Information for Ellsworth AFB, SD

Latitude: 44-09-16 N, Longitude: 103-05-03 W

Call Sign(s): Rollerskate

Perm ID	Sage ID	JSS ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
L-5, M-97			740	Ellsworth AFB, SD	CPS-5D; CPS-4; MPS-7; MPS-14; FPS-20A	MPS-14; FPS-20A	late 1954	15-Aug-62	Radar site (M-97) also known as ''Ellsworth Air Force Station.'' USAF site shared with Army for Nike Missile air-defense system. Plans for an AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar were cancelled. Plans for an AN/FPS-26 FD height-finder radar were likewise cancelled. After M-97 closed, radar coverage was assumed by nearby Sundance AFS, WY (TM-201).

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

L-5, M-97

740

Ellsworth AFB, SD

CPS-5D; CPS-4; MPS-7; MPS-14; FPS-20A

MPS-14; FPS-20A

late 1954

15-Aug-62

Radar site (M-97) also known as ''Ellsworth Air Force Station.'' USAF site shared with Army for Nike Missile air-defense system. Plans for an AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar were cancelled. Plans for an AN/FPS-26 FD height-finder radar were likewise cancelled. After M-97 closed, radar coverage was assumed by nearby Sundance AFS, WY (TM-201).

History of Ellsworth AFB, SD

Beneficial occupancy was achieved at this Phase-I Mobile Radar site in late 1954, and the 740th AC&W Squadron began operation in 1955 with AN/MPS-7 search radar. An AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was added in 1956. In 1959 an AN/FPS-20A search radar replaced the AN/MPS-7 set. An AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar plus an AN/FPS-26 FD height-finder radar were planned, but were subsequently cancelled. The Air Force deactivated the Ellsworth radar site on 15 August 1962.

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

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