April 2001 photo and note contributed by Tom Page from the "New" Tour, 2001

The 772nd Radar Squadron (Gibbsboro AFS, NJ) GATR site at McGuire AFB. [In its later days, after the McGuire SAGE DC closed and until SAGE was phased out, this GATR facility used to operate voice radios and TDDL for both the 20th Air Division (Ft. Lee AFS, VA) and the 21st Air Division (Hancock Field, NY).] {Looking north-northwest)

contributed by Don Bender

GIBBSBORO GETAWAY 12 September 2000

I had the opportunity to finally visit the old Gibbsboro Air Force Station (site RP-63) yesterday. Following a business appointment, and braving what seemed to be heat and humidity worthy of an Amazonian jungle, I navigated along Route 561 until I saw the large form of a radome peering out over the trees behind a new ice skating rink.

I found the entrance to the old site to be appropriately marked with warning signs proclaiming the site`s original status as an Air Force installation. As you know, the facility is now a JSS site. Along the access road, the first building which is seen may have been the former kitchen and mess hall. This structure is boarded up and clearly not in use.

I parked just outside the fences enclosing the current ARSR-4 radar as well as the tower for the former AN/FPS-27 (FD) surveillance set. The big new ARSR-4 is an impressive sight. Its off-white radome set atop a tall skeletal tower gives it a somewhat ominous appearance like some giant alien creature from a science fiction film.

The large adjacent tower for the old "27" radar appears to be in excellent condition. It is protected by the fences and gates which also enclose the current JSS radar. Near the gated entrance to this compound is the antenna from a height-finder radar. It is on display as a historic artifact, however, its location makes it hard to get a good photograph of it.

Also located within this fenced compound containing the site`s primary radar is the old Ops Building, a low, windowless, concrete structure with gently sloping roofs.

Opposite this compound is a pump house for fire fighting. Its mostly empty now. Not far from that building are two other structures. One resembles a small wood frame house. The other, a windowless structure, featuring four ventilators along its roof, is enclosed within a fenced, gated compound. Offhand, it looks like another Ops Building, but it may have been a SAGE Annex or had some related function. I`m certain that Tom can tell us what this was all about.

The back of the site contains the AN/FPS-26A tower and as small associated building. The tower appears to be in excellent condition and is located within a fenced, gated and locked compound.

There is no apparent evidence of the second height finder which was once located here. At least I didn`t notice this during my fairly hasty tour of the site.

What appears to be a fuel storage area (small fenced compound with pipes, controls, etc.) lies on the opposite side of the site from the height finder. Still further back is what appears to be the site`s sewage treatment facility. A small green building is located near the gate to that enclosed facility.

Some excavation has evidently been done on the site, presumably to check for leakage from underground fuel storage tanks. This is evident near the fueling facility already mentioned, as well as close to the structure which I described (somewhat arbitrarily) as a "SAGE Annex".

Alongside the access road leading past the primary radars are a number of small concrete pads and a row of individual electrical meters. It appears that this area must have contained pre-fabricrated housing or trailers for personnel living on site. I seem to recall that trailers had to be brought in to house personnel when the site was converted from a Gap Filler to an LRR site. Again, Tom will certainly be able to shed more light on this.

Beyond the small border of woods surrounding the back of the site (away from Route 561) is an impressively deep and wide sand pit. These are fairly common in southern New Jersey and this one is very impressive to see as it extends for a very considerable distance.

One of the most notable sites seen during this brief reconnaissance trip was the emblem of the 772nd Radar Squadron which was painted on a water tank. The large and colorful emblem features the words "772nd RADS. The Eyesight of a Nation".

I took about 40 or so photos during this brief sojourn. I should have them back in a few days and will send you some of the better scanned images. This is a very impressive facility. I`m sure that Tom will have lots more to tell us about this site in the future.

Best regards,

Don Bender bender@alpha.fdu.edu

This photo of Gibbsboro AFS, NJ, shows the new ARSR-4 radar tower (with dome) next to the former AN/FPS-27 search radar tower. View is roughly to the east. The ARSR-4 tower stands about where an earlier AN/FPS-6 heightfinder radar tower used stand.

March 1997 photos contributed by Dick Constable

From the web site http://www.hanscom.af.mil/ESC-BP/pollprev/eaweb/McGuire/Draft_EA_McGuire.htm

Reportedly, the site still functions as a GATR facility for NEADS (as do the GATR facilities at McChord AFB for WADS, and at Tyndall AFB for SEADS).