Information for Lackland AFB, TX

Latitude: 29-23-16.4 N, Longitude: 098-37-59.9 W

Call Sign(s): Headman, Beaming

Perm ID	Sage ID	JSS ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-75	Z-75		741	Lackland AFB, TX	FPS-3/-20A; FPS-4; FPS-6; FPS-6A	FPS-66A; FPS-6	1952	31-Dec-69; 2001 & 20	Plans for an AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar were cancelled. + Later (1972), part of Southern Air Defense System, site Z-241; became FAA site operating the AN/FPS-66A search radar. The search radar was turned off circa 2001. ATCBI-5 and then -6 Beacon was operated until 2011. Radar site is now completely deactivated.
P-75A				Mason, TX	FPS-18		May-60	Dec-60	Gap-Filler Annex. Building has been removed.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-75

Z-75

741

Lackland AFB, TX

FPS-3/-20A; FPS-4; FPS-6; FPS-6A

FPS-66A; FPS-6

1952

31-Dec-69; 2001 & 20

Plans for an AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar were cancelled. + Later (1972), part of Southern Air Defense System, site Z-241; became FAA site operating the AN/FPS-66A search radar. The search radar was turned off circa 2001. ATCBI-5 and then -6 Beacon was operated until 2011. Radar site is now completely deactivated.

P-75A

Mason, TX

FPS-18

May-60

Dec-60

Gap-Filler Annex. Building has been removed.

History of Lackland AFB, TX

In 1952 the 741st AC&W Squadron activated an AN/FPS-3 search radar and an AN/FPS-4 height-finder radar. In 1958 the AN/FPS-4 height-finder radar was replaced by AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-6A sets. In late 1959 this station was also performing air-traffic-control duties for the FAA. At this time the site hosted an AN/FPS-20A radar. An AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. One AN/FPS-6 was retired by 1963. In 1965 AN/FPS-20A was upgraded to an AN/FPS-91A radar, then in 1969 it was modified to an AN/FPS-66A. The 741st Radar Squadron was deactivated in December 1969, and the FAA assumed control. Then in September 1972, the Houston-based 630th Radar Squadron sent a detachment to this FAA-operated site to set up an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar to join the AN/FPS-66A search radar already in place. The Air Force ceased using the Lackland AFB radar site circa 1975. The FAA ceased using primary radar at Lackland AFB circa 2001, and ceased using Beacon (SIF) in 2011.

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

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