Information for Mica Peak AFS, WA

Latitude: 47-34-26 N, Longitude: 117-04-50 W

Perm ID	Sage ID	JSS ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
SM-151	Z-151	J-79	823	Mica Peak AFS, WA	FPS-20/-67; MPS-14; FPS-6/-90	FPS-67B; FPS-90 (FPS-116, JSS)	1958	JSS ARSR-4 site now	Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar at Mica Peak AFS were cancelled. Operations Center was originally at Geiger Field, WA (where the Army also operated a Nike Missile air-defense command post); after the Nike mission ceased, operations moved to the mountain in May 1972 (housing & admin remained at Geiger Field). Geiger Field was first designated as radar site SM-152. Squadron deactivated in July 1975. Site handed over to FAA. Note that, in 1957, the CAA (now FAA) originally considered placing their long-range radar site either on Mica Peak (with the Air Force radar site) or on Wrights Hill near Four Lakes, WA; the CAA chose Mica Peak.
P-11A / SM-151C	Z-151C			Porthill, ID	FPS-14		May-58	Jun-60	Gap-Filler Annex.
P-11B / TM-179C /SM-	Z-179C / Z-151F			Eureka, MT	FPS-14		May-58	Jun-60	Gap-Filler Annex. Located on Black Butte. After site closure, the radar tower hosted a fire lookout cab. The fire lookout is now on a different tower.
P-11C / SM-151D	Z-151D			Moyie Springs, ID	FPS-18		Mar-60	Dec-60	Gap-Filler Annex.
SM-151B				Blanchard, ID **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.
SM-151E / TM-179B				Yaak, MT					Gap-Filler Annex. Former LRR site, Yaak AFS, P-11 (a.k.a. Bonner's Ferry). The Operations building was planned to house the gap-filler radar equipment, with a new radar tower erected just outside.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

SM-151

Z-151

J-79

823

Mica Peak AFS, WA

FPS-20/-67; MPS-14; FPS-6/-90

FPS-67B; FPS-90 (FPS-116, JSS)

1958

JSS ARSR-4 site now

Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar at Mica Peak AFS were cancelled. Operations Center was originally at Geiger Field, WA (where the Army also operated a Nike Missile air-defense command post); after the Nike mission ceased, operations moved to the mountain in May 1972 (housing & admin remained at Geiger Field). Geiger Field was first designated as radar site SM-152. Squadron deactivated in July 1975. Site handed over to FAA. Note that, in 1957, the CAA (now FAA) originally considered placing their long-range radar site either on Mica Peak (with the Air Force radar site) or on Wrights Hill near Four Lakes, WA; the CAA chose Mica Peak.

P-11A / SM-151C

Z-151C

Porthill, ID

FPS-14

May-58

Jun-60

Gap-Filler Annex.

P-11B / TM-179C /SM-

Z-179C / Z-151F

Eureka, MT

FPS-14

May-58

Jun-60

Gap-Filler Annex. Located on Black Butte. After site closure, the radar tower hosted a fire lookout cab. The fire lookout is now on a different tower.

P-11C / SM-151D

Z-151D

Moyie Springs, ID

FPS-18

Mar-60

Dec-60

Gap-Filler Annex.

SM-151B

Blanchard, ID **

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

SM-151E / TM-179B

Yaak, MT

Gap-Filler Annex. Former LRR site, Yaak AFS, P-11 (a.k.a. Bonner's Ferry). The Operations building was planned to house the gap-filler radar equipment, with a new radar tower erected just outside.

History of Mica Peak AFS, WA

Manned by the 823rd AC&W Squadron, this radar site became operational in 1958 with AN/FPS-20 search and AN/MPS-14 radars. Operations were initially located at Geiger Field (until May 1972), and the Army's Nike AADCP for the Fairchild AFB Defense Area was collocated until deactivation circa 1966. In 1959 Mica Peak AFS received an AN/FPS-6A height-finder radar, and began performing air-traffic-control duties for the FAA. An AN/FPS-28 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. In 1962 the search radar was upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-67. A year later, an AN/FPS-90 height-finder radar was added. The AN/MPS-14 was later retired. In 1967 the search radar was upgraded to an AN/FPS-67B. The 823rd Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactivated in July 1975, although the site remained in operation manned by various operating locations / detachments of the 25th Air Defense Squadron.* Circa 1977 the AN/FPS-90 was converted to an AN/FPS-116. The FAA assumed control of the station in 1979, and the Air Force maintained the height-finder radar until 1988 when that radar was retired. Through the mid 1990s, the FAA continued to operate the AN/FPS-67B set at this site. That radar was then replaced by an ARSR-4 in the late 1990s.

* After 823rd RADS was deactivated, the following units reportedly operated at Mica Peak AFS:

> OLAJ 25th Air Defense Squadron (7/75-4/76)

> Det 2, 25th ADS (4/76-3/79)

> OLAA 25th ADS (3/79-?)

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

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