Information for Olathe AFS, KS

Latitude: 38-50-06 N, Longitude: 094-54-16 W

Call Sign(s): Weapon

Perm ID	Sage ID	JSS ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-72	Z-72		738	Olathe AFS, KS	CPS-4; FPS-3; FPS-4; FPS-20A; FPS-6A (2)	FPS-20A; FPS-6A (2)	1952	08-Sep-68	Collocated with former Olathe NAS. USAF site shared with Army for the Nike Missile air-defense system, Kansas City Defense Area (KC-65DC). Plans for an AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar were cancelled. Was FAA site afterwards, but now closed altogether.
P-72A	Z-72A			Garland, KS	FPS-18		Jun-59	Dec-60	Gap-Filler Annex.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-72

Z-72

738

Olathe AFS, KS

CPS-4; FPS-3; FPS-4; FPS-20A; FPS-6A (2)

FPS-20A; FPS-6A (2)

1952

08-Sep-68

Collocated with former Olathe NAS. USAF site shared with Army for the Nike Missile air-defense system, Kansas City Defense Area (KC-65DC). Plans for an AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar were cancelled. Was FAA site afterwards, but now closed altogether.

P-72A

Z-72A

Garland, KS

FPS-18

Jun-59

Dec-60

Gap-Filler Annex.

History of Olathe AFS, KS

The 738th AC&W Squadron began operations in 1952 using AN/CPS-4 and AN/FPS-3 radars. The AN/CPS-4 soon was replaced by an AN/FPS-4 set that in turn was superseded by a pair of AN/FPS-6A sets in 1958. In 1958 this site also replaced the AN/FPS-3 set with an AN/FPS-20 search radar. In late 1959 this station was also performing air-traffic-control duties for the FAA. Olathe AFS was tied into the SAGE system in December 1961. In the early 1960s the search radar was upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-66. An AN/FPS-24 or -35 FD search radar was planned, but was subsequently cancelled. In September 1968 the Air Force deactivated the 738th Radar Squadron.

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

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