Information for Richmond AFS, FL

Latitude: 25-37-24 N, Longitude: 080-24-16 W

Call Sign(s): Scepter

Perm ID	Sage ID	JSS ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
Z-210	Z-210	J-06	644	Richmond AFS, FL	ARSR-1A; FPS-6 (2)	ARSR-1F; FPS-6 (2), FPS-116	1959	1992	At former Richmond NAS site; 644th AC&W Sq. formerly at Rye AFS, NH (M-104). Now replaced by Tamiami JSS radar site with ARSR-4 (site J-06A). Richmond AFS closed due to extreme damage from Hurricane Andrew (24 Aug 1992). From 1962 until 1979, was shared with the Army for the Nike Missile air-defense system as Army site HM-01DC (Homestead-Miami Defense Area).
Z-210A	Z-210A			Naples, FL	FPS-18		Oct 62 *	05-Jun-70	Gap-Filler Annex. * Another source gives the operational date as May 62. Site was located at the Naples Municipal Airport (originally the Naples Army Airfield).
Z-210B	Z-210B			Long Key, FL	FPS-18		Oct 62 *	01-Jul-70	Gap-Filler Annex. * Another source lists the operational date as May 62. This ocean-side radar tower was fitted with a radome sometime circa 1964 for wind protection and to help control corrosion caused by the salty air.
Z-210C	Z-210C			Jupiter, FL	FPS-18		Nov 62 *	05-Jun-70	Gap-Filler Annex. * Another source lists the operational date as May 62. This ocean-side radar tower was fitted with a radome sometime circa 1964 to help control corrosion caused by the salt spray.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

Z-210

J-06

644

Richmond AFS, FL

ARSR-1A; FPS-6 (2)

ARSR-1F; FPS-6 (2), FPS-116

1959

1992

At former Richmond NAS site; 644th AC&W Sq. formerly at Rye AFS, NH (M-104). Now replaced by Tamiami JSS radar site with ARSR-4 (site J-06A). Richmond AFS closed due to extreme damage from Hurricane Andrew (24 Aug 1992). From 1962 until 1979, was shared with the Army for the Nike Missile air-defense system as Army site HM-01DC (Homestead-Miami Defense Area).

Z-210A

Naples, FL

FPS-18

Oct 62 *

05-Jun-70

Gap-Filler Annex. * Another source gives the operational date as May 62. Site was located at the Naples Municipal Airport (originally the Naples Army Airfield).

Z-210B

Long Key, FL

FPS-18

Oct 62 *

01-Jul-70

Gap-Filler Annex. * Another source lists the operational date as May 62. This ocean-side radar tower was fitted with a radome sometime circa 1964 for wind protection and to help control corrosion caused by the salty air.

Z-210C

Jupiter, FL

FPS-18

Nov 62 *

05-Jun-70

Gap-Filler Annex. * Another source lists the operational date as May 62. This ocean-side radar tower was fitted with a radome sometime circa 1964 to help control corrosion caused by the salt spray.

History of Richmond AFS, FL

This radar site was first identified as ''Homestead AFB'' (which is just south of the former Richmond NAS, a former WW-II blimp base). Beginning in 1959, an FAA ARSR-1A radar located at this site began feeding information to the Air Defense Command system. The Air Force placed two AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars at the site by 1963. In 1965 the search radar was upgraded to an ARSR-1F. One height-finder radar was later removed, and the remaining set was modified to an AN/FPS-116 circa 1977; it was removed circa 1988. The 644th Radar Squadron was replaced by OLAK 20th ADS in the late 1970's. The facility remained as part of the JSS until demolished by Hurricane ''Andrew'' on 24 August 1992.

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

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