Aiken Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Aiken Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 6.4 miles (10.3 km) north-northeast of Aiken, South Carolina
. It was closed in 1975.
During World War II, the site was originally constructed by the United States Army Air Forces
as Aiken Army Airfield.
by the United States Army Air Forces
and named Aiken Army Airfield. It opened on 24 December 1942 as a satellite airfield of Morris Army Airfield
, North Carolina
. It was assigned to Third Air Force
, III Tactical Air Command
as a group training airfield for reconnaissance units.
The formal activation date of the airfield was 23 June 1943 when the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
arrived along with subordinate units of the 97th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
and 19th Liaison squadron
. The 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
arrived on 29 August 1943.
The airfield was reassigned to First Air Force
on 10 January 1944 and the 359th Army Air Force Base Unit was assigned host unit. The airfield became a replacement training airfield for single-engine fighter pilots, training on P-40 Warhawk and P-51 Mustang
aircraft, beginning on 19 October 1944. Active flying at the airfield ended on 28 February 1945, and the base was turned over to Air Technical Service Command for disposition on 31 March 1945.
The airfield was turned over to local government authorities afterward and was converted into Aiken Municipal Airport
.
station. This site was initially part of Phase II of the Mobile Radar program. Radars in this network were designated “SM.”
Designated as SM-159 Aiken AFS was the first Phase II Mobile Radar system to achieve operational status. During December 1955 the 861st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began activating AN/FPS-3, AN/MPS-14, and AN/TPS-10D radars. 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 1958 an AN/FPS-20 and an AN/MPS-14 were operational. The site subsequently received an AN/FPS-7C search radar and an AN/FPS-26 heightfinder radar. During 1961 Aiken AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-09 at Gunter AFB, Alabama. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 861st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 November 1961. 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.
On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-159. In addition, Aiken AFS was incorporated into BUIC I, a manual back-up interceptor control system. BUIC I provided limited command and control capability in the event the SAGE system was disabled. Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. The 861st was deactivated in June 1975.
The FAAcontinued to operate the AN/FPS-7C search radar for a few years, while the cantonment area was converted into a minimum-security prison. Dissatisfied with the prison setting, the FAA relocated to Lincolnton, Georgia
, where today they continue to operate an ARSR-3 search radar. The prison was shut down in the mid / late 1990's, and the entire site has since been dismantled.
Assignments:
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 6.4 miles (10.3 km) north-northeast of Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
. It was closed in 1975.
During World War II, the site was originally constructed by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
as Aiken Army Airfield.
Aiken Army Airfield
The facility was originally constructed during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
and named Aiken Army Airfield. It opened on 24 December 1942 as a satellite airfield of Morris Army Airfield
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It was assigned to Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, III Tactical Air Command
III Tactical Air Command
The III Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Barksdale Field, Louisiana...
as a group training airfield for reconnaissance units.
The formal activation date of the airfield was 23 June 1943 when the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
66th Air Base Wing
The 66th Air Base Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Electronic Systems Center, stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
arrived along with subordinate units of the 97th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
97th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
The 97th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 76th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, stationed at Thermal Army Airfield, California...
and 19th Liaison squadron
19th Liaison squadron
The 19th Liaison squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Tenth Air Force, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington...
. The 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
118th Airlift Squadron
The 118th Airlift Squadron flies the C-21A Learjet. It is a unit of the Connecticut Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 103rd Airlift Wing.-History:...
arrived on 29 August 1943.
The airfield was reassigned to First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
on 10 January 1944 and the 359th Army Air Force Base Unit was assigned host unit. The airfield became a replacement training airfield for single-engine fighter pilots, training on P-40 Warhawk and P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
aircraft, beginning on 19 October 1944. Active flying at the airfield ended on 28 February 1945, and the base was turned over to Air Technical Service Command for disposition on 31 March 1945.
The airfield was turned over to local government authorities afterward and was converted into Aiken Municipal Airport
Aiken Municipal Airport
Aiken Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five nautical miles north of the central business district of Aiken, a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The airport serves the general aviation community, with no scheduled commercial airline service...
.
Aiken Air Force Station
In 1955 the United States Air Force exercised a return right to Aiken Municipal Airport and established Aiken Air Force Station as an Air Defense Command (ADC) general surveillance radarRadar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
station. This site was initially part of Phase II of the Mobile Radar program. Radars in this network were designated “SM.”
Designated as SM-159 Aiken AFS was the first Phase II Mobile Radar system to achieve operational status. During December 1955 the 861st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began activating AN/FPS-3, AN/MPS-14, and AN/TPS-10D radars. 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 1958 an AN/FPS-20 and an AN/MPS-14 were operational. The site subsequently received an AN/FPS-7C search radar and an AN/FPS-26 heightfinder radar. During 1961 Aiken AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
(SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-09 at Gunter AFB, Alabama. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 861st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 November 1961. 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.
On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-159. In addition, Aiken AFS was incorporated into BUIC I, a manual back-up interceptor control system. BUIC I provided limited command and control capability in the event the SAGE system was disabled. Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. The 861st was deactivated in June 1975.
The FAAcontinued to operate the AN/FPS-7C search radar for a few years, while the cantonment area was converted into a minimum-security prison. Dissatisfied with the prison setting, the FAA relocated to Lincolnton, Georgia
Lincolnton, Georgia
Lincolnton is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,595 at the 2000 census. It is the location for the historical site, Elijah Clark State Park, and contains numerous houses and historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic...
, where today they continue to operate an ARSR-3 search radar. The prison was shut down in the mid / late 1990's, and the entire site has since been dismantled.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:- 861st Aircraft Warning and Control Squadron, Assigned to Aiken Air Force Station, SC, 1 December 1955
-
- Activated at 35th AD Dobbins AFB (M-87), GA, 8 April 1955 (not manned or equipped)
- Re-designated: 861st Radar Squadron (SAGE), 1 November 1961
- Inactivated 30 June 1975
Assignments:
- 35th Air Division, 8 April 1955
- 32d Air Division, 15 November 1958
- Montgomery Air Defense Sector, 1 July 1961
- 32d Air Division, 1 April 1966
- 33d Air Division, 14 November 1969
- 20th Air Division, 19 November 1959-30 June 1975
See also
- South Carolina World War II Army AirfieldsSouth Carolina World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in South Carolina for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations