Recent Photos of Elbow Lake GFA, MN
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The following nine photos were made by Tom Page on 24 September 2021:
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This photo shows the 'front' of the former gap-filler radar building, with the lower section of the radar tower on the left. [looking west]
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This photo shows a closer view the lower section of the radar tower [looking west-northwest]
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This photo shows one foundation for the radar tower, with another in the rear right. As seen here, the entire lower section of the radar tower was lifted off its foundations, but then left in place. [looking north]
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The remainder of the radar tower, in three sections plus the antenna deck, is off to the side in a growth of trees and underbrush. [looking south]
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Seen here are the remains of the radar antenna deck including the circular radome adaptor. A section of the radar tower is also seen in the undergrowth to the right. [looking north]
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This is part of the roof of the former GF radar building, with the section that housed the diesel generators on the left and the section that housed the radar equipment itself on the right -- note the firewall between the two sections. The view is from the top of the radar tower's lower section that stands next to the building. [looking north]
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This is another view of the GF radar building's roof, showing more of the radar-equipment section [looking north-northeast]
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This is a view of the 'rear' of the GF radar facility, with the diesel-generator section on the left, and the radar-equipment section on the right. The lower section of the radar tower is seen on the far right. [looking northeast]
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This final view of the former Elbow Lake GFA shows the 'front' of the building and the door for the radar-equipment section on the left, and the diesel-generator section on the far right. [looking southwest]
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The following 2003 photos and captions contributed by Mark Morgan, Radomes Staff and WADS Historian
Elbow Lake GFA (P-17A/Z-17A)
The site is right by the side of the road north of the small town of Elbow Lake, as depicted on the web page. Just be advised that 1.85 miles south is another distinctive, curving right turn in the road which threw me as I came up from the south.
There was no fence so I was able to completely walk around the building, which was intact if in rather poor shape with a lot of junk scattered around. The lower 20-feet or so of the tower is still standing alongside; when I checked around back I saw the remainder of the tower was stacked against some trees.
Per Historical Data of the Aerospace Defense Command (U), 1946-1973 (Ent AFB, CO: Headquarters, Aerospace Defense Command, n.d.), Elbow Lake was Det A of the 739th RADS (SAGE) at Wadena AFS. Fitted with an AN/FPS-18, it entered service as part of the manual radar network in November 1958, tied into the SAGE network through the 739th in December 1959 and shut down between 30 June 1964 and 31 December 1967. (01 Jun 03).
Southwest corner of the building showing the remaining portion of the tower.
The other portions of the tower now rest against several trees on the southwest section of the property.
Southwest corner with tower remnant and a portion of the stairs
West face of the building.
North face of the building.
East face of the building.
