Information for Ellington AFB, TX

Latitude: 29-36-56 N, Longitude: 095-10-23 W

Call Sign(s): Short Horn, Tape Worm, Weakfish, Caprock

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-79	Z-79	747	Ellington AFB, TX	FPS-10 (2); FPS-8/GPS-3; ARSR-1A; FPS-6	ARSR-1E; FPS-6; ARSR-1 is now CARSR with 7172 antenna [FAA].	Apr-52	31-Dec-69	Plans for an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar were cancelled. + Later (1972), this site became part of Southern Air Defense System as site Z-240; still FAA site. Ellington site now operates Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR) radar as of 11/4/2011.
P-79A	Z-79A		Fannett, TX	FPS-14		Apr-60	Jun-64	Gap-Filler Annex. Located on top of the Big Hill salt dome (but not the same ''Big Hill'' near Beaumont known as the ''Spindletop dome'' (site of the famous Lucas [Oil] Gusher of 1901). Radar building is still extant.
P-79B	Z-79B		Van Vleck, TX	FPS-14		Apr-60	Jun-64	Gap-Filler Annex. Exact location is in question.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-79

Z-79

747

Ellington AFB, TX

FPS-10 (2); FPS-8/GPS-3; ARSR-1A; FPS-6

ARSR-1E; FPS-6; ARSR-1 is now CARSR with 7172 antenna [FAA].

Apr-52

31-Dec-69

Plans for an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar were cancelled. + Later (1972), this site became part of Southern Air Defense System as site Z-240; still FAA site. Ellington site now operates Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR) radar as of 11/4/2011.

P-79A

Z-79A

Fannett, TX

FPS-14

Apr-60

Jun-64

Gap-Filler Annex. Located on top of the Big Hill salt dome (but not the same ''Big Hill'' near Beaumont known as the ''Spindletop dome'' (site of the famous Lucas [Oil] Gusher of 1901). Radar building is still extant.

P-79B

Z-79B

Van Vleck, TX

FPS-14

Apr-60

Jun-64

Gap-Filler Annex. Exact location is in question.

History of Ellington AFB, TX

In April 1952 the 747th AC&W Squadron began operating a pair of AN/FPS-10 radars. In 1955 the Air Force placed an AN/FPS-8 at this site that subsequently became an AN/GPS-3. This set operated until 1960. In 1957 an AN/FPS-6 set replaced the AN/FPS-10 height-finder radar. An AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. By 1960 this facility performed air-traffic-control duties for the FAA with an ARSR-1A radar. In 1964 the ARSR-1A was upgraded to an ARSR-1E. The 747th Radar Squadron was deactivated 31 December 1969, and the FAA continued to operate the ARSR-1E. In late 1972 a detachment of the 630th Radar Squadron arrived to operate an AN/FPS-90 height-finder radar, which was modified to an AN/FPS-116 circa 1977. The AN/FPS-116 was retired circa 1988. Air Force use of this site ceased in the late 1990s when an ARSR-4 radar was activated nearby at Morales, TX. However, is in the JSS network once again following 9/11 2001.

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

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