Claysburg Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Claysburg Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-63) is a closed United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Claysburg, Pennsylvania
. It was closed in 1961 due to budget constraints. The unit was moved to Gibbsboro Air Force Station
(RP-63), New Jersey.
The 772d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations with an AN/CPS-4 height-finder radar and AN/FPS-3 search radar, 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 1956, an AN/FPS-4 replaced the AN/CPS-4 and two years later an AN/FPS-20 replaced the original AN/FPS-3 search radar.
During 1959 Claysburg AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-03 at Syracuse AFS, New York. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 772d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 February 1959. 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.
This site was inactivated in 1961 and the 772d Radar Squadron was repositioned to Gibbsboro AFS, New Jersey. Today Claysburg AFS has been redeveloped into Blue Knob Ski Resort.
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 miles (9.7 km) west of Claysburg, Pennsylvania
Claysburg, Pennsylvania
Claysburg is a census-designated place along Interstate 99 and the Allegheny Front near the base of Blue Knob .-Demographics:...
. It was closed in 1961 due to budget constraints. The unit was moved to Gibbsboro Air Force Station
Gibbsboro Air Force Station
Gibbsboro Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located south-southeast of Gibbsboro, New Jersey...
(RP-63), New Jersey.
History
Claysburg Air Force Station was part of the last batch of twenty-three radar stations constructed as part of the Air Defense Command permanent network. It was activated in April 1952, replacing the Connelsville L-16 Lashup site. It was declared completely operational in late 1952.The 772d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations with an AN/CPS-4 height-finder radar and AN/FPS-3 search radar, 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 1956, an AN/FPS-4 replaced the AN/CPS-4 and two years later an AN/FPS-20 replaced the original AN/FPS-3 search radar.
During 1959 Claysburg 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-03 at Syracuse AFS, New York. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 772d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 February 1959. 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.
This site was inactivated in 1961 and the 772d Radar Squadron was repositioned to Gibbsboro AFS, New Jersey. Today Claysburg AFS has been redeveloped into Blue Knob Ski Resort.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:- 772d Aircraft Warning and Control Squadron, assigned on 1 December 1951
-
- Activated at Connellsville, PA (L-16), 1 July 1950
- Moved to Knob Park, PA on 1 December 1951
- Blue Park redesignated Claysburg Air Force Station, PA on 1 December 1953
- Redesignated 772d Radar Squadron (SAGE), 1 February 1959
- Moved to: Gibbsboro Air Force StationGibbsboro Air Force StationGibbsboro Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located south-southeast of Gibbsboro, New Jersey...
, NJ, 1 May 1961.
Assignments:
- 503d Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 1 January 1951
- 26th Air Division, 6 February 1952
- 4710th Defense Wing, 16 February 1953
- 4708th Air Defense Wing4708th Air Defense WingThe 4708th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
, 1 March 1956 - 30th Air Division, 8 July 1956
- Syracuse Air Defense SectorSyracuse Air Defense SectorThe Syracuse Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Syracuse Air Force Station, New York.- History :...
, 15 August 1958-1 May 1961