History of Tyndall AFB, FL

In 1957 this station was the first station operating for the third phase of the mobile radar program. Activated by the 678th AC&W Squadron, this station became operational to support the BOMARC surface-to-air missile program. In 1958 the site was operating with an AN/FPS-20 search radar and a pair of AN/FPS-6 height-finder sets. During 1960 Tyndall AFB joined the SAGE system. 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-64, which subsequently became an AN/FPS-64A in 1965. Around 1965 Tyndall became an FAA/ADC joint-use facility. It also received a BUIC II, and later BUIC III (AN/GYK-19 computer), capability to perform command-and-control functions. Tyndall retained this function until the 1980s. In 1969, one AN/FPS-6 was deactivated. On March 1, 1970, the 678th was redesignated as the 678th Air Defense Group. On October 1, 1979, this site came under TAC jurisdiction. The height-finder radar, modified as an AN/FPS-116 circa 1977, was removed circa 1988. The site now operates an ARSR-4 search radar under FAA control (as of the late 1990s).

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


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