed at Cape Lisburne, Alaska with the 711 AC&W Sq. from Oct. 1952 to Mar 1954. My CO was Captain Loomis who was replaced by LTC Williams.

An old friend of mine and his wife are active in the Albuquerque NM chapter of American Gold Star Mothers. His son, a Marine Major, was KIA in Iraq in 2007. They are currently involved in a fund raiser for the Fisher House Foundation. Fisher House is a charity that provides housing near military and VA hospitals in which families can stay while visiting sick or wounded service members. Fisher House is currently raising money for a new facility to be built at DOVER AFB in Delaware. This facility will be a place for families to stay as they wait to receive the remains of family members who have been killed in the line of duty in Iraq or Afganistan. If you would like to make a donation, please e-mail me and I can forward you more information. For more information on the Fisher House Foundation, go to www.fisherhouse.org.

F.Y.I., I learned recently that NBC Universal is producing a 2-hour documentary about Camp Hero / Montauk AFS, to air on the 'ScyFy' channel sometime in July this year. As you might guess, the theme is all about those weird conspiracy theories and what might be behind them. When I find out the planned air time & date, I will make another post here. Stay tuned.

For Harry Vic this is the link to follow for BMT Photos

http://www.bmtflightphotos.af.mil/

I came across the following post. The Air Force Association, publisher of Air Force Magazine,lists the following report: "The Air Force and the Cold War:A pictorial history."

http://www.afa.org/Mitchell/reports/1205cw_prem.pdf

904th AC&W Radar Winslow, AZ 1961-1962

I was a Radio Operator in the 744th AC&W Squadron (Murphy's Dome) in 1957.

Would anyone have group photos of Squadron 3710 Flight 727 at Lackland in 1956 or the 3396th Student Squadron Shift "A" Basic training group photo taken in late 1956? I am trying to replace my lost copies. Please contact me with any info.

Harry Vick
Phoenix, AZ

To Harry Vick: Go to Sampson AFB Veterans assoc. get on the guest book someone will get back to you on the info you request, there is a place where photos from lackland flts are. good luck

AN/FYQ-47 repairman at Makah AFS 758th RADS from Aug 1975 to Feb 1977. Oh do I remember the rain! Still remember how that computer worked too.

I graduated AC&W operator school Keesler AFB May 1952. Served in the Air Defense Command, Alaskan Air Command and NORAD until I retired in September 1973. Served at Snow Mountain AFS, Reno Filter Center Ground Observer Corp, Mill Valley CA, Grand Rapids MN, Murphy Dome AK, Cherry Point NC, Ft George G Meade MD, HQ 26 Air Division Luke AFB and Kalispell MT. Also Attended ECCM Tech training Keesler AFB graduating Feb. 1964. Ended career as MSgt. 27390. Air Defense was a great career.