I was stationed at "top camp" at Tin City from the summer of 1971 to summer 73. You can really see Asia from North America. I have photos to prove it. I've photographed Asia from both North America and Europe.

While not related to radar or air defense per se, this editorial is very much related to homeland security. As someone who resided in Arizona for almost 8 years, I agree with the new illegal-immigration law 100%. The editorial explains why very well. See http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/opinion/29kobach.html.

For the record, I (like most Americans) am not against immigration. I'm only against ILLEGAL immigration. LEGAL immigrants are welcome. Is it too much to ask to keep out borders secure and the American people safe? I think that's a reasonable thing to expect!

Tom: I am 100% with you on that, I come from immmigrants like many of us, I remember fondly of my Grandmothers Swedish accent, came hear @ 16 knowing NO english went to work to survive no handouts, another grandmother poor as hell came over from Ireland with a cardboard box with small amount of cloths, with there HUSBANDS!! they left a wonderful legasy children, grandchildren etc. they did it the right way all became citizens in fact I proudly display there citizenship certifacate framed

Loking for Sgt Ronald E.mullen of Burbank,Wa. Went to Columbis HS graduated in '54.He knew Marlene Crowther.

Author would like to hear from anyone with photos and stories of USAF helicopters involved with radar sites. Research for book.
Wayne Mutza
wmutza@wi.rr.com

I WAS STATIONED AT SPARRVOHN 719 AC&W SQADRON FROM 1957 TO 1958.

Radar Tech at the 666th AC&W from 1952 till Oct "53.Transferred to the the 4701st AEW&C at McClellan to fly on the RC-121c,ds..Disc '55 hired by IBM.Became Tech Rep on the ASQ-38 B-52 Bomb/Nav System in SAC.Until 1978.Then up to Alaska and Japan,prowling around the Soviet Union on special 135s til about 1972.Then worked on the DSP program, which via satellites monitored Soviet missile launches and nuclear activity.Almost forgot,spent about a year and a half at the Cape on the Saturn program.

Air Force March 1957 until September 1959. Basic at Parks AFB; tech school at Keesler AFB; 633rd AC&W in Tripoli, Lybia; Point arena, CA; Unalakleet Alaska. Lots of fond memories. Hope to connect with some of my old chums.

I served in the 629th ACW Sqdn at England AFB, LA from May 1954 till we made the move to Italy. The whole Radar Squadron left together as a group. We packed all the Radar Equipment and vehicles and drove them to Port Arthur, TX., where they were placed on a ship and ferried to Livorno (Leghorn) Italy, (Camp Darby). We all on the night of 10 November 1954 were packed in three C-124 Globemasters II and flew to McGuire AFB, NJ. Then convoyed by buses to Stapleton, Staten Island, where we boarded the USNS Gen. R. E. Callan a World War II Liberty Ship,eight days later we docked in Casablanca, North Africa and let off troops that were going to be stationed in North Africa.
After that we steamed to Leghorn, Italy where our vehicles and equipment were already waiting. From there we drove to Aviano, Italy and all the rest is history.
Thank you for letting me express some of my very first experiences in the Air Force.

Albert A. Pjosek, TSG RET USAF

Bad news for the Keesler area? Associated Press story, Apr. 27

BILOXI, Miss. -- This time, it's not a hurricane that threatens to wreck their livelihoods -- it's a blob of black ooze slowly making its way toward the Gulf Coast. Hotel owners, fishermen and restaurateurs are keeping anxious watch as an oil slick spreads from a wrecked drilling rig site like a giant filthy ink blot. Forecasters say it could wash ashore within days near delicate wetlands, oyster beds and pristine white beaches. Crews have not been able to stop thousands of barrels of oil from spewing out of the sea floor since an April 20 explosion destroyed the Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling 50 miles off the Louisiana coast. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead, and the cause of the explosion has not been determined. Louis Skrmetta, 54, runs a company called Ship Island Excursions that takes tourists to the Gulf Islands National Seashore, where white-sand beaches and green water create an idyllic landscape. "This is the worst possible thing that could happen to the Mississippi Gulf Coast," he said. "It will wipe out the oyster industry. Shrimping wouldn't recover for years. It would kill family tourism. That's our livelihood." ...

Link:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Gulf-businesses-wait-as-oil-apf-1200710473.html?x=0

like to hear from any one station at 913th ac@w site pagwariver ontario may 1960 to may 1961 like to locate rolla manning

I was at Sparrevohn (719th) from Feb 54-Jan 55. Love to hear from others who served there!!

I was stationed at the "kuppe from 1967-74 and lived in Germany for 30+ years. That said I was one of the chief organizers and acting press officer for Armstrong's visit and subsequently co-authored [in German] "Die Wasserkuppe: Ein Berg mit Geschichte" (The Wasserkuppe a mountain with history) that has a significant portion of AC&W history
however, I write medieval history
www.irishmatryoshka.coM

in addition to serving with 848 squadron in japan in 1956-57,i also serve with 963 squadron at mc cellan afb flying in the rc121 awacs aircraft as radar operator from 1957-59.we stopped sac many times from completing their missions against the united states.

I was stationed @ 762 RADS from 81-84--contact me

stationed on the Rock, Langerkoph from 1-5-56 to 12-15-1958

Stationed at 760th AC&W from 1955 to 1957.

An alternative weapons system now in the news. Use Google and search "Prompt Global Strike." The planning for Prompt Global Strike is being headed by Gen. Kevin P. Chilton of the Air Force, the top officer of the military’s Strategic Command and the man in charge of America’s nuclear arsenal

I was stationed @ the Army Hawk site 31, from Dec 61-64.I remenber going to Vimy Kaserne? to shower and shop at the small PX there.
Regards,
Jose

I served at the 636th AC&W, Condon,or from April, 52-Sept54 as an air policeman upon returning from Korea

i served at det 45 back in 1956-57 with 848acw squadron.now living in oregon,if anyone was there with me please get in touch.

I was stationed at the 626th AC&W Sqdn at Fire Island, Alaske from 1955 to 1956 and at the 739th AC&W at Wadena, MN from 1956 to 1957.
Worked in Wire Maintenance Communications. Went to school at F.E.Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1954-55.
Would like to hear from anyone that was at any of these "wonderful" places. Time in the USAF: 1954 to 1958.

Stationed at 789th AC&W in Omaha, NE from 1957-1959. 931st AC&W at Thule Greenland 1959-1960. Radar Repair

I was stationed at the 785 acw sqd. in 1957 to oct. 1958 teletype maints. anyone out there remember me?

Hello
I am looking for 5 patches for my collection

Reno air defense sector patch
28th AD with motto
192nd FIS
152nd Fighter Group (AD)
ADC large

Please if you can help me out in anyway with a patch or a scan of these patches
Thanks for your time

Neil in Alaska and loven it

When I was at Hanscom AFB, Mass., in 1980, Electronic Systems Division had a "Directorate of Iranian Air Defense." The Shah wanted safe airspace, it seemed. Speaking of which, a year or two later we sold the AWACS to the Saudis, which, it turned out, I later got to see in Riyadh. By that time the Shah was history, and Iran and Iraq were at war. The story below is from the LA Times, Sun., Apr. 18. The story includes mention of mobile tactical radars:

Iran unveiled what it described as a new air defense system during an annual military display Sunday as policymakers in Washington confronted new reminders about their limited range of options for responding to Tehran's apparent arms buildup.The new system, which Iran said is designed to defend against attacks by missiles and high-altitude planes, was introduced as the government awaits delivery of sophisticated missile defense batteries it has bought from Russia but which have been delayed because of Israeli pressure on Moscow. Tehran's assertion of new military advances came amid disclosures that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wrote to White House officials in January to warn that more options were needed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. U.S. officials and their allies accuse Iran of trying to develop such weapons, but Tehran says its research program is aimed solely at developing civilian nuclear energy ...

Link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-iran19-2010apr19,0,5679903.story?page=1

Was stationed in 83-84 and have several from a recon flight on a UH1 looking for a WW2 aircraft that had gone down. Would be interested in having Michael Horne contact me if he was stationed there. I was in the Fire Department.

I was stationed at CAFS from march 66 through feb 70, I worked at the commissary ans exchange. I also taugh Karate the time I was there.
any former members please get in touch

I was in the 852nd AC&W Squadron from Dec. 1953 to Jun. 1955.
Enjoyed my tour, and loved "The Rock".

Anyone interested in buying the diesel generators at the old electrical power plant at Hancock Field (SAGE), North Syracuse, NY? The generators are still in working order, says the YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/user/SandSMachinery#p/a/u/0/8uGRzXuvO7E. Order now -- operators are standing by!

I was never at this AC&W but was at the 641st at Labrador which was simular to the one in alaska

I was stationed at 773rd 1975-79.It was a great assignment(during the summer)winters were very cold. I had fond memories of my time there.

Served as Radar Maintenance from 1956-1960 at Requa, CA; Winnemucca, NV and finally at Ipswitch, Suffux County, England

Gary...Your post reminded me of being stationed at the Kindsbach Cave in Germany (1962-1966). It was the ADOC (air defense operation center)for Europe. Perhaps the recent find was the other sides answer to Kindsbach.

For all of us veterans of Hancock Field (SAGE), here's an update: The old SAGE Complex now has a new owner and a new function, as a secure storage facility. See http://www.suttoninvestingcorp.com/.

So, I guess the proposed demolition of the SAGE blockhouses for airport expansion (new runway) won't be taking place now.

Seems vintage and laughable now, but I recall this circa 1974 at the 622nd TCF in Germany. Maybe others do, too. You got the phone call at home or the barracks to deploy. You put on your deployment uniform, bloused boots and polyester blue neckerchief in your fatigues. There was a name for that uniform I forget. For us in radar, the standard was (I think) 6 hours to tear down the TPS-44, all of it and ready it. If you worked fast, it could be done in half the time, and usually was. It was hard physical labor, sometimes exacting, sometimes just lugging cables. Add to that the German weather, cold, rainy, foggy. Plus, maybe you had slept, maybe not. The you went into the briefing about where you were going. An officer presided. My memory was where we went was generally just some location on a mountain. Then our procedures if attacked. If we're nuked, we die. If we are attacked by chem or bio weapons, we had masks, and (really) masking tape to close off our fatigues. Some such equipment was in silver cans. I forget what was in them. I thought if ever it really happened, they would find us and say prior to death we had some kind of ceremony involving silver cans. I remember on one deployment we went one place, then another. I fell asleep in the truck after something like two days awake and dreampt someone was hitting me in the face with a block of ice. I awoke and the right side of my face was bouncing off the cold window, complete with drool. At the time I didn't like being in the woods or camping and wish now I could revisit it, older, wiser, liking it.

There was a SSgt. Lou Csoky, great guy, taught me a lot about being an NCO and a man. Decided to go to college while I was there.

Cold War era Soviet Bloc plans for WWII? The map that goes with the German publication story below is interesting, as was the description of the battle plan. Bear in mind there is some discussion over the validity of the finds. I thought of the tactical control flights. The thought back in the day would be that there would be a build-up of tension, or, at the very least, observable preparations on the other side. (Here one can think back to the mobilizations prior to World War I that seemed to slide into the conflict.)

***********************************

German historians are divided over the significance of a massive Communist-era bunker in the former East Germany. Was it to be used as a command post in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe? Researchers now believe Europe was closer to the nuclear abyss than was previously believed. Riding in fully enclosed trucks, a military construction crew under the command of the East German National People's Army was driven to a remote woodlot near Kossa in the state of Saxony, which at the time was part of communist East Germany. They were not supposed to hear anything, see anything or say anything. They were only here to work. First, the soldiers put up 6 kilometers (3.75 miles) of steel fencing and ran 6,000 volts of electricity through it. The men dug deep holes with excavators and poured concrete walls. Then the underground facility was fitted with electronic systems. The secret fortress was completed in 1979. Located in the middle of a heath, the installation consisted of six separate bunkers that cannot be seen from the air, spread over an area of 75 hectares (185 acres), and built with blast-resistant steel doors and decontamination showers ...

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,687920,00.html

I was Training officer for the 705th ACW SQ 1967/68. Ltc Ed Hess was commander when I signed on in '67; then Ltc James Hall took over. It was a once in a lifetime experience.I was interested to see that King Salmon still exists. In addition to Training Offcer for the 705th I was also the Food Services Officer for the 5071st Air Base Group. Seeing the articles on the web brought back many memor ane-ies. If anyone our here was there at that time and wants to talk over old times give me hollar

at Cape Scott, B.C. from the very beginning.

Worked radar sites in Alaska from 1979 through 1987.....last 2.5 years on the Dew Line.

I was the last crew cheif of the ANRCC in Alaska, when we officially handed control over to the ROCC system. I told my troops we would be remembered as turning the lights out on the old ANRCC ssytem.

Great site.

Bigjohn

I am looking for anyone who has a year book from the 759th Radar Sqdn. during it's last years being open. I need a picture of my Dad in uniform; M/Sgt William C. Black. Please contact me if you can help. Thank you.

I'm Sorry. I have a new key board and it has trouble spelling. Its Kittitas, Washington.

I was stationed at Las Cruces AFS site March 58 to July 59. I do have some photos and can answer some questions that I saw on the web site. The big building was the chow hall. The quonset huts was barracks for enlisted single airmen, exception the sgts. was a quonset hut, but it was located at one end near the orderly room and supply. I was there when they just started to build some house for the base. I installed the telephone for the contractor. I see they were taken away.

If you would like, I could send the photos.

Ed Sullivan

Served at the 756th AC&W Squadron in Finland MN in the sixties.

If you are interested. I have a possible location for P-40a. The gap filler radar located at Kettitas. West of Ellenburg At 46 57 04 120 43 28 the University of Washington has an observatory. According to the aerial image for P-40a it is located on the 47th parallel and about halfway between the 120 and 121 longitude. That puts P-40a in the vicinity of the observatory. I’m using Google Earth.

Spent 22 yrs in Radar.Eglin AFB,Westover AFB,932nd AC&W Iceland,Colville,Wash.,764th St Albans,Vt,713th Ac&W Alaska,Sioux City Sector,Iowa,961st AEW&C. Otis AFB,5th TAC PI,964th AEW&C Calif

I was stationed at the 741st radar squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio TX in 1968 until the closing. Would love to hear from someone who was stationed there at that time.

As I recall, one factor for the minimum target-detection distance was the TR-ATR tube 'off' time. Most radars used one waveguide for both transmitted RF signals (megawatts) and received RF signals (milliwatts). Without the transmit-antitransmit (TR-ATR) tube --- typically consisting of a spark gap --- transmitted RF energy would burn out the receiver. After each pulse was transmitted, there was a short "dead time" when the waveguide to the receiver was electrically blocked; therefore, closeby tagets could not be "seen," as the return came back before the waveguide to the receiver was back open. There might have been other factors, too; this is the one I remember.

Was in Radar ops from 1955 till 1968. Stationed at Nemuro AFS Japan,North Charleston,S.C.,Alaske, Saigon SVN, and Condon AFS, Oregon.

I was an ACW radar operator stationed at the 871st ACW Squadron, Villatobas, Spain, from Dec 1962 until May 1964. I have many fond memories of the time spent there, the guys I worked with, and of the Spanish people. I only wish that I had taken greater advantage of the opportunity...but I was only an 18 year old kid. Damn...where have the years gone?!

The target range blanking (talked about by Tom & Gary below) was taken to an extreme with the BMEWS AN/FPS-49/92 & AN/FPS-50. These had the first 600 miles (not a typo) blanked. The reason? We didn't want to see aircraft, only missiles in the early stages of launch, and at 600 miles the altitude was w-a-y above anybody's aircraft.

Stationed at 648th AC&W Radar Maintenance ( Benton AFS) Pa. from '54 to 57. Anybody out there???

There was some radius within which SAGE targets could not be detected. I forget what this was and why. Same with the venerable TPS-44, a mobile unit. I would think that such time has gone by that security and policy review are history. The FPS-26A I worked on at Selfridge, Air National Guard Base, Mich., is a parking lot. Google Earth the 622nd Tactical Control Flight location in Germany and you get a vacant lot. I can find the house my then wife and I lived in from there in Hackenheim. There was a water tower we sighted in on as our calibration test.

Am doing research on my Father's USAF career. He was C.O. at 649th Squadron, Bedford, VA. Maj. Howard C. Sharkey during approximately
1955-1956. Anyone remember him? John Sharkey

Spent 1957 at the 719th AC&W Sqdn, Sparrevohn Alaska.