Information for Custer AFS, MI

Latitude: 42-20-32.1 N, Longitude: 085-16-49.4 W

Call Sign(s): Drawing

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-67	Z-67	781	Custer AFS, MI	FPS-3/-20/-66; CPS-4; FPS-4; FPS-6; FPS-6A	FPS-66; FPS-6; FPS-6A; FPS-26A; (FPS-27 planned/canx.)	Apr-52	25-Jun-65	Site located just north of Fort Custer, on ''Fort Custer Hill.'' Cantonment and housing areas shared with HQ Detroit ADS (Fort Custer, SAGE DC-6). Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar were cancelled; an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was planned instead (but also cancelled).
P-67A / P-20G	Z-67A / Z-20G		Midland, MI	FPS-14		Nov-57	Dec-67	Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant.
P-67B / P-73J	Z-67B / Z-73J		Richland Center, IN	FPS-18		Feb-60	Jun-68	Gap-Filler Annex. Located atop ''Mount Nebo.'' The FUDS report lists the site as Z-73J, meaning this GFA was transferred to Bellefontaine AFS, OH (Z-73) when Custer AFS, MI (Z-67) closed in June 1965. Building is still extant.
P-67C / P-34G	Z-67C / Z-34G		Saugatuck, MI	FPS-14	FPS-18	Jul-58	Jun-68	Gap-Filler Annex. Both building and radar tower are still extant. Radome (with sail inside) left in place. Located atop Mount Baldhead sand dune.
P-67D / P-34H	Z-34H		Shelby, MI	FPS-18		Aug-59	Jun-68	Gap-Filler Annex. Neither the building or the radar tower are extant now.
P-67E			Goshen, IN **	(FPS-18 planned)				Gap-Filler Annex. ** In early ADC plans, but never was built.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-67

Z-67

781

Custer AFS, MI

FPS-3/-20/-66; CPS-4; FPS-4; FPS-6; FPS-6A

FPS-66; FPS-6; FPS-6A; FPS-26A; (FPS-27 planned/canx.)

Apr-52

25-Jun-65

Site located just north of Fort Custer, on ''Fort Custer Hill.'' Cantonment and housing areas shared with HQ Detroit ADS (Fort Custer, SAGE DC-6). Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar were cancelled; an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was planned instead (but also cancelled).

P-67A / P-20G

Z-67A / Z-20G

Midland, MI

FPS-14

Nov-57

Dec-67

Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant.

P-67B / P-73J

Z-67B / Z-73J

Richland Center, IN

FPS-18

Feb-60

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Located atop ''Mount Nebo.'' The FUDS report lists the site as Z-73J, meaning this GFA was transferred to Bellefontaine AFS, OH (Z-73) when Custer AFS, MI (Z-67) closed in June 1965. Building is still extant.

P-67C / P-34G

Z-67C / Z-34G

Saugatuck, MI

FPS-14

FPS-18

Jul-58

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Both building and radar tower are still extant. Radome (with sail inside) left in place. Located atop Mount Baldhead sand dune.

P-67D / P-34H

Z-34H

Shelby, MI

FPS-18

Aug-59

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Neither the building or the radar tower are extant now.

P-67E

Goshen, IN **

(FPS-18 planned)

Gap-Filler Annex. ** In early ADC plans, but never was built.

History of Custer AFS, MI

This site began as a "Lashup-Permanent" radar site operating an AN/TPS-1B in 1951. The AN/TPS-1B was installed 17 May 1951, and was declared operational on 30 Nov 1951. The 781st AC&W Squadron began operating AN/FPS-3 (installed on 7 Dec 1951) and AN/CPS-4 radars at this site as of April 1952. An AN/FPS-4 replaced the AN/CPS-4 in 1956, and an AN/FPS-6 superseded this unit two years later. Also in 1958 an AN/FPS-20 replaced the AN/FPS-3 search radar. This radar was upgraded to an AN/FPS-66 in 1961. A second height-finder radar, AN/FPS-6A, was installed in 1959. Also in 1959, Custer AFS joined the SAGE system. An AN/FPS-26A FD height-finder radar was installed in mid 1963. An AN/FPS-28 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. An AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was then planned, but was also cancelled (the tower was not built). The Air Force deactivated the 781st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 25 June 1965.

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

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