Information for Watertown AFS, NY

Latitude: 43-55-31 N, Longitude: 075-54-33 W

Call Sign(s): High Jinx

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-49	Z-49	655	Watertown AFS, NY	FPS-3; FPS-5; FPS-20/-66; FPS-6 (2); FPS-26A	FPS-27; FPS-26A	Jun-52	01-Nov-79	Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar were cancelled; an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was installed instead. Site located on Dry Hill plateau. BUIC-I site. GATR retained until JSS switchover.
P-30J / P-49E			Atlanta, NY **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.
P-49A	Z-49A		Suttons Corner, NY	FPS-14		Aug-57	Dec-67	Gap-Filler Annex. The building is still extant.
P-49B	Z-49B		Oswegatchie, NY	FPS-18		May-58	Jun-68	Gap-Filler Annex. Located atop Panther Mountain. Building is still extant. The radar tower was later relocated to Hancock Field (in North Syracuse) for use by the NY-ANG to support a mobile radar set.
P-49D			Lounsberry, NY **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.
P-49F			Higgins Bay, NY **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-49

Z-49

655

Watertown AFS, NY

FPS-3; FPS-5; FPS-20/-66; FPS-6 (2); FPS-26A

FPS-27; FPS-26A

Jun-52

01-Nov-79

Plans for an AN/FPS-28 FD search radar were cancelled; an AN/FPS-27 FD search radar was installed instead. Site located on Dry Hill plateau. BUIC-I site. GATR retained until JSS switchover.

P-30J / P-49E

Atlanta, NY **

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

P-49A

Z-49A

Suttons Corner, NY

FPS-14

Aug-57

Dec-67

Gap-Filler Annex. The building is still extant.

P-49B

Z-49B

Oswegatchie, NY

FPS-18

May-58

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Located atop Panther Mountain. Building is still extant. The radar tower was later relocated to Hancock Field (in North Syracuse) for use by the NY-ANG to support a mobile radar set.

P-49D

Lounsberry, NY **

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

P-49F

Higgins Bay, NY **

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

History of Watertown AFS, NY

In June 1952 the 655th AC&W Squadron started operating AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-5 radars, and assumed coverage previously provided by Lashup site L-6 at Pine Camp. In 1958 this site was operating with AN/FPS-20 search radar and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar sets, and had joined the SAGE system. A second AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was added during 1959. In 1961 the search radar was upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-66. One height-finder radar was replaced by an AN/FPS-26A frequency-diverse radar in 1963. In 1964 the AN/FPS-66 was replaced by an AN/FPS-27 frequency-diverse (FD) radar. An AN/FPS-28 FD search radar had been planned, but was subsequently cancelled. The other AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was retired also in 1964. The site came under TAC jurisdiction in 1979. The 655th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactivated 1 November 1979. The GATR site was retained until the JSS switchover in late 1983 / early 1984.

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

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