Information for Arlington Heights AI, IL

Latitude: 42-03-51.5 N, Longitude: 087-59-44 W

Call Sign(s): Communicator

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
RP-31	MM-4 / Z-31	755	Arlington Heights AI, IL	FPS-20 / FPS-67; [FPS-6A (2) Army]; FPS-6,-6B/-90 (USAF)	FPS-67B; FPS-6; FPS-90 [Army: FPS-69, after USAF left]	1961	30-Sep-69	Squadron relocated from Williams Bay AFS, WI (P-31). Shared Army radar site for the Nike Missile air-defense system (C-80DC); Missile Master site MM-4. Plans for an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar were cancelled. Reportedly, the Army replaced the AN/FPS-67B search radar with an AN/FPS-69 ABAR radar, and continued operating this site until 1974.
P-31D / RP-31D	Z-31D		Monee, IL	FPS-18 *		Mar-62	Jun-68	Gap-Filler Annex. * ADC records list an ''FPS-14'' radar; however, squadron historical reports (1961) list ''FPS-18.'' Building is the FPS-18 style, and is still extant; the radar tower has been removed.
RP-31F	Z-31F		Williams Bay, WI					Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant. Former LRR site, P-31; GFA facility was located at the SW corner of the original AFS. * The gap-filler radar was not ever installed; however, this gap-filler site is shown on a 1966 map.
RP-31G			Cedar Grove, WI **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In 1960s ADC plans, but never was built. Also known as Campbellsport, WI.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

RP-31

MM-4 / Z-31

755

Arlington Heights AI, IL

FPS-20 / FPS-67; [FPS-6A (2) Army]; FPS-6,-6B/-90 (USAF)

FPS-67B; FPS-6; FPS-90 [Army: FPS-69, after USAF left]

1961

30-Sep-69

Squadron relocated from Williams Bay AFS, WI (P-31). Shared Army radar site for the Nike Missile air-defense system (C-80DC); Missile Master site MM-4. Plans for an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar were cancelled. Reportedly, the Army replaced the AN/FPS-67B search radar with an AN/FPS-69 ABAR radar, and continued operating this site until 1974.

P-31D / RP-31D

Z-31D

Monee, IL

FPS-18 *

Mar-62

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. * ADC records list an ''FPS-14'' radar; however, squadron historical reports (1961) list ''FPS-18.'' Building is the FPS-18 style, and is still extant; the radar tower has been removed.

RP-31F

Z-31F

Williams Bay, WI

Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant. Former LRR site, P-31; GFA facility was located at the SW corner of the original AFS. * The gap-filler radar was not ever installed; however, this gap-filler site is shown on a 1966 map.

RP-31G

Cedar Grove, WI **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In 1960s ADC plans, but never was built. Also known as Campbellsport, WI.

History of Arlington Heights AI, IL

The 755th AC&W Squadron was moved to this US Army Nike radar site (C-80DC) from Williams Bay AFS, Wisconsin (LP-31/P-31) and activated in 1961 with an AN/FPS-20A search radar and two Army AN/FPS-6A height-finder radars. The Air Force added AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-6B height-finder radars. The AN/FPS-20 was upgraded to an AN/FPS-67 during the following year. Also in 1962 the site began SAGE operations. An AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. In 1963 an AN/FPS-90 had replaced the AN/FPS-6B for performing height-finding duties. The AN/FPS-67 was upgraded to an AN/FPS-67B in 1966. The 755th Radar Squadron was deactivated in September 1969. The Army reportedly replaced the AN/FPS-67B search radar with an AN/FPS-69 Alternate Battery Acquisition Radar (ABAR), and operated this facility until 1974.

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

Hide