Palermo Air Force Station: Difference between revisions

Palermo Air Force Station
Palermo Air Force Station
Part of Air Defense Command (ADC)
Coordinates	39°13′19″N 074°41′14″W / 39.22194°N 74.68722°W
Type	Air Force Station
Site information
Controlled by	United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1948
In use	1948-1970
Garrison information
Garrison	770th Aircraft Control and Warning (later Radar) Squadron (1952-1961); 680th Radar Squadron (1961-1970)

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 21:11, 7 April 2012

Palermo AFS

class=notpageimage|

Location of Palermo AFS, New Jersey

Palermo Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-54, NORAD ID: Z-54) is a closed United States Air Force (USAF) General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 4.8 miles (7.7 km) north of Sea Isle City, New Jersey. It was closed in 1970.

History

In 1948 USAF directed Air Defense Command (ADC) to take radar sets out of storage for operation in the Northeastern United States. By August. a radar had been placed in operation at Palermo, NJ.^[1] This hasty program was appropriately named "Lashup."^[2] The AN/TPS-1B long-range search radar at Palermo (Lashup Site L-14) fed into a primitive control center established at Roslyn Air Warning Station, New York.

Prompted by the start of the Korean War, on July 11, 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of additional stations, and it received the Defense Secretary’s approval on July 21, the Air Force directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction of Palermo Air Force Station. The 770th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron was activated to control the site.^[3]

Because of difficulties with new production radar equipment, Palermo AFS initially received radar equipment from the former Lashup site to expedite operational status. Thus it was designated as site LP-54, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.

In 1951 AN/CPS-5 and AN/TPS-10A height-finder radars were added to the site. By April 1952 the 770th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was operating AN/CPS-4 and AN/FPS-3 radars. In the spring of 1957, Palermo was one of the first to deploy an AN/FPS-20 radar. Palermo also received two AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars at this time.

During 1958 Palermo AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-01 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 770th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 Oct 1958.^[3] The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile. By late 1959 this station also was performing air traffic control duties.

On October 1, 1961, the 770th Radar Squadron and the site designation (RP-54) left for Fort Meade, Maryland.^[3] The Palermo site was then operated by Detachment 1 of the New York Air Defense Sector and designated as site RP-63C. This unit was replacecd by the 680th Radar Squadron in 1962^[4] and the P-54 site designation returned to Palermo in 1963. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-54, and later the AN/FPS-20 was upgraded into an AN/FPS-65 radar. In 1968 one AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was retired. I was stationed at Palermo from 1968 until it closed in 1970, and I worked in the "6 shop" - and both FPS-6 height finders were in operation until just before the site closed.

The 680th was inactivated and the Air Force closed the facility in May 1970.^[4] Palermo's GATR (Ground Air Transmitter Receiver) site (R-28) remained active until 1975, becoming a detachment of the 770th Radar Squadron at Fort Meade, Maryland. The housing reportedly was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard after site closed.

For many years, the site was abandoned and overgrown, with deteriorating buildings and former radar towers dominating the site. Palermo AFS was demolished in 2003 and was redeveloped into the "Osprey Point" single-family housing development, with no evidence of the former military radar station.

Units and Assignments

Units

Constituted as the 770th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on 14 November 1950

Activated on 27 November 1950

Redesignated as the 770th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 October 1958

Moved to Fort Meade, MD on 1 October 1961^[3]

Organized as Detachment 1, New York Air Defense Sector on 1 October 1961

Discontinued on 1 June 1962

680th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron activated at Yaak AFS, MT on 1 March 1951

Inactivated on 1 June 1960

Redesignated 680th Radar Squadron (SAGE) and activated at Palermo AFS on 1 June 1962

Inactivated on 30 May 1970^[4]

Organized as Detachment, 770th Radar Squadron on 30 May 1970

Discontinued in 1975

Assignments

503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 27 November 1950^[3]
26th Air Division, 6 February 1952^[3]
4710th Defense Wing (later 4710th Air Defense Wing) 16 February 1953^[3]
4709th Air Defense Wing, 1 March 1956^[3]
26th Air Division, 18 October 1956^[3]
New York Air Defense Sector, 8 January 1957^[3]
21st Air Division, 1 April 1966^[4]
35th Air Division, 1 December 1967^[4]
33rd Air Division, 1 April 1968^[4]
20th Air Division, 19 November 1969^[4] - 1975

References

^ Winkler & Webster, p. 17
^ Winkler & Webster, p.3
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Cornett & Johnson, p. 166
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Cornett & Johnson, p. 160

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Cornett, Lloyd H (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origmonth=, |month=, |chapterurl=, and |origdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Winkler, David F. (1997). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 9720912. {{cite book}}: Check |lccn= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origmonth=, |month=, |chapterurl=, and |origdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Information for Palermo AFS, NJ

External links

[1] Winkler & Webster, p. 17

[2] Winkler & Webster, p.3

[cj166-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Cornett & Johnson, p. 166

[cj160-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Cornett & Johnson, p. 160

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 |position=below|width=200|float=right
 |caption=Location of Palermo AFS, New Jersey}}
-'''Palermo Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-54, NORAD ID: Z-54)''' is a closed [[United States Air Force]] General Surveillance Radar station.  It is located {{convert|4.8|mi|km}}  north of [[Sea Isle City, New Jersey]].  It was closed in 1970.
+'''Palermo Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-54, NORAD ID: Z-54)''' is a closed [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) General Surveillance Radar station.  It is located {{convert|4.8|mi|km}}  north of [[Sea Isle City, New Jersey]].  It was closed in 1970.
 ==History==
-In September 1948 the Air Force authorized [[Air Defense Command]] to establish thirteen radar stations in the Northeastern United States. These stations were in operation by mid-1949.  The Air Force activated an [[AN/TPS-1B]] long-range search radar at the "Lashup" site (L-14), that fed into a primitive control center established at [[Roslyn Air Warning Station]], New York.
+In 1948 USAF directed [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC) to take radar sets out of storage for operation in the Northeastern United States. By August. a radar had been placed in operation at Palermo, NJ.<ref>Winkler & Webster, p. 17</ref>    This hasty program was appropriately named "Lashup."<ref>Winkler & Webster, p.3</ref>   The [[AN/TPS-1B]] long-range search radar at Palermo (Lashup Site L-14) fed into a primitive control center established at [[Roslyn Air Warning Station]], New York.
-Prompted by the start of the [[Korean War]], on July 11, 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of additional stations, and it received the Defense Secretary’s approval on July 21, the Air Force directed the [[Army Corps of Engineers]] to proceed with construction of Palermo Air Force Station.
+Prompted by the start of the [[Korean War]], on July 11, 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of additional stations, and it received the Defense Secretary’s approval on July 21, the Air Force directed the [[Army Corps of Engineers]] to proceed with construction of Palermo Air Force Station.  The 770th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron was activated to control the site.<ref name=cj166>Cornett & Johnson, p. 166</ref>
 Because of difficulties with new production radar equipment, Palermo AFS initially received radar equipment from the former Lashup site to expedite operational status. Thus it was designated as site '''LP-54''', and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station.  As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 In 1951 [[AN/CPS-5]] and [[AN/TPS-10]]A height-finder radars were added to the site. By April 1952 the 770th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was operating [[AN/CPS-4]] and [[AN/FPS-3]] radars.  In the spring of 1957, Palermo was one of the first to deploy an [[AN/FPS-20]] radar. Palermo also received two [[AN/FPS-6]] height-finder radars at this time.
-During 1958 Palermo AFS joined the [[Semi Automatic Ground Environment]] (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-01 at [[McGuire AFB]], New Jersey.  After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 770th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 Oct 1958. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile.  By late 1959 this station also was performing air traffic control duties.
+During 1958 Palermo AFS joined the [[Semi Automatic Ground Environment]] (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-01 at [[McGuire AFB]], New Jersey.  After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 770th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 Oct 1958.<ref name=cj166/>  The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile.  By late 1959 this station also was performing air traffic control duties.
-On October 1, 1961, the 770th Radar Squadron and the site designation (RP-54) left for [[Fort Meade]], Maryland. The Palermo site was then operated by Detachment 1 of the [[New York Air Defense Sector]] and designated as site '''RP-63C'''.  This unit was replacecd by the [[680th Radar Squadron]] in 1962 and the '''P-54''' site designation returned to Palermo in 1963.  On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID '''Z-54''', and later the AN/FPS-20 was upgraded into an [[AN/FPS-65]] radar.   In 1968 one AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was retired. I was stationed at Palermo from 1968 until it closed in 1970, and I worked in the "6 shop" - and both FPS-6 height finders were in operation until just before the site closed.
+On October 1, 1961, the 770th Radar Squadron and the site designation (RP-54) left for [[Fort Meade]], Maryland.<ref name=cj166/> The Palermo site was then operated by Detachment 1 of the [[New York Air Defense Sector]] and designated as site '''RP-63C'''.  This unit was replacecd by the [[680th Radar Squadron]] in 1962<ref name=cj160>Cornett & Johnson, p. 160</ref> and the '''P-54''' site designation returned to Palermo in 1963.  On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID '''Z-54''', and later the AN/FPS-20 was upgraded into an [[AN/FPS-65]] radar.   In 1968 one AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was retired. I was stationed at Palermo from 1968 until it closed in 1970, and I worked in the "6 shop" - and both FPS-6 height finders were in operation until just before the site closed.
-The 680th was inactivated and the Air Force closed the facility in May 1970.  Palermo's GATR (Ground Air Transmitter Receiver) site (R-28) remained active until 1975, becoming a detachment of the 770th Radar Squadron at Fort Meade, Maryland.   The housing reportedly was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard after site closed.
+The 680th was inactivated and the Air Force closed the facility in May 1970.<ref name=cj160/>  Palermo's GATR (Ground Air Transmitter Receiver) site (R-28) remained active until 1975, becoming a detachment of the 770th Radar Squadron at Fort Meade, Maryland.   The housing reportedly was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard after site closed.
 For many years, the site was abandoned and overgrown, with deteriorating buildings and former radar towers dominating the site.  Palermo AFS was demolished in 2003 and was redeveloped into the "Osprey Point" single-family housing development, with no evidence of the former military radar station.
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 : Activated on 27 November 1950
 : Redesignated as the '''770th Radar Squadron''' (SAGE) on 1 October 1958
-: Moved to [[Fort Meade]], MD on 1 October 1961
+: Moved to [[Fort Meade]], MD on 1 October 1961<ref name=cj166/>
-* Organized as Detachment 1, New York Air Defense Sector on 1 October 1961
+* Organized as Detachment 1, '''New York Air Defense Sector''' on 1 October 1961
 : Discontinued on 1 June 1962
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 : Inactivated on 1 June 1960
 : Redesignated '''680th Radar Squadron''' (SAGE) and activated at Palermo AFS on 1 June 1962
-: Inactivated on 30 May 1970
+: Inactivated on 30 May 1970<ref name=cj160/>
-* Organized as Detachment, 770th Radar Squadron on 30 May 1970
+* Organized as Detachment, '''770th Radar Squadron''' on 30 May 1970
 : Discontinued in 1975
 ===Assignments===
-* [[503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group]], 27 November 1950
+* [[503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group]], 27 November 1950<ref name=cj166/>
-* [[26th Air Division]], 6 February 1952
+* [[26th Air Division]], 6 February 1952<ref name=cj166/>
-* [[4710th Defense Wing]] (later 4710th Air Defense Wing) 16 February 1953
+* [[4710th Defense Wing]] (later 4710th Air Defense Wing) 16 February 1953<ref name=cj166/>
-* [[4709th Air Defense Wing]], 1 March 1956
+* [[4709th Air Defense Wing]], 1 March 1956<ref name=cj166/>
-* 26th Air Division, 18 October 1956
+* 26th Air Division, 18 October 1956<ref name=cj166/>
-* New York Air Defense Sector, 8 January 1957
+* New York Air Defense Sector, 8 January 1957<ref name=cj166/>
-* [[21st Air Division]], 1 April 1966
+* [[21st Air Division]], 1 April 1966<ref name=cj160/>
-* [[35th Air Division]], 1 December 1967
+* [[35th Air Division]], 1 December 1967<ref name=cj160/>
-* [[33rd Air Division]], 1 April 1968
+* [[33rd Air Division]], 1 April 1968<ref name=cj160/>
-* [[20th Air Division]], 19 November 1969 - 1975
+* [[20th Air Division]], 19 November 1969<ref name=cj160/> - 1975
 ==See also==
 * [[List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations]]
+* [[List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons]]
 ==References==
 {{Portal box|United States Air Force|Military of the United States}}
-{{AFHRA}}
 {{Reflist}}
+{{AFHRA}}
-* Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., ''A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization  1946 - 1980'', [http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf] Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980).
+* {{cite book
-* Winkler, David F. & Webster, Julie L., ''Searching the Skies'', The Legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program, [http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bn/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231] US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, Champaign, IL (1997).
+ | last = Cornett
+ | first = Lloyd H
+ | authorlink =
+ | coauthors = Johnson, Mildred W
+ | editor =
+ | others =
+ | title = A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980
+ | origdate =
+ | origyear =
+ | origmonth =
+ | url = http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf
+ | format =
+ | accessdate =
+ | edition =
+ | series =
+ | date =
+ | year = 1980
+ | month =
+ | publisher = Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center
+ | location = Peterson AFB, CO
+ | language =
+ | isbn =
+ | oclc =
+ | doi =
+ | pages =
+ | chapter =
+ | chapterurl =
+ | quote =
+ | lccn =
+}}
+* {{cite book
+ | last = Winkler
+ | first = David F.
+ | authorlink =
+ | coauthors = Webster, Julie L
+ | editor =
+ | others =
+ | title = Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program
+ | origdate =
+ | origyear =
+ | origmonth =
+ | url = http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bn/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231
+ | format =
+ | accessdate =
+ | edition =
+ | series =
+ | date = 1997
+ | year =
+ | month =
+ | publisher = US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories
+ | location = Champaign, IL
+ | language =
+ | isbn =
+ | oclc =
+ | doi =
+ | pages =
+ | chapter =
+ | chapterurl =
+ | quote =
+ | lccn = 9720912
+}}
 * [http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22Palermo+AFS',+NJ%22&key=PalermoAFSNJ&pic=PalermoAFSNJ&doc=PalermoAFSNJ  Information for Palermo AFS, NJ]
@@ Line 98: / Line 159: @@
 [[Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force]]
 [[Category:Military facilities in New Jersey]]
-[[Category:Aerospace Defense Command units]]
+[[Category:Aerospace Defense Command military installations]]
 [[Category:Stations of the United States Air Force]]