History of Ajo, AZ

Originally was the Luke-Williams Range Radar Station, also known as Ajo Air Force Station (TM-181 / Z-181). Construction costs for the AF Station came to approximately $7.4 million for 100 structures located within housing, cantonment, operations, ground-air transmitter-receiver (GATR) areas. This site became active in 1959. At that time, the attending 612th AC&W Squadron operated AN/FPS-20A and AN/FPS-6 sets. In 1961 Luke-Williams Range / Ajo AFS became a SAGE site. By 1963 an AN/FPS-7C had assumed search duties, and height-finder radar chores were being performed by AN/FPS-6A and AN/FPS-26 radars. The 612th was deactivated on December 31,1969. Housing units were moved to Gila Bend, and the remaining buildings were abandoned. A minimal Air Force and FAA presence was kept to operate some instrumentation and radio-signal relay equipment. The radar site has since re-opened as a JSS facility (J-29A) operating an ARSR-4 radar.

References: "Searching the Skies"; eyewitness accounts.


Hide