History of Fortuna AFS, ND

In April 1952 the 780th AC&W Squadron began operations at this site using AN/FPS-3 search and AN/FPS-4 height-finder radars. During 1957 an AN/GPS-3 search radar made a brief appearance. Reportedly, an AN/TPS-10D was also briefly used. In 1958 the 780th began operating an AN/FPS-20A search radar that replaced the AN/GPS-3. By 1960 a pair of AN/FPS-6, -6A handled height-finder chores. During 1961 Fortuna became part of the SAGE system. In 1963, the AN/FPS-20A was removed, and the makeup of the radars at Fortuna consisted of an AN/FPS-35 search radar along with AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-90 height-finder radars. In 1964 an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar was installed, and the AN/FPS-6 was retired. In the winter of 1964, a fierce wind storm blew over the AN/FPS-35 sail; the sail was not replaced until the following year (by the one formerly installed at Manassas AFS, VA, reportedly). For the interim, in 1965 an AN/FPS-64 search radar was installed in the former AN/FPS-20A tower; it was removed in 1967 after the AN/FPS-35 was again fully operational. The AN/FPS-90 height-finder radar was removed in 1969. The 780th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactivated in September 1979. The GATR site was retained until the JSS switchover, circa 1984.

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


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