Information for Guthrie AFS, WV

Latitude: 38-26-33 N, Longitude: 081-40-51.5 W

Call Sign(s): Pay Check

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-43	Z-43	783	Guthrie AFS, WV	FPS-3; FPS-20/-67; FPS-4; FPS-6 (2)	FPS-67; FPS-6	Jun-52	18-Jun-68	Plans for an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar were cancelled. Site is located just north of Charleston, WV.
P-43A	Z-43A		Bainbridge, OH	FPS-18		Apr-63	Dec-67	Gap-Filler Annex.
P-43B			Hellier, KY					Gap-Filler Annex. Location has been confirmed. Building is no longer extant. Modern-day microwave repeater occupies the site.
P-43D			Danville, OH **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.
P-43E / P-62B / RP-62B	Z-62B		Lewisville, OH	FPS-14		Aug-57	Jun-63	Gap-Filler Annex.
P-82B / P-43C			Owingsville, KY					Gap-Filler Annex. Planned / not-built. To have replaced Owingsville AFS (M-131) at the same radar-site location.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-43

Z-43

783

Guthrie AFS, WV

FPS-3; FPS-20/-67; FPS-4; FPS-6 (2)

FPS-67; FPS-6

Jun-52

18-Jun-68

Plans for an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar were cancelled. Site is located just north of Charleston, WV.

P-43A

Z-43A

Bainbridge, OH

FPS-18

Apr-63

Dec-67

Gap-Filler Annex.

P-43B

Hellier, KY

Gap-Filler Annex. Location has been confirmed. Building is no longer extant. Modern-day microwave repeater occupies the site.

P-43D

Danville, OH **

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

P-43E / P-62B / RP-62B

Z-62B

Lewisville, OH

FPS-14

Aug-57

Jun-63

Gap-Filler Annex.

P-82B / P-43C

Owingsville, KY

Gap-Filler Annex. Planned / not-built. To have replaced Owingsville AFS (M-131) at the same radar-site location.

History of Guthrie AFS, WV

The 783rd AC&W Squadron began operating an AN/FPS-3 search radar and an AN/FPS-4 height-finder radar from this site in June 1952. In 1958 these units were replaced by an AN/FPS-20 search radar and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar, respectively. On 8 November 1962, Guthrie AFS tied into the SAGE System, according to a 30th Air Division Cuban Crisis history document. An AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. In 1962, the AN/FPS-20 search radar was upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-67. A second AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was added in 1963. One AN/FPS-6 was then retired in 1966. The Air Force deactivated the 783rd Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 18 June 1968.

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

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