Information for Fort MacArthur (San Pedro), CA

Latitude: 33-44-46 N, Longitude: 118-20-10 W

Call Sign(s): Brassy Estates (AADCP)

Perm ID	Sage ID	JSS ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
RP-39	Z-39	J-31	670 RADS; Det 1, 26 ADS	Fort MacArthur (San Pedro), CA	ARSR-1C; FPS-6A (2 Army); FPS-6B (2 USAF); FPS-26A; FPS-27	ARSR-1E; FPS-90; FPS-26A; FPS-116 (JSS); CARSR with 7172 ant	1960	late 1990's *	Sq relocated from San Clemente Island AFS (P-39). Shared USAF/Army/FAA radar site for Nike Missile air-defense system, Army site LA-45DC. Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar were cancelled; an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was installed instead. * As a JSS site, replaced by Navy ARSR-4 site on San Clemente Island, CA (J-31A). Once again is a joint-use site (post 9-11-2001). Now operates Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR) radar as of 11/16/2011.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

RP-39

Z-39

J-31

670 RADS; Det 1, 26 ADS

Fort MacArthur (San Pedro), CA

ARSR-1C; FPS-6A (2 Army); FPS-6B (2 USAF); FPS-26A; FPS-27

ARSR-1E; FPS-90; FPS-26A; FPS-116 (JSS); CARSR with 7172 ant

1960

late 1990's *

Sq relocated from San Clemente Island AFS (P-39). Shared USAF/Army/FAA radar site for Nike Missile air-defense system, Army site LA-45DC. Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar were cancelled; an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was installed instead. * As a JSS site, replaced by Navy ARSR-4 site on San Clemente Island, CA (J-31A). Once again is a joint-use site (post 9-11-2001). Now operates Common Air-Route Surveillance Radar (CARSR) radar as of 11/16/2011.

History of Fort MacArthur (San Pedro), CA

Assuming coverage duties from the closed San Clemente Island AFS (P-39), this Los Angeles-area site was an Air Force/Army/FAA joint-use facility that began operations in 1961 with an FAA ARSR-1C radar and two Army AN/FPS-6A height-finder radars. The Air Force added two AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars of their own; in 1963 these radars included one AN/FPS-6B height-finder radar and one AN/FPS-26A FD height-finder radar. The AN/FPS-6B was modified to an AN/FPS-90 in 1964. An AN/FPS-28 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. Also in 1964, an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was installed; it was removed in 1969.

The tending 670th Radar Squadron was deactivated in April 1976. The AN/FPS-26A was removed in this time frame. The FAA assumed control of the property although the Air Force continued to operate the AN/FPS-90 height-finder, by then modified to an AN/FPS-116 (removed circa 1988). In the late 1990's, when the Navy installed an ARSR-4 at San Clemente Island, the Air Force terminated the data-tie at San Pedro Hill, and established a new data-tie with the San Clemente Island ARSR-4. The FAA continues to operate the ARSR-1E search radar at San Pedro Hill. After 9-11 (2001), a data-tie for the Air Force was re-established.

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

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