Information for Manassas AFS, VA

Latitude: 38-37-41 N, Longitude: 077-26-25 W

Call Sign(s): Inform

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-55	Z-55	647	Manassas AFS, VA	FPS-3; CPS-4; FPS-6A; FPS-6B; FPS-26A; FPS-35		Mar-52	25-Jun-65	Site first known as Quantico AFS; renamed Manassas AFS in summer 1957. FPS-35 used for missile-detection tests in 1962, with marginal results. Upon site closure, FPS-35 radar sail sent to Fortuna AFS, ND. Manassas GATR site, R-20, retained until 1976. Located in Independent Hill, VA. Was this a BUIC-II site (AN/GSA-51), either planned or operational?
P-55A			Chestertown, MD **	(FPS-14 planned)				** Gap-Filler Annex. In early ADC plans, but never was built. Believed to have been used as an Army Nike early-warning radar facility (1959-1961).
P-55B	Z-55B / Z-227A		Hermanville, MD	FPS-14	FPS-18	Nov-57	Apr-68	Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant. When Manassas AFS, VA (Z-55) closed in 1965, this GF radar site became an annex of Fort Meade, MD (Z-227).
P-55C			Hallsboro, VA **	(FPS-14 planned)				** Gap-Filler Annex. In early ADC plans, but never was built. FUDS report exists, though, suggesting that land might have been procured.
P-55D	Z-55D		Hanover, PA	FPS-14		Nov-57	Dec 1960	Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant.
P-55F / RP-62G	Z-55F / Z-62G		Thomas, WV	FPS-14	FPS-18 *	Feb-58	circa 1968 (?)	Gap-Filler Annex. * Radar type reportedly changed to FPS-18 circa 1963. Control of site reportedly changed from Manassas AFS, VA (Z-55), to Oakdale AI, PA (Z-62). GFA radar site located on Backbone Mtn., west of town.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-55

Z-55

647

Manassas AFS, VA

FPS-3; CPS-4; FPS-6A; FPS-6B; FPS-26A; FPS-35

Mar-52

25-Jun-65

Site first known as Quantico AFS; renamed Manassas AFS in summer 1957. FPS-35 used for missile-detection tests in 1962, with marginal results. Upon site closure, FPS-35 radar sail sent to Fortuna AFS, ND. Manassas GATR site, R-20, retained until 1976. Located in Independent Hill, VA. Was this a BUIC-II site (AN/GSA-51), either planned or operational?

P-55A

Chestertown, MD **

(FPS-14 planned)

** Gap-Filler Annex. In early ADC plans, but never was built. Believed to have been used as an Army Nike early-warning radar facility (1959-1961).

P-55B

Z-55B / Z-227A

Hermanville, MD

FPS-14

FPS-18

Nov-57

Apr-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant. When Manassas AFS, VA (Z-55) closed in 1965, this GF radar site became an annex of Fort Meade, MD (Z-227).

P-55C

Hallsboro, VA **

(FPS-14 planned)

** Gap-Filler Annex. In early ADC plans, but never was built. FUDS report exists, though, suggesting that land might have been procured.

P-55D

Z-55D

Hanover, PA

FPS-14

Nov-57

Dec 1960

Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant.

P-55F / RP-62G

Z-55F / Z-62G

Thomas, WV

FPS-14

FPS-18 *

Feb-58

circa 1968 (?)

Gap-Filler Annex. * Radar type reportedly changed to FPS-18 circa 1963. Control of site reportedly changed from Manassas AFS, VA (Z-55), to Oakdale AI, PA (Z-62). GFA radar site located on Backbone Mtn., west of town.

History of Manassas AFS, VA

The 647th AC&W Squadron began operating AN/FPS-3 and AN/CPS-4 radars in March 1952, and assumed coverage from Lashup site L-14 at Fort Meade, MD. The AN/FPS-3 remained active until 1962. In 1958 AN/FPS-6A and AN/FPS-6B radars took over height-finder chores. The site began feeding the SAGE system in January 1959. This site received an AN/FPS-35 radar in 1961, but problems prevented operations. It became operational in 1962, and was tested to determine if it could detect missile launchings. The radar detected Polaris and Minuteman missile launches from Cape Canaveral on June 28, 1962. Additional tests revealed the AN/FPS-35 radar had marginal value for missile detection. The AN/FPS-3 was then retired. In 1963 an AN/FPS-26A replaced the AN/FPS-6A height-finder radar. The site was removed from service on 25 June 1965. Reportedly, the FPS-35 radar sail was then sent to Fortuna AFS, ND, to replace the one there which had been destroyed in a fierce wind storm a year earlier. The Manassas GATR site was retained as site R-20, and continued in operation until 1976.

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

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